Also known as Menelik’s Mausoleum, the Beta Maryam Mausoleum is located just south of Menelik’s palace in Addis Ababa and offers a pleasantly eerie experience for visitors. Beta Maryam from the outside: The entrance to Beta Maryam: The church interior: After the priest has rolled up the carpet and pried open the large metal door … Continue reading
Located just off Meskal Square, the Red Terror Martyr’s Memorial is a good way to get up to speed on the activities of the Derg. The Derg (or Dergue) was a communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Emperor Haile Selassie. Derg, which means “committee” was the short name … Continue reading
There aren’t a lot of roads in Somalia. Those that do exist mostly pass through rough countryside, interspersed with the occasional village and frequent checkpoint. Upon arriving at a checkpoint, if you don’t have an armed guard with you, a bribe will be required and all of your passport details will be carefully taken down … Continue reading
Set within Halie Selassie’s former palace (known to Ethiopians as Gannata Le’ul Palace) and surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fountains of Addis Ababa University’s main campus is the Ethnological Museum. Even if you’re not normally a museum fan, this one is worth a bit of your time. Aside from being a decent museum, on … Continue reading
I met Solomon while I was wandering around on my own near Meskal Square. His English was pretty good and before long he revealed that he had a special talent that he hoped to use to get into the Guinness Book of World Records… Solomon claimed that he could draw a self-portrait of himself with … Continue reading
Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest, covering over 3,500 square kilometers, and its waters are the source of the Blue Nile, which flows 5, 223 kilometers north to the Mediterranean Sea. Lounging lakeside and watching squadrons of pelicans skirting the surface might be the most relaxing way to pass the time here, but your editor gets … Continue reading
Driving to Kunduz from Pul-i-Kumri: Of all of the NGOs at work in Afghanistan, I saw the H.A.L.O. Trust in the most places doing the most work. After the H.A.L.O. Trust has cleared a space of land mines, they paint their logo on a feature in the area to indicate that the area is now … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 