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By Mackenzie Carpenter
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Ethiopia

Frommer's listed this country as one of its top 12 new destinations for 2007, but Ethiopia's recent bombing of Islamist forces in Somalia, on its eastern border, creates some uncertainty for travelers. Check with the U.S. State Department before you make plans, but note too that most of the tourist attractions are in the Northwest and North central parts of Ethiopia, away from any hot spots.

Arnie Weissman, editor of Travel Weekly, a travel newsletter, believes the time may be right for tourists to rediscover and explore this countr'’s circuit of ancient Christian kingdoms. Still, Ethiopia "poses considerable challenges for a mainstream tourist," he said. There are hot water issues, Internet connectivity is hit or miss, beggars can be bothersome, credit cards are rarely accepted and ATMs are almost unheard of, except in the lobby of the Sheraton in Addis Ababa.

But there are pluses, too: there's a new international airport and hotels at some of the major tourist sites have been modernized.

Then, too, Ethiopia's attractions rival Egypt's for color and historical importance. The biggest plus of all, he said: "It's not swamped with tourists."

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