People think that Ethiopia s a desert but our flight took us over vast areas of agricultural land made up of small neat fields.
We arrived at the small airport in Gondar which is the gateway to the Simien Mountain National Park. There were many hikers in evidence and I was a little sad that I would not be joining them.
We were met by our guide Malaku and driver Asnhaw with a Toyota minibus. It took us a few minutes to leave the car park as a taxi had blocked us in.
It was a twenty five minute drive to the town centre and we were diverted around roadworks. The area was very busy with people, goats, sheep and mules.
A religious gathering was taking place at the stadium next to the royal swimming pool.
We were dropped off at a hotel for breakfast and had a good view of the town centre.
After a breakfast of French Toast we took a short drive to the church of Debra Be Silasse.
We were amused by the entrance restrictions.
Malaku was a brilliant guide and knew what each painting inside the church depicted. There were bible stories from both testaments, saints and angels.
Eugene Spotted a pair of Lovebirds.
From the church we drove to look at the Royal Palaces. These were built in the 17th and 18th centuries by each successive ruler.
We then visited the Fasiledes Bath built in the 17th century to carry out Baptisms. Today it is a scene of celebration at New Year when it is filled with water by diverting art of the flow of the nearby river.
The bath is probably bigger than an Olympic Pool and is shaded by large Banyan and Fig trees.
Tourist seating is provided.
Lunch was taken traditional style at the Four Sisters Restaurant.
Afterwards we drove out to the Befikir Kossoye Ecology Lodge, admiring the spectacular mountain scenery.
The road is under construction and we often found ourselves being overtaken by speeding trucks full of hard core. One stopped just ahead of us and tipped his load off without waiting for us to drive past. Les reckoned they were on a bonus system.
The owner and staff a the lodge were very welcoming and invited us to a coffee ceremony.
Location:Gondar area of Ethiopia
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