Lalibela

Lalibela Airport (LLI)	Ethiopian Airlines Fokker 50 at Lalibela	Ethiopian Airports Enterprise	Lalibela Airport
Heading into town from the airport	Turnoff for the road to Addis Ababa, 2 days away	The road to Lalibela	Village of thatched huts with the mountain of Ashetan Maryam
Village outside Lalibela	Rugged scenery near Lalibela	Arriving in Lalibela	Lalibela's new town reminded me of an Ethiopian version of an Austrian ski resort
Passing through Lalibela's new town	St. George Beer welcomes you to our Holy Land	The road from the summit of Lalibela descending towards the churches	People heading for a festival at St George church
We declined to join the crowd...	..and settled for a distant view on the way to the hotel	Roha Hotel, Lalibela	A round stone thatched hut typical of Lalibela
Traditional huts, Lalibela	Looks like poinsettia, Lalibela	Older village area of Lalibela	Pleasant place for lunch ... the terrace of the Seven Olives Hotel
Traditional Ethiopian menu with descriptions	Traditional menu, Seven Olives Hotel, Lalibela	Axumite - a very sweet Ethiopian red wine	Axumite Wine
A plate of traditional Ethiopian "fasting" food - vegetarian dishes	Another internet shack	Large platter of "fasting" food, Seven Olives	The Seven Olives puts out bird feeders around the patio
xxx with a Mountain Thrush, Seven Olives	The new UNESCO built covers to protect the churches, Lalibela	Bet Medhane Alem, the largest of Lalibela's rock hews churches	Monk, Lalibela
Bet Medhane Alem, Lalibela	Bet Medhane Alem - Savior of the World - 33.5 x 23.5 x 11.5m	Many of the 34 outer columns are replacements	Some of the original solid columns, Bet Medhane Alem
Peeking into one of the many small niches carved into the rock	One of many small caves and niches carved around the churches	Window in the shape of the Stelae of Axum, Lalibela	Rear facade of Bet Medhane Alem, 12th-13th C.
Arcade of Bet Medhane Alem	The churches were hewn out of solid rock to hide and protect them	A side doorway, Lalibela	Another Stele of Axum window
Grain for baking holy bread drying in the sun, Lalibela	Interior of Bet Medhane Alem, carved out of solid rock	Interior, Bet Medhane Alem	Priests in each church pose with their processional cross
Ethiopian carpet in Bet Medhane Alem, Lalibela	Vaulted ceiling, interior of Bet Medhane Alem church	Ceiling, interior of the rock-hewn church Savior of the World, Lalibela	Monk at the passageway to the second church
Bet Maryam, the second church in the northwestern group	Windows, Bet Maryam, Lalibela	Windows in various forms, Bet Maryam	Bet Maryam church, Lalibela
Overgrown pool next to Bet Maryam	Baptismal pool, Bet Maryam	Swastika shaped window, Bet Maryam	Entrance to Bet Maryam church, Lalibela
Bet Maryam Church, Lalibela	Bet Maryam Church, Lalibela	Bet Maryam Church, Lalibela	Interior of the tiny chapel Bet Meskel, north of Bet Maryam
Ethiopian priests hats, Bet Meskel	Bet Maryam Church, Lalibela	Priest with processional corss of Bet Maryam, Lalibela	The highly decorated interior of Bet Maryam, the most impressive in Lalibela
Painted interior, Bet Maryam	Intricately carved columns, arches and ceiling, Bet Maryam	Sleepy priest, Bet Maryam	Painting of 4 enthroned religious figures, Bet Maryam
Double headed eagle, Bet Maryam, Lalibela	Painted ceiling, Bet Maryam	Painted figures, Bet Maryam, Lalibela	Ethiopian icon, Bet Maryam
Interior, Bet Maryam, Lalibela	South entrance, Bet Maryam	Southern facade, Bet Maryam	Column, arches and ceiling, interior of Bet Danagehel, Lalibela
Looking through the door of Bet Danaghel to Bet Maryam	The ever popular St George, Bet Danaghel	Priest of Bet Danaghel with processional cross	The priests of Lalibela seem to enjoy posing for tourists...for a tip
Processional cross, Bet Danaghel	Doorway, Bet Danaghel, Lalibela	Southwest view of Bet Maryam, Lalibela	Carving of St George and the dragon, west facade, Bet Maryam
Bet Maryam, Lalibela	Keith, Lalibela	Church bell, Lalibela	Me, ringing the bell...
