Addis Ababa “new flower” is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. The city lies at the foot of Mount Entoto about 2,500 meters above sea. The city has a population of about 5 million, which is 10 times more than in 1963-67 when our family lived there.
Map locations mentioned in my video clips:
(Wikimapia links: When opened, change to Bing Satellite view:)
1) First house (1963-64)
2) Second house (1964-66)
3) Third house (1966-67)
4) Father’s Office – Chamber of Commerce building (Norconsult)
5) Norwegian School
6) Piazza area
I re-visited Ethiopia in 2002 and 2008 and stayed in Ghion Hotel. When we first arrived in Ethiopia in 1963 the Bole Airport was not built, so we landed at the ‘old airport’, Lideta Airport (according to map), but departed from Bole Airport. In 2002 we landed at Bole airport, and in 2008 at the new Bole terminal.
Addis Ababa had about 400,000 in the 1960’s, and in 2020 the city has expanded to 2.7 million. Areas like Makanissa and Bole airport was outside the city in the 1960’s.
We rented horses in Makanissa (somewhere between the two airports on the map), crossed a river, and could ride south on an endless grassy plain. Today this area is part of the city. Further out than we rode is the ring-road today.
The city has spread out, but the central areas are mostly the same – even some of the old buildings that were in bad condition in the 1960’s are still standing!