I was unable to upload these with the last post, but here are some pictures from our first day in Lalibela. The weather is warmer and drier than we anticipated during this "rainy season!" Rain is predicted for today, and we are headed westward toward Gondar, a former Ethiopian capital.
Local woman making injera outside her home over open flame.
Gracious and hard working.
You can see the red-colored injera in the lower right corner.
Just a few of the children who gathered around to check us out.
At the vista point…Will is surrounded by schoolchildren, and he is happy for this connection.
Driving into Lalibela town, turquoise-clad schoolchildren walk arm in arm.
This is a common sight and sign of friendship.
Cross window cut into the massive stone church you see below.
Hand-carved with hand-held tools, not machine made!
Our guide teaching us about the stone carved churches. This is the first one we visited.
Truly a marvel that King Lalibela conceived of these churches and was able to execute on his vision.
The church was carved downward from the ground, then the windows, doorways, arches, and rooms, carved into the solid structure. The church is still active, and we were able to see inside.
Perhaps the most recognizable or famous of the stone churches, the
Church of St. George is in the form of an orthodox cross, with arms of equal length. Note the three-dimensional surface of the church's top, with sharp 90 degree angles.
Midway down are keyhole curved windows allowing light to filter in.
We walked down a rocky slope to get to the entrance of the church down below (you may be able to see some people at the church's base) and be greeted by a priest inside.
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