The New Flower, its Amharic name means: a capital at 2,355m living eternal spring (15-25° year-round), seat of the African Union. Deep history (the National Museum's 3.2-million-year Lucy, the Ethnological Museum in Selassie's palace), living pulse (Mercato — Africa's largest open market, the full coffee rite), sacred architecture (Trinity, St George, Bole cathedrals) and Entoto's eucalyptus heights, with Bishoftu's crater lakes 45 minutes out. Respect the altitude for two days; evenings run cold even in August; ride-apps or a hotel day-driver work best.
