Lalibela is a15 hour plane ride from DC, yet 2-3 thousand years in the past. One of the first things we saw after getting off our Dash 80 turboprop was families plowing their fields with oxen pulling wooden plows. It's the time of year to plant tej which is the grain used to make injera. Lalibela is set in the rugged, steep, green mountains and the fields are terraced for crops. The churches are amazing in size and craftsmanship. They were carved out of solid rock 800 + years ago. The carving varies from simple to ornate. They were carved in a way to mimic built churches. According to the legend, King Lalibela had all of them carved because Jerusalem was too far and dangerous of a pilgrimage. Historians believe the churches were built over a period of a few hundred years. The churches are living, breathing churches to this day. On our way to the airport on Sunday morning we saw hundreds of people with white shawls walking toward the churches. We woke up to the priests chanting at 4:00 AM. The priests charge $50 per tourist to visit, and they don't share the money with the community. We learned one thing they do with the money is invest in hotels. The people are working with the government to try and change this. UNESCO is working here to develop and preserve this world heritage site. Many families were relocated when the big shelters to protect the churches were built, in the last 5-10 years. Elderly people who used to go to church daily are now only able to make the now long walk, once a week. I suggested asking the priests to pay for daily shuttles for the displaced old people. If Lalibela was in a more accessible and tourist friendly place, there would be millions of visitors each year because it is breathtaking. The mountain views are stunning, with miles of mountains in every direction as far as you can see. The hiking potential is unlimited and is barely developed. You can trek with donkeys and stay in tukuls (round houses) in some places. I asked John if he wanted to trek with donkeys some day and he said he's 'finished' with Ethiopia:). We've been here twice!
Michelle standing by the entrance used by women. There is also an entrance for men, and one for priests.
Each church had a priest on duty. I was blessed by one.
Abeba and John standing by the Fertility Pool. It's a pool where woman were immersed when they were unable to bear children. Abeba says, "Today we know it is 50% woman and 50% man. Progess."
Windows with different types of crosses.
Michelle and John at the original entrance to the churches.
The Church of St. George. This is the best preserved and probably newest of all the churches. They were all carved out from top to bottom. On the floor of each church are locally made rugs, and it's kind of like a cave on the floor. We needed to take our shoes off at the entrance to each church and we could have hired a 'shoe watcher'. It's about 30 feet tall. There are hills nearby which were made from the carved out rocks.
An area between two churches. All of this open space was created by solid rocks being carved out by hand.
An alter. Each church has a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, which is in the back room, the Holy of Holies. Only the priests are allowed.
A place for one of the guards to sleep/rest.
Passageways like this are everywhere.
The longest tunnel we walked through was about 90 feet long, Abeba used his phone for a light.
Most of the churches had paintings around the alter area.
This was our last church on the tour, and may be the oldest.
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