Jan 5 This morning before we left Addis, we heard a lot of banging and thought workers had started early. It turned out the man in the next room was locked in his bathroom and could not get out. The staff asked to come in our room and one reached out our window trying to reach his bathroom window with a long pole. We were trying not to be too nosy so it was a mystery to us how they got him out.
These two ladies were wonderful staff employees in our hotel.
After we flew into Lalibela airport, we rode 23k up the mountain into town all the while a constant stream of animals and people passed us heading home down the mountain. It had been a market day and people had bought livestock to take home for Orthodox Christmas. Others were carrying their wares back home. What an incredible introduction to the town.
Here the houses are fashioned from eucalyptus poles, which are very straight and easy to grow, then covered with mud. Once dried some are even painted. They are uniform in size and design.
Animals are all over the road. The traffic is constantly swerving to avoid them.
Main street Lalibela.
The pilgrims pour into Lalibela for the Orthodox Christmas celebration. They have no regard for their physical well being. Some walk 7 and 8 days to get here. Estimates say 30 to 40 thousand arrive. They are all wrapped in white and many are bare footed. Our senses are on overload.
Our guide took us into a rock church that evening where 50 to 60 priests were chanting. They started at 9 and chanted until 9 the next morning. We stayed for 2 hours. Our guide managed to get us right up beside the ceremony.
Coming out all of the area around the church was covered with white robes as the pilgrims curled up on the ground to sleep. Unbelievable.
Again we have been blessed with a great guide, Yared, 0983178276.
BeverleyandJohn's2018Travels 