Ethiopia (April-May 2012): Mekele-to-Lalibela-to-Debark trek (page 2 of 8)

Return to main Ethiopia 2012 webpage | Go to pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

 

Map. (Click here to access the waypoints in Google Earth. Click on the map to get a better-resolution picture of it.)

map-small

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Mekele

2. Melber

3. Adigueba

4. Samre

5. Finaroa

6. Sara

7. Chakra

8. Samara

9. Mailomi

10. Sekota

11. Wouala

12 Hass

13. Hava

14 Bilbela

15. Lalibela

16 Daria Johanes

17 Mari

18 Azila

19

20 Amusit

21.

22. Tekeze river

23. Chinamba

24. Archwa

25.

26. Salamiyi

27 Dorona

28.

29.

30. Debark

 

Between WP #3 and WP #4 (small town of Samre).

 

 

Canyons before reaching Samre (WP #4).

 

 

 

 

Rest stop under an acacia.

 

Reaching Samre (WP #4).

 

Coffee ceremony in Samre. This traditional ceremony is widespread across Ethiopia. Coffee beans are successively washed, roasted over hot coals, and grinded in a mortar. The coffee grounds are then brewed three times in a clay pot. The three servings have decreasing strength. Incense and other aromatic herbs are burned separately.

 

 

 

Young woman in Samre.

 

Children in Samre. In rural areas most children do not have birth certificates. If one can touch his/her left ear with his/her right hand, then he/she must be at least 7 and go to school!

 

Traditional weaving machine. Almost every house has one to make traditional clothes, in particular the ubiquitous cotton wraps (shamma).

 

My camp in Samre (orange tent).

 

View from Samre over its surroundings.

 

Scenery as we left Samre.

 

Woman on the trail.

 

A rare small creek.

 

Dryer scenery between Samre and WP #5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round thatched roof huts.

 

 

Typical Orthodox church.

 

Lowland landscape between WP #4 and WP #5.

 

 

 

 

 

Rock formation before reaching WP #5.

 

Farm near WP #5.

 

Landscapes between WP #5 and WP #6. We are still in the lowlands.

 

 

 

 

 

Termite mound.

 

Carrying bags on heads or shoulders over several successive days is very strenuous. Later we often hired local porters or donkeys for the day.

 

In a village between WP #5 and WP #6.

 

 

Lalibela (ላሊበላ in Amharic) is still 195km away by the gravel road.

 

A rare river.

 

 

Group of armed people. We encountered a number of them during the trek. Most seem to be government-appointed militias.

 

Baobabs.

 

More lowland landscapes between WP #5 and WP #6.

 

 

 

Young girls in the village of Sara (WP #6).

 

Keeping children under control in the village of Sara. Here, Mulat sets up games and distributes Obama pens to the winners (every child is eventually a winner and gets an Obama pen!).

 

Woman selling us spicy beans in Sara.

 

Barley (mixed with some peanuts) roasted by Negussie. It is a basic treat throughout Ethiopia.

 

Police station in Sara.

 


Return to main Ethiopia 2012 webpage | Go to pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8