The Churches of Lalibela

We visited the eleven churches hewn out of solid rock during the 12th century. These churches are Magnificent.
Priests were always present protecting the entrances and the holy place behind thick curtains which guarded the tabernacle.
Within the surrounding walls were small caves, dwellings for Hermits and on the hill was a monastery where young men lived as monks in training. Between theChurches are tunnels
, some open to the sky , others covered and hewn into the rock.


 Priests on duty

 This lady is sorting seeds for the birds

Entry into a passage

 Beta Giorges

Church Magnificent

Church Libenos
To honour the wife of Lalibela









These dwellings are the
homes of young monks

 
 Me entering the narrow path to Heaven but first I have to go through the dark passage through the underworld. My guide held my hand and I held Bernadette and in trust we were lead from Raphael/Gabriel(the twin church) through the pitch darkness to Mercury - considered the most beautiful (oldest) into Heaven

IMAGES OF OUR ARRIVAL IN LALIBELA

Agriculture

And a little more of the fruits of Lalibela - naturally grown produce free of poison. I send these as a little glimpse of the beautiful pics Bernadette has been taking - many more to come and many more for later viewing

Lalibela Ethiopia - "Lali" meaning honey & "Bela" meaning Eater (local translation).
Lalibela - "He whom the bees love"

Surrounded by undulating green hills abuzz with life in every form, Lalibela's heart is purely magical.
Her people humble, generous & beautiful. There is an unwavering belief system, a devotion which seems to carry them through each day. this is so apparent & unlike anything I have ever seen before.
Wherever you go the words "Salam, you are most welcome" follow with a broad smile.
Although poverty, unemployment & malnutrition are rife, there is a deep richness of soul.

Love,
Bernadette

Arrival in Ethiopia.          IMAGES OF ADDIS ABABA

I was met with enormous construction sites with most rickety scaffolding, rows and rows of mannikins dressed in super modern outfits all competing with one another, each little shop a colourful  artistic and unique image and the people all preparing for Saturday night partying. Glamorous outfits and HIGH HEEL shoes in a scruffy though very colourful environment.
It seemed in conversation that the greatest need in Addis Ababa was housing which was in itself very expensive to obtain eating away the meagre salaries.
Today we arrived in Lalibela and what an impressive and beautiful environment in contrast to the city life.

As we travelled from the airport, where we had been met in such an open welcoming and friendly way, we could only gasp at the beauty and natural way of life. Women, men and children adorned in exquisite colourful array as they returned home from Sunday worship. Others leading their cattle, goats and donkeys which carried the harvest as they travelled home through the villages. Their homes so beautifully crafted in natural materials and each hut/dwelling surrounded by fields of prepared earth for the cultivation of seeds to begin the growth in this rainy season for next years harvest. The beginning of shoots for barley,wheat, lentil, chickpeas etc. creating a spread of luminous green. These are farmers at heart cultivating their crops in an organic and rhythmic seasonal attitude - their food grown and harvested. These Amara with their beautiful faces and warmth of soul were a pleasure to meet. It would have taken the whole day to get to the hotel as each moment provided the perfect pic for Bernadette and we had to curb her call to STOP to allow her out to catch this image.
Bernadette wil hopefully share her adventure in the town of Lalibela during a sudden thunderstorm and pouring rain.

AFRICA: Dear All,I am leaving Cape Town on 6th May,I wil...

AFRICA: Dear All,
I am leaving Cape Town on 6th May,
I wil...: Dear All, I am leaving Cape Town on 6th May, I will keep you informed as to how my journey through Africa is going - Please note that this...

My journey has begun far further north than expected as in Sweden as I mentioned I met Cosmos of Ghana. His greatest wish was to have his staff educated in Curative education.
Then in Dornoch I met Kofi. He left Ghana, a teacher who went in search of ways to help the handicapped/learning disabled children in his class. He had heard of the Camphill communities and went to America 30 years earlier. He has studied Curative Education and Waldorf Education and has worked in these fields in America.
Next I heard of Bambo Camara, an enthusiastic young man who wishes to begin a home for handicapped in Gambia. He came to Switzerland to learn but did not get into the Curative course.
Maybe this is where my networking has begun as Kofi would love to train the staff in Ghana and possibly Bambo could train there too.
If this is a sign, I feel I am on the right path.