Addis Ababa is the Flourishing Capital of Africa

in Ethiopia Travel Blog, Travel Blogs

I decided that it was time to do something different with my travels and there aren’t too many destinations in the world like Africa.  I decided to take my talents to Kenya and move into a Somali neighborhood called South C just outside the city limits if Nairobi.  My first trip outside of Kenya was to Ethiopia and I ended up falling in love with Addis Ababa, similar to how I fell in love with Medellin.

Addis Ababa is known as the capital Africa because it the headquarters of the African Union

Think of the African Union as the African version of the European Union.  It is in the very early stages in comparison to other African unions such as the Eastern Africa Community (EAC), a different entity comprising of all Eastern Africa nations.  The EAC is already discussing using one currency for the entire Eastern Africa region starting in 2015, one currency for Africa will come in time of course.

One of my favorite monuments in Addis

The African Union is the representation of all African nations which has lead every country to open a consulate in Addis Ababa.  If you need a visa for any hostile country in the world, I would highly recommend getting the visa in Addis Ababa.  Visas tend to be processed quicker and with much less hassle.

The country and its capital are opening up to the world after a very tumultuous period.  They are quietly getting past their marred history from a ruthless leader, you remember the starvation epidemic in Ethiopia don’t you?

I remember I was telling friends of how I loved Ethiopia and they would ask me “do they have enough food there?”.  This is why I love traveling to countries that people don’t normally visit.  I break down barriers like CNN!

Now that the country is past its turbulent days, a new government reigns over the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. One thing I will never understand is why all the countries in Africa put democracy in their new name after a big change in power.  They always end up being as corrupt as before!

Can we at least stay consistent guys?

You don’t see Zimbabwe changing its name to the Democratic Nation of Zimambwe do you?  The people of Ethiopia have an insatiable appetite for other cultures and anything new as the country’s economy, culture, and even population, are flourishing.

The Derg Monument in Addis Ababa

One of the new topics I am going to start talking about on this site is investing overseas. Ethiopia, with its low crime, low costs, and new direction, are something that have me very interested in investing in its future.

Things may change as the city grows but one of the most unique aspects of Addis Ababa is its very low crime rate.  I never had any problems with anyone trying to test my patience, pick my pockets, or rob me.  I usually don’t have any problems so don’t take my word for it, after getting arrested in South Sudan and getting kidnapped in Venezuela I am prepared for anything.

I experienced very unique things in Ethiopia, especially when I took the time to learn the language and speak to taxi drivers.  I encountered a very vibrant salsa scene and even a taxi driver that was listening to my beloved Reggaeton (Spanish hip hop to put it simply).

I couldn’t help staying away from Ethiopia after I arrived because it was such an interesting place to be.  When I first started researching living in Africa, I decided to live in Nairobi because it is the financial capital of Eastern Africa and also because of internet access.  The only weakness that Addis Ababa has is horrid internet.

I trade eminis in the futures market so reliable internet is vital to making a living.  There is a simple rule for internet in Africa, if a country is on the coast it stands a much better chance of having faster reliable internet.

If a country isn’t on the coast then your chances of getting reliable internet are as high as believing that global warming doesn’t exist.  Horrible internet still could not keep me away.

I am planning on having a few home bases around the world and Ethiopia is leading the pack in Africa; Ethiopian Airlines is the best airline in Africa so far in my experience, crime is very low, and the cost of living is very cheap.  On top of that, the women are gorgeous and any country that loves salsa gets the official WanderingTrader stamp of approval.

In summary, Addis Ababa as well as Ethiopia, are both extremely interesting and worth  a second look for your next vacation.  I look forward to sharing more about Ethiopia and Addis Ababa considering that is on top of my list of destinations in the world.