West facade of Bet Maryam, Lalibela	West facade of Bet Maryam, Lalibela	Crawling through one of the small passages	Rock hewn churches of Lalibela seen from surface by Bet Danaghel
Bet Meskel, Lalibela	Rock hewn church of Lalibela from surface level	Bet Maryam, Lalibela	Bet Maryam, Lalibela
Bet Danaghel	Bet Medhane Alem from the surface level	Roof of Bet Medhane Alem, Lalibela	Looking down on the east side of Bet Maryam, Lalibela
WIndow in the shape of the stele of Axum, perfect for pigeons	Modern tomb above the Lalibela churches	Passageway leading to Bet Golgotha	Me at Lalibela
Keith, wrong continent!	Passageway among the northwest churches	Carved windows, Lalibela churches	Entrance to Bet Golgotha and Bet Mikael
Side cave with curtain, Lalibela	Interior, Bet Mikael	Interior, Bet Mikael Lalibela	Carved relief figure, Bet Golgotha
Carved relief figure, Bet Golgotha, Lalibela	Bet Golgotha, Lalibela	Carved relief figure, Bet Golgotha	Priest, Bet Golgotha
Priest with processional cross and walking stick of King Lalibela	Carved relief figure, Bet Golgotha	The shoe tender - full service, Lalibela	Passage leading away from Bet Mikael
Passageway, Lalibela NW group	Doorways in the labyrinth of the northwest group of churches, Lalibela	Original main entrance, Lalibela	Me, main entrance, Lalibela
Main entrance, Northwest group of churches, Lalibela	Back in the village, Lalibela	Typical Lalibela-style round stone hut	Textiles for sale, Lalibela village
Thatched huts, Lalibela	Highlight of Lalibela - Bet Giyorgis, the Church of St. George	Traditional village, Lalibela	The hill of the Seven Olives (left) Lalibela
Village, Lalibela	The Church of St George, Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis is the most famous of Lalibela's churches...	...and probably the most famous site in Ethiopia
Bet Giyorgis, a pure monolithic stone carved church, stands apart from the other churches	Keith, Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	The Church of St George was the last of the rock hewn churches built in Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis, built in the shape of a Greek cross, Lalibela
Bet Giyorgis stands 15m tall	Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis, seen from the northwest, Lalibela	I have to wonder how many people have fallen over the edge...
Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	The Holy Spring, Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela, seen from the southwest
Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Window, Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Church of St. George, Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela, from the south
Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Rough hewn entrance to a side cave	The Sacred Spring, Lalibela
Niche for the chanters, St. George	Chanters' drums, Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela
Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Church of St. George, Lalibela	Mummified remains of pilgrims who died at Lalibela
Mummies in a carved niche was of St George Church	Priest with crosses, Bet Giyorgis	Rather simple interior of Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela	Shoe tender - entry level job at the Churches of Lalibela
My "shoe attendant" Lalibela	Mountain above Lalibela	Ethiopian license plate - Oromia Region (OR)	The Commerical Bank of Ethiopia - new since the 3rd Edition of the Lonely Planet
Commerical Bank of Ethiopia, Lalibela	Beauty salon, Lalibela	Richard Barber, Lalibela	Shops along the main commerical street, Lalibela
Ethiopian license plate ET	Stripped shell of a bus, Lalibela	China Super Market Lalibela	Old woman walking, Lalibela
Megenagn "Hotel" Lalibela	Blue Nile, Lalibela	Beer O'Clock, Lalibela	Lalibela
Lalibela	Obama t-shirt, Ethiopia	Lalibela	Rock-hewn churches outside Lalibela
Village, Lalibela	Ourdoor celebration, part of the festival we saw eariler this day	I was a bit annoyed when the gate keeper wouldn't let us sit and watch for a while	Lalibela
An excursion on our own into the village west of the main road	Woman preparing injera bread	Freshly cooked injera bread, Lalibela	Pouring the batter for another piece of injera
Cover and late cook for about 10 minutes	Kids in Lalibela	Typical round house, Lalibela	Preparing a giant vat of food for a wedding
Stirring a vat of Ethiopian food prepared for a wedding	Tibs waiting for the pot...	Kids in Lalibela	Askalech Tej House, Lalibela
Askalech Tej House, Lalibela	Askalech Tej House, dark interior	Tej, honey wine, Lalibela	Keith approving of the local Tej
