This is written by Zoe Tilton, an ob-gyn that I had the pleasure of working with when my practice was in Davis. Enjoy her perspective!
Ethiopia Trip 2014
June 17
Our first full day in Ethiopia was full of contrasts. We enjoyed an abundant breakfast buffet at the Jupiter Hotel before heading to the airport. Arriving in Lalibela, we stopped at a simple rural home and saw firsthand how women make the Ethiopian staple injera. It was humbling to see life without amenities. The kids were smiling although they have no material possessions. Very small girls were crossing the road, carrying plastic water jugs to the family home. This stop was a great lesson for us all, including the kids.
Lalibela is an interesting town with many hills and many houses, some the traditional round mud and stone houses with thatched roofs and some a little more modern. The bus negotiated the windy roads, full of people, goats and donkeys.
Our hotel “Mountain View” is beautiful, each room with a balcony, perfect for viewing the early morning light on the hills and the sun setting among the clouds.
We toured many stone churches, built 800 years ago each from a single rock. The priests, with their beards and robes, exhibited their faith and made me feel like time had stood still since the churches were built. The priests generously shared their reverence for the ancient hand crosses, crowns, drums and sacred paintings. The labor it took to build these churches is amazing. It was a very spiritual experience to visit the churches.
The day was great also as we are getting to know the others on the trip – Dr Fekadu and family, the Greers, the Jones, the Zubers, Dr Thomas and Zondra.
We ended the day at the beautiful and magical Restaurant Ben Abeba. It is a surprising construction, a kind of spiral structure with gardens and fountains. We had a wonderful dinner of Ethiopian wats and a few semi-Scottish items on behalf of the co-owner who is a Scot. They also showed us the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and had a fire where one could warm oneself while stargazing.
This was a day I could not have imagined before coming to Ethiopia.
Ethiopia Trip 2014
Our first full day in Ethiopia was full of contrasts. We enjoyed an abundant breakfast buffet at the Jupiter Hotel before heading to the airport. Arriving in Lalibela, we stopped at a simple rural home and saw firsthand how women make the Ethiopian staple injera. It was humbling to see life without amenities. The kids were smiling although they have no material possessions. Very small girls were crossing the road, carrying plastic water jugs to the family home. This stop was a great lesson for us all, including the kids.
Lalibela is an interesting town with many hills and many houses, some the traditional round mud and stone houses with thatched roofs and some a little more modern. The bus negotiated the windy roads, full of people, goats and donkeys.
Our hotel “Mountain View” is beautiful, each room with a balcony, perfect for viewing the early morning light on the hills and the sun setting among the clouds.
We toured many stone churches, built 800 years ago each from a single rock. The priests, with their beards and robes, exhibited their faith and made me feel like time had stood still since the churches were built. The priests generously shared their reverence for the ancient hand crosses, crowns, drums and sacred paintings. The labor it took to build these churches is amazing. It was a very spiritual experience to visit the churches.
The day was great also as we are getting to know the others on the trip – Dr Fekadu and family, the Greers, the Jones, the Zubers, Dr Thomas and Zondra.
We ended the day at the beautiful and magical Restaurant Ben Abeba. It is a surprising construction, a kind of spiral structure with gardens and fountains. We had a wonderful dinner of Ethiopian wats and a few semi-Scottish items on behalf of the co-owner who is a Scot. They also showed us the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and had a fire where one could warm oneself while stargazing.
This was a day I could not have imagined before coming to Ethiopia.
Thanks for a great blog about your trip! I almost feel as if I'm there with you!
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