Will Be Right Back

I decided to spend my last days in Ethiopia visiting few of its churches hidden in the mountains in Tigray region. Getting there wasn't easy, but certainly worth it! The plan is to first fly to Axum and then slowly get back south from there visiting some less obvious sites. This map was made with Wanderlog , a road trip planner app on iOS and Android Axum Short flight to Axum, an ancient capital of a powerful empire, already revealed very promising views Axum obelisks, the main sight in the city, were rather disappointing. But a chance to see traditional Ethiopian funeral there definitely wasn't! Believe it or not, but the place here is told to be where Ark of Covenant is hidden. According to the legend it was stolen from Jerusalem by Menelik I, son of King Salomon and Queen of Sheba. Christmas feels different without snow. Debre Damo  Debre Damo, one of the oldest monasteries in Ethiopia is known for its inaccessibility. Most people visit on an organized tour, but that wo...

Spending Ethiopian Christmas with 50000 pilgrims. There are many reasons why I wanted to visit Ethiopia, but there is only one reason why I wanted to do this in early January. Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas in Lalibela. This map was made with Wanderlog , a road trip planner app on iOS and Android Waiting for the first star Lalibela used to be known for its inaccessibility. Unless you fly you're looking at many hours on a bumpy road. My bus was full of singing thanks to pilgrims I traveled (and had coffee) with. Entering a temple of St. Mary just before reaching the town requires taking shoes off early and lining in a pretty long queue. The queue was nothing compared to Lalibela itself though. The temple built in a cave is where the priest blesses pilgrims. All year round water, believed to be holy tears, drips into nine stone vessels in a cave from apparently dry ceiling. These tiny mud houses nearby are where young priests learn Bible by heart. You just sit there and try to reme...