North Ethiopia Thoughts and Suggestions
We were so happy that Sue talked us into visiting the Historic Northern part of Ethiopia. Even though "religious" will never describe either of us, it was impossible not to get swept up. Some of the many North Ethiopia highlights were:
- The extreme, almost messianic fervor the people poured into the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian area. This encompassed everything from the symbolic graves for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Star of David on church ceilings, paintings of Jesus Christ and Noah's Ark together, the Ark of the Covenant, and King Solomon thrown in for good measure. Impossible to tell where the Old Testament stopped and the New Testament began;
- Constant road sightings of people dressed all in white walking with staffs over shoulders, carrying goods, tending flocks, and riding little donkeys;
- The sensation that none of this was real. Steve and I were just extras on the set of a biblical movie. After all, priests preaching on hillsides surrounded by people dressed in white? A church cut into the ground with more people praying around the perimeter? It had to be a movie production;...View image...
- The incredibly colorful, vibrant and old paintings inside the churches...View image...;
- We'll ever forget the sight of all the hawks, kites, eagles and other raptors...View image... soaring hour after hour, riding the thermals against a very blue sky;
- The lion-like Gelada Baboons in the Simien Mountains that made all the driving discomfort worthwhile...
- A refresher course for us pampered people of the world reminding how difficult life is for women. Hauling 5-gallon containers of water to and from their homes daily, carrying 75 pounds of firewood on their backs, cooking, tending the flocks and children. The little girls and boys doing their share, and carrying equally heavy items on their little backs. Note to self -- don't complain about anything;
- The beautiful people of Ethiopia with their gorgeous smiles. Even when you don't buy...or give...no one was upset. The children just nestled their way into our hearts;
- Ethiopia's vast history. The stelae of Aksum/Axum. Christianity and Judiasm. The Queen of Sheba. King Solomon. Archaeological sites. And so much more; and many other small but interesting memories...
- The different pony carts used for transportation in the towns visited. Every town had its own variation..View image...
I'm glad we decided to add The Historical Route of North Ethiopia to the itinerary. And now for something different (REALLY DIFFERENT), watch for the entire series about the Tribal South on this site in the near future...
We hope that these initial articles will encourage and start you thinking about planning your own trip to Ethiopia...
Lowfare flights starting from 129 US$ one way at www.condor.com!