Soon, the traditional Ethiopian minstrels start	...a group of about 15 Chinese comes in, takes pictures, don't order anything, then leave	Keith dancing, Askalech Tej House, Lalibela	Ethiopians again impressed with Keith's dancing
...they got me dancing again! Lalibela	I had my Tej in Axum, thanks!	Ethiopian priests relaxing at the Tej house	Ethiopian priests off-duty, Lalibela
Tin shack - MKH Internet Cafe, Lalibela	Obama Souvenir Shop - Lalibela	The following morning passing the Obama souvenir shop again	Lalibela
Village huts, Lalibela	Entrance to the southeastern group of rock-hewn churches, Lalibela	Leading to the stone bridge to Bet Gabriel-Rufael	Bet Gabriel-Rufael
Looking across the dry moat to Bet Gabriel-Rufael	The bridge to Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Lalibela	This church may have earlier been a fortified palace in the 8th C.	Chanters, Bet Gabrial, Lalibela
We were lucky and came upon a group of chanters	Bet Gabriel, Lalibela	Bet Gabriel, Lalibela	Blue-eyed Madonna and Child, Bet Gabriel
Ancient Bible in a protective case, Bet Gabriel	Chanters, Bet Gabriel, Lalibela	Chanters, Bet Gabriel, Lalibela	Bridge to Bet Gabriel
Keith on the terrace of Bet Rufael	Window, Bet Rufael	Bet Rufael, Lalibela	Back entrance, Bet Gabriel
Rear of Bet Gabriel	Preparing bread, Bet Gabriel	Rear of Bet Gabriel	Keith, Bet Gabriel
Bet Gabriel, Lalibela	Studded door, Lalibela	Studded door, Lalibela	Bakery, Lalibela
Entrance to the passage leading to Bet Merkorios	Entrance to the passage leading to Bet Merkorios	Interior of the structure the guide called the bakery	Long passage to Bet Merkorios
Emerging from the long dark passageway	Climbing up from the subterranean tunnel	15th Century fresco of the 3 Wise Men, Bet Merkorios	Fresco, Bet Merkorios, Lalibela
Priest with processional cross, Bet Merkorios, Lalibela	Bet Merkorios, Lalibela	Ethiopian Saint Gebre Manfus Kiddus with lions and leopards	Equestrian saint spearing a soldier, Bet Merkorios, Lalibela
Bet Merkorios, Lalibela	Back down in the tunnel	Ethiopian time - 12 starts at 6 am	Bet Amanuel, Lalibela
Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	Freestanding monolithic church, Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	West entrance, Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	Keith and I, Bet Amanuel
Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	Interior, Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	Interior, Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	Priest with processional crosses, Bet Amanuel, Lalibela
Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	Baptismal pool, Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	Keith in the pool
Cross shaped window, Bet Amanuel, Lalibela	Priest emerging from a passage, Lalibela	Narrow passage leading to Bet Abba Libanos	Slit shaped passage, Lalibela
Bet Abba Libanos, Lalibela	Bet Abba Libanos, the last of the main churches in Lalibela	Bet Abba Libanos, Lalibela	Bet Abba Libanos, Lalibela
Interior, Bet Abba Libanos, Lalibela	Priest with processional crosses of Bet Abba Libanos, Lalibela	Priest, Bet Abba Libanos, Lalibela	Ethiopian saint
Keith tries out a chanter's drum	Storage niche, Lalibela	Narrow passage, Lalibela	Outer wall of the SE group of churches
Huts of the monastery, Lalibela	Traditional hut in the village, Lalibela	Village, Lalibela	EthiopiaJan09 3488.jpg
Typical round hut, Lalibela	Typical round hut, Lalibela	Village hut, Lalibela	Village hut, Lalibela
Village near the churches of Lalibela	Typical Lalibela village architecture	Walking through the village, Lalibela	Village, Lalibela
Village, Lalibela	Village, Lalibela	Village, Lalibela	Narrow alley through the village, Lalibela
Grain drying in the sun, Lalibela	Village, Lalibela	The guide said those were hops	Village, Lalibela
Grain drying in front of huts in the village, Lalibela	Village, Lalibela	Spices used to give Ethiopian cuisine its hotness	Village, Lalibela
Various Ethiopian staples, Lalibela	Village, Lalibela	Large old tree, Lalibela	Business Incubation Center, Lalibela
Decoration bound for the top of a church	St George Beer	HIV project, Lalibela	Tekeze Monatery Handicrafts, Lalibela
Dibora Internet Cafe, Lalibela	Bird feeders at the Seven Olives Hotel	Ethiopian high school students walking home	The after school rush, Lalibela
Blue uniformed Ethiopian high school students, Lalibela	Driving past Lalibela's new town	Driving from Lalibela back to the airport	NGO organization Plan in Kebele
NGO Plan active around Lalibela	The road to Lalibela Airport	The bridge leading to Addis Ababa	Village next to Lalibela Airport
Every Ethiopian Airlines flight we took was on-time (or early)	Walking out to the airplane, Lalibela	Ethiopian Airlines Fokker 50