Henoch, 251911806229, took us to St. George’s Church, the one I am sure is the most photographed in Lalibela.

Check out John’s new walking stick loaned to him by Henoch.

We traveled 43 k out of town to see a church built inside a cave.

 

Every possible space used.

Packs for the donkeys are made out of old barrels.

We had lunch with Henoch and his girlfriend Tsgiemarysm.

And a dinner of Duro Wat with Yared and his family that evening.

 

 

On Christmas morning Yared picked me up at 6:30 for the Christmas morning service.  John’s hip prevented him from negotiating the press of humanity.  Yared managed yet again to get me an excellent vantage point.  I am still amazed that he was able to navigate through the crowd that was all going in the same direction.

 

 

The Red Cross had a station set up for any emergencies.

Right behind the carpeted area was my vantage point.

 

These were the bishops and priests that occupied the chairs.

This man called while all the priests on the periphery high above the church responded.

A very special Christmas indeed!

 

 

 

 

 

On Orthodox Christmas Eve,Jan 6,  Yared picked me up at 7:30 for the Christmas Eve service. The entire area around and in the church was a mass of pilgrims.

The service was projected on TV screens so that those not able to get in to get a close look could still see the service.  The pilgrims chanted as they waited.

Yared was able, with patience, to get me in right above the service where three to four hundred priests participated.

 

 

 

Our guide today, Henoch a relative of Yared,  took us to some of the 11 churches in Lalibela.

The entrances to the churches were small, creating some interesting congestion as shoes needed to be removed before entering. A person was hired to watch shoes and while you were inside.  You can imagine the number of shoes at each entrance given the number of pilgrims!

Lining up to get in an entrance.

Line up behind us.

This rather startling symbol is of course quite old and can be seen is several ancient structures.

 

 

That evening we had injera with Yared and his family.

 

View from the front of our hotel.

View from our room in the morning

and in the evening.

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.