February 2019
A walk through history and culture at the new Unity Park in Addis at the Grand Palace with must-visit politics museum in the Throne Hall 
Harar basket in regional sculpture garden Oromo cradle of Lucy Contrast and light, two words that describe much of Ethiopia to me African Union is seated in Ethiopia One man’s trash is another’s treasure anything is for sale at the Sunday Mercado delicious menu at the Ethiopian Armenian Aladin resturant. Evenings at home with Elias and Sorit the corner store Zoma Museum alternative arts and ecological institute Wattle and Daub art for walls ancient indigenous technique meets contemporary interpretation A fun night of dinner as music at Habesha Cultural Restaruant Looking at Lucy. The palentology exhibit is amazing, skip the remainder of the National History Museum which is blah and head to the Addis University Museum instead Well earned Nobel Peace Prize Hiking with Sorit and our olympic runner guide at 3800 meters (12,500ft) in Entonto forest Haakon jogging in the Entonto clouds An honour to meet Mamitu Gashe who had been caring for ailing Dr Katherin Hamlin that day. Dr hamlin who died later 3/18/20 at the age of 96. She leaves a trremoundous legacy of empathy and healing for women suffering from obstetric fistula typical ricketty scaffording behind a too-sturdy gate A stelle knocked down by Queen Judith’s army in Axum Touring the north we traveled with the most enjoyable group of Canadians in the tombs under the stelle (obelisk-like tomb markers) kings were buried with live servants and those great stones were pushed over the opening! boys fetching water from Queen Sheba’s bath the Ethiopian rosetta stone translating Ge’ez to Greek and Amharic why not ride way atop an overloaded truck Melenek, Son of Queen Sheba and King David bringing the covenant from Jerusalem to Axsum ancient book on real velum made of goat hides say 3 Hail Marys before climbing up this scaffold Hotel massage chair madness Despite three security checks within 30 feet I didn’t really feel secure after reading the signage the state airline, making distances disappear on their own time Lallibella on market day The rock hewn churches of Lalibella cool ancient wood doors traditional houses of Lalibella The cross-shaped church of St George inspired by Petra getting saddled for an early morning ride and hike up to the Church of St Mary sunrise smiles elder laborer carrying feed a farmstead along the way I wonder what she sees when we tourists wander by girls carrying dung fuel patties to town the cliffside trail to the monastery of Maryam outdoor Sunday service seeking blessing from the cross passing out teff eucharist the priest showing ancient relics patties drying in the sun for fuel The Feast of St George when the battle against the Italians was won Morning service on the Feast of St George a young monk village elders the palaces in Gondor seat of power in the 16th century Salasie church entering through the side door of Debre Birhan Sallasie orthodox church with elaborately painted biblical stories St George killing the dragon Angels painted on the ceiling Emperer Fasilides’ Bath due to drought now filled only once per year for the feast of Timket, celebrating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River ancient banyan trees for scale a weekend game of football at 10,000 ft Sorit and Shira on top of their town Farewell to Adis below
