Ethiopia / Addis Ababa

Painting in the National Museum depicting famine.

Ethiopia is one of my favorite countries in Africa and I have been there several times, always to teach SPS risk assessment workshops sponsored by USDA and organized by Tuskegee University.  It is a poor country that has unfortunately suffered more than its share of droughts and famines.  Nevertheless, the people are friendly and interactive and I have always felt safe wandering around, although like anywhere, one must be reasonably prudent and cautious.  Addis Ababa has the largest open-air market in Africa.  For someone interested in both agriculture and photography, it holds endless appeal.

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Blind beggars are distressingly common on the streets of Addis.  Almost all of the blindness is due to Chlamydia trachomatis infection.  With good sanitation and early treatment of cases, it could be easily prevented.