Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hallelujah! Live music is on from Wednesday to Sunday, from around 9.30pm to 2am.
The music is a mixture of Ethiopian pop and reggae, with some traditional tunes thrown
in. There's no cover, but a bottle of beer costs Birr15. If you don't like the band, head
across the street to see what the DJ is spinning at the Tourist Hotel.
Shopping
In some old town houses, enterprising Adares have set up souvenir shops displaying beau-
tifully made silver and (usually fake) amber jewellery and baskets. None have signs and
only a few are outside the compounds (ie, visible when you walk by), but the guides know
them all. If you're lucky, some of the women will be weaving when you drop by.
Nure Roasted Harar Coffee
( 8am-6pm Mon-Sat)
One step inside and the swoon-inducing scents will have you
hooked. It sells 1kg and 500g packets of excellent whole and ground beans, and you can
watch the sorting, roasting and grinding.
COFFEE
Information
Water shortages remain a problem in Harar and can last for days. Good hotels have water
tanks, but even these may not outlast the outages. Power cuts still happen, but they're no
longer very common.
Dashen Bank
Has the only ATM near the city centre.
Harar General Hospital
(
0256-664766;
24hr)
Harar's top medical facility. Has a
pharmacy.
Kosmo Fast Internet
(per hr Birr35; 7.30am-noon & 2-7pm)
Often delivers what the
name promises and English-speaking owner Mark is friendly and helpful.
SAM Fast Internet
(per hr Birr30; 8am-7pm Mon-Sat, 8am-noon Sun)
8-11.30am & 2-5pm Fri)
In Ras Makonnen's Palace, it's somewhat helpful.
