Ethiopia: the candy trail ...

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Shepherd in the plains below Lalibela.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Lalibela village at dusk.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

House on the road as I hitched with an Oxfam aid truck towards Lalibela.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the mountains of Lalibela are eleven 12-century churches cut from solid rock; once known as "the second Jerusalem". I spent Xmas morning watching here on a Sunday that had worshippers out at their churches (- although their Orthodox Xmas is celebrated on 7th Jan).

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Xmas morning at the church of the Virgin Mary, Lalibela, 1994.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Priest at Lalibela, 1994.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Church of St George, after the Xmas morning ceremony, Lalibela, Sunday, Dec 25, 1994.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Close-up of colors and details of the church of St. George.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Xmas morning in the Church of St George.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Xmas morning at the Church of St George, Lalibela, Sunday, Dec 25, 1994. Worshippers recieve blessings from the priest as an excorism screams out from the bowels of the church below ... (note those with hands on ears).

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Recieving the blessing, Xmas day.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

My visa was soon expiring - so I hopped a local morning flight in a 16-seater over the Siemen Mountains on route from Lalibela to Gonder, but via Axum in the north - before returning south to land.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maybe this is Mars? Over the Ethiopian Highlands during the dry season.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Independence skies - Gonder, ETHIOPIA.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

15th century - Portuguese-influenced - castles of Gonder.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Truck to Axum.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hitched with a truck overnight; past an old battlefield by morning on the road to Axum.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On the road towards Axum.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ancient graveyard outside of Axum, known as the Queen of Sheba's graveyard (- but not so, as she was from Yemen).

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Great dam of Axum.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Axum

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Standing and fallen monoliths of the ancient Axumite empire that ruled over Ethiopia and surrounding region from its capital at Axum.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Child and tank, Axum.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Brightly-colored shops/houses in Axum.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Morning market in mountain town of Debark.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Curious kids, Axum.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Loaded and returning from market.

mrp@thecandytrail.com (the candy trail ...) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Checkpoint near Adwa.