I would suggest that you do your sight seeing of Addis Ababa on you return and after you have adjusted to Ethiopian ways. Addis is the least appealing of all the cities and places you will visit, but it does contain places of interest.

We loved everywhere we went adn everything we did on the Northern Cultural route. The countryside is far less interesting (though still pleasant) as you move south of Addis, but the people who seem very used to tourists are much more ‘in your face’ as they beg or sell.

Name: Audrey Bowker,
Location
Places Visited Addis; Bahirdar; Gonder; Simien Mountains; Axum; Tigray Churches; Lalibela; Rift Valley Lakes; Arbaminch.