HAMPTON ROADS, Va – The warm weather has finally settled in, and it’s time to begin planning that long-anticipated summer time journey. Travel Expert Amy Goodman facilitates us jumpstart our summertime journey making plans, and shares journey pointers. For more records, visit BetterStuffForLife.Com.
In November 2010, my husband and I traveled around Ethiopia for three weeks through the public bus with a private guide. Travel (specifically bus travel) is a real journey and no longer for the faint-hearted as there are long journey days (even longer if the bus breaks down) on poorly maintained roads. But it’s miles an amazing way to arise near and personal and experience the life and way of life of the locals.
Addis Ababa
We arrived at the airport at 3.30 am. We had not booked any lodging due to our early arrival, so we stayed at the airport until about 7 am. A taxi agreed to take us into the city for USD 10. We went to the Ras Hotel, in which we had to wait until 9 am to peer if they had a room.
Travel Tip: We stayed at the Ras Hotel 3 times due to its critical area. The charge includes an awful breakfast, but lunch and dinner are right.
Bahir Dar
We stayed at the Ghion Hotel on Lake Tana and did a boat cruise to the islands to look at the painted church buildings. The Blue Nile Falls area is quiet but now not well worth the long bumpy journey to get there. Since damming the river, the waterfalls are definitely nothing like the posters display.
Travel Tip: Check if a manual is included with your Lake Tana boat cruise. There became nine folks on our boat. No guide observed us on the boat besides our non-public guide Samson. On the first island we visited, Samson acted as interpreter. Otherwise, we would have now not understand what we were searching for. On the second island we visited, the church manual spoke English.
Gonder
The abandoned castles are fascinating, and it’s far worth hiring the guides at the gate.
Travel Tip: We stayed at the Belgez Pension, which became cheap, clean, and quiet, but the rooms were tiny and cramped. They do your washing for a minimal price – deliver to the cleaners within the morning.
Simien Mountains
We did an at some point 4WD day ride with another traveler and our guide Samson.
Travel Tip: We might have preferred to have stayed overnight even though we are not trekkers because the scenery is lovely.
Lalibela
We spent 2 nights in Lalibela exploring the outstanding rock churches.
Travel Tip: Keep your entrance ticket on hand as they will be checked at each church entrance.
Arba Minch
Arba Minch is an overnight bus stop between Addis Ababa and Jinka.
Travel Tip: Spend a further night on one of the stopovers and do the lake excursion.
Jinka
We employed a 4wd regionally to tour the primary three tribes in the vicinity (Morsi, Hamer, and Karo tribes). We shared this price with three different travelers who had been on the bus and stayed at the same lodging as us.
Travel Tip: Buy your bus price ticket to Addis Ababa early (as a minimum 1 day earlier), so you can gain a better seat number in any other case you’ll discover yourself stuck behind the bus on the two-day adventure. Buy good earplugs so that you can block out the noise of the loud music videos playing.
