This weekend, The Peters and I
planned a trip to Lalibela. This is a small town in northern Ethiopia that is a huge tourist
attraction for the country. We planned to go there as a small “vacation” for
ourselves and it was everything we hoped it could be.
planned a trip to Lalibela. This is a small town in northern Ethiopia that is a huge tourist
attraction for the country. We planned to go there as a small “vacation” for
ourselves and it was everything we hoped it could be.
In Lalibela, the attraction is the
churches. All carved into the sides of hills with stone, there are 11 churches
in the town of Lalibela
that were carved in the 12th century. They replicate Jerusalem, and are a place
of pilgrimage for many Christians. Ethiopia has a large Christian
population, and the actual pilgrimage was rather daunting for people at that
time. We hired a tour guide (which was strongly recommended to us from all of
the books) and saw all 11 churches on Saturday. It was unbelievable! I am upset
that I can’t upload a few pictures (the internet here is way too slow), but I
would advise anyone to Google it if they get a chance. The guide books talk
about how if this was in any place other than Ethiopia, people would be flocking
to it from all over the world. As it is, the most “touristy” place in Ethiopia
is far from any other touristy place I’ve visited. We were still greatly
noticed as white people and still stood out everywhere we went. We did see many
other groups, mostly Europeans, but it was still a small town in Ethiopia.
churches. All carved into the sides of hills with stone, there are 11 churches
in the town of Lalibela
that were carved in the 12th century. They replicate Jerusalem, and are a place
of pilgrimage for many Christians. Ethiopia has a large Christian
population, and the actual pilgrimage was rather daunting for people at that
time. We hired a tour guide (which was strongly recommended to us from all of
the books) and saw all 11 churches on Saturday. It was unbelievable! I am upset
that I can’t upload a few pictures (the internet here is way too slow), but I
would advise anyone to Google it if they get a chance. The guide books talk
about how if this was in any place other than Ethiopia, people would be flocking
to it from all over the world. As it is, the most “touristy” place in Ethiopia
is far from any other touristy place I’ve visited. We were still greatly
noticed as white people and still stood out everywhere we went. We did see many
other groups, mostly Europeans, but it was still a small town in Ethiopia.
Along with seeing the great churches,
we got a few other commodities. HOT WATER! I took a hot shower for the first
time in over 3 weeks. We made sure our hotel had it and we were all excited. We
also indulged in Western food and restaurant eating. I got French fries (called
“potato chips”). It was awesome. Finally, we had an amazing chance encounter
with a few other tourists that led to an extremely eventful Saturday night.
we got a few other commodities. HOT WATER! I took a hot shower for the first
time in over 3 weeks. We made sure our hotel had it and we were all excited. We
also indulged in Western food and restaurant eating. I got French fries (called
“potato chips”). It was awesome. Finally, we had an amazing chance encounter
with a few other tourists that led to an extremely eventful Saturday night.
We were looking for a restaurant on
Saturday night for dinner, and we ran into two female travellers. They are both
originally from Israel,
but have both lived in the States at some point. They are travelling in Africa for 6 months and had just arrived in Lalibela. We
struck up conversation and pretty soon had a dinner invitation with them and a
Lithuanian couple they had met during their travels. Dinner was delicious and
super interesting! The Lithuanian man had been to 75 countries and told us many
stories about his experiences. He talked quite a bit about his travels in North Korea
and how different the culture and restrictions are.
Saturday night for dinner, and we ran into two female travellers. They are both
originally from Israel,
but have both lived in the States at some point. They are travelling in Africa for 6 months and had just arrived in Lalibela. We
struck up conversation and pretty soon had a dinner invitation with them and a
Lithuanian couple they had met during their travels. Dinner was delicious and
super interesting! The Lithuanian man had been to 75 countries and told us many
stories about his experiences. He talked quite a bit about his travels in North Korea
and how different the culture and restrictions are.
After dinner, we decided that we would
like to try tej, which is a honey wine that Lalibela is known for. The girls
called up a local they had met (friendly girls!) and he took us off the beaten
path to a small coffee shop. We were relieved to see a few other white faces as
we walked in, but it was hardly the highlight. As we walked into the big hut,
we saw traditional Ethiopian dancers! There was live music and dancing all
night, with many locals joining in. It was really amazing. The tej was alright
(more like juice than a wine), but the dancing was unbelievable. We all got up
and danced at points, but the real talent was the Ethiopian “shoulder dance.”
It is the traditional dance and it involves shaking your shoulders so they look
like they are popping out of their sockets. Youtube it maybe?
like to try tej, which is a honey wine that Lalibela is known for. The girls
called up a local they had met (friendly girls!) and he took us off the beaten
path to a small coffee shop. We were relieved to see a few other white faces as
we walked in, but it was hardly the highlight. As we walked into the big hut,
we saw traditional Ethiopian dancers! There was live music and dancing all
night, with many locals joining in. It was really amazing. The tej was alright
(more like juice than a wine), but the dancing was unbelievable. We all got up
and danced at points, but the real talent was the Ethiopian “shoulder dance.”
It is the traditional dance and it involves shaking your shoulders so they look
like they are popping out of their sockets. Youtube it maybe?
So all in all, a great trip. It was
nice to get out of the house, see some cool things, meet some people and have
hot water! And it hailed on Saturday evening!!!! Crazy crazy.
nice to get out of the house, see some cool things, meet some people and have
hot water! And it hailed on Saturday evening!!!! Crazy crazy.
No comments:
Post a Comment