Many interesting sights are concentrated near Gondor. Not far from this city is a complex of ancient monasteries dating back to the 13th-15th centuries. On the territory of this complex are the main shrines of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, including the so-called “miraculous pool”, swimming in which, according to the local population, women are cured of infertility. One of the main places of pilgrimage for Ethiopians during religious holidays is the Baths of Fasilidas. This building is a two-story building, surrounded on all sides by a pool. In ancient times, the most important people of Gondor rested here, and now the water in this pool appears only in January during Epiphany, and then the parishioners after the service go here to bathe. The most outstanding historical site and the most popular place among tourists is Lalibela. At one time, Lalibela was to become the new Jerusalem, while the old one was taken over by the Muslims. The architecture of this place is of great admiration. Despite the fact that it was not possible to make the city the new Jerusalem, even now this place is considered the most revered among the Ethiopians. According to local legend, the city was founded by the ruler of Ethiopia named Lalibela, who, having visited Jerusalem in his youth, fell in love with him forever, and therefore, when he learned that the city had been captured by Muslims, he decided in response to this to build a new Christian shrine. This sacred city is located at an altitude of 2500 meters, and in the rocks for tens or even hundreds of years, masons carved eleven churches, which are interconnected by underground tunnels. These buildings are not just religious objects, but real works of art with carved bas-reliefs, arches and beautiful ornaments. For lovers of exotic and real adventures, we recommend visiting the Omo River Valley, which is known for the fact that primitive tribes still live on its territory, whose lifestyle has not changed much over the past few centuries. However, earlier only physically prepared teams of anthropologists could get here, but now tourists are brought here without any problems, arranging photo tours for them. Among tourists, the most popular is visiting the Mursi tribe, women from which go with clay discs in their lips. But it should be noted that this tribe is the most aggressive and you can only go to them with an armed guard. The tribe lives in the Mago National Park.
National cuisine of Ethiopia
According to ITYPEUSA, a characteristic feature of the national cuisine of Ethiopia is that there are simply no cutlery and plates, they are replaced by the so-called figs, a traditional flatbread for this region. Another feature is the use of a huge amount of spices in dishes. Most often, Ethiopians prepare a variety of vegetable and meat dishes, which are then superimposed on figs made from teff flour and having a sour taste. Instead of spoons, figs are also used, from which pieces come off. Of the spices, most often used here: basil, mustard, coriander and saffron. Of the meat dishes, the most popular is tybsy, which is fried pieces of beef with a spicy sauce. As for drinks, Ethiopia is the birthplace of the coffee tree, so Ethiopians consume just a huge amount of coffee (sweet).
Visa to Ethiopia
Citizens of Russia and the CIS to move around Ethiopia must obtain a visa. This can be done in advance at the consular section of the Ethiopian Embassy or upon arrival at Bole International Airport. At the airport, you must present a passport valid until the end of the trip and a questionnaire filled out in English. In some cases it is necessary to present return tickets. A single entry visa is issued for a period of 30 days, and the fee for obtaining it is 20 US dollars. A multiple-entry visa is issued for six months, and the fee is $40.
