Lalibela

Lalibela is the focal point of any trip to Ethiopia.  This small sleeply town tucked into the center of some of the highest mountains in Ethiopia is unassuming and not worth noticing.  So much so, that until just about 20 years ago it didn't even have electricity or running water.  Now tourists come by the busload to see Lalibela's hidden treasures.  Lalibela is home to 13 stone carved churches all completely hewn from solid sandstone and basalt.  They represent a second Jersulem for the former king Lalibela who wanted his people to be able to visit the holy city at least once in their life.  All has been recreated: the Tombs of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, another tomb for Adam and Eve, the river Jordan, and each church has it's own Arc of the Covenant.  While the recreation is still 800 years old, the mystery of how they carved these churches seems ageless.

The holy cane is used for worship and tired legs.

Drying the wheat that will be used to make the holy bread.

King Lalibela enjoying a donut anticucho.

Eva decided that down below wasn't for her.

Yeha, Debre Damo, and The Rock-Hewn Churches of Tigray

We arrived in Aksum and then went immediately to the East to see the many treasures the area of Tigray has to offer.  We started at the pre-Aksumite temple of Yeha, then the oldest monastery in Ethiopia built on a desert plateau at Debre Damo, and finally some of the cave churches in Eastern Tigray.

Yeha, the oldest structure in Ethiopia.

A very old goat-skin Bible.

The Adwa Mountains.

Climbing up to the Debre Damo monastery; the only way up.

Hi Eva, I made it!

A rock-hewn church of Mikael Melehayzenghi built into a cave in Tigray.

The Aksumite Empire

We stopped in the far northern city of Aksum.  Aksum is one of the oldest kingdoms in Ethiopia and Africa.  It lays on the cross roads of several trading routes and controlled Red Sea trade coming from Egypt, India, and Arabia.  The pre-Christian Aksum used stelea as grave monuments that can still be seen today.  After the adoption of Christianity, Aksumite kings moved to other types of burial sites. 

 

The burial stelea of the Aksumite Empire dating back to 3rd century A.D.

A coffee ceremony in the central plaza of Aksum under a massive fig tree.

The Roof of Africa

After Gondar we went a little north to the Simien Mountain National Park; one of Ethiopia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  The Simiens are some of the tallest peaks in Africa and include sharp cliff faces, many endemic species, and a traditional culture of people who may have been living in or around the park dating far back into pre-historical times.  We trekked for 4 days/3 nights and were able to see all of the endemic mammals and birds.  We also climbed Ethiopia's 2nd and 4th highest peaks, one of which, Bwahit, is one of Africa's top ten highest.

Eva listening very closely to our guide Sammy.

Geleda Monkeys.

Starting the morning trek from Sankaber.

Renting blankets at Geech camp.

Bed time for the monkeys.

Thick-billed Raven.

Eva willing to jump after making it to 4070 m.a.s.l.

Walia Ibex; the symbol of the Simiens.

A raven song.

On top of Bwahit 4430 m.a.s.l.