Lalibela is suggested as the one place to see in Ethiopia if you can only see one place, and so I went this past weekend. It is famous for its 11 churches built in the 12th century carved into rocks and built into caves, thought to be a model of Jerusalem so that Ethiopian Christians would not have to suffer the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship. They are estimated to have needed 40,000 workers at a time and at least 100 years to construct, but legend has it that they were completed in 40 days with the help of angels. They are still fully operational churches today, and surprisingly not overrun with tourists. I was expecting the awesomeness and ancient history of the churches, but I was not expecting the spectacular scenery of the surrounding mountains, and to have a glimpse at rural life in the Amhara region (north of Addis). Words are not sufficient to describe it all, so I will load as many pictures at the internet will allow me.
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| View from my hotel room (yup) |
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| Scenes around town |
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| Double rainbow!! (Not all the way though) |
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| A priest |
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| Amazing art everywhere, who knows how old |
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| Bet Giorgis church seen from above- you can really appreciate how it was carved into the rock |
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| Bet Giorgis looking down |
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| Saturday is market day in Lalibela! |
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| Photo documenting with my high quality camera (iPhone 4S) |
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| Bet Abba Libanos, incorporated into the rock from above |
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| Traditional home |
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| Me seamlessly blending in with worshipers leaving church on Sunday |
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| Priest collecting holy water (natural spring) in Asheton Maryam Monastery outside Lalibela |
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| Asheton Maryam |
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| Lalibela sunset |
All pictures are taken by me, except those taken
of me of course, which are courtesy of my co-travelers.
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