Friday 13th

Awake at 4 and looked at iPad. Devastating election results so no more sleep. Listened to podcasts.
Mr C left at 7 with Nagusse to walk from hotel to Ashetan Maryam. I joined Jane and Caryn on the minibus at 9. It was a long bumpy ride to the top of the “road” where Iain and Nagusse were waiting. We all set off for the last part, but C felt unwell so went back.

It was a lovely walk up steeply then along a narrow track with high cliffs on our left and drops down on the right. A last steep pull and we were there, 3150m, atop Abune Yosemite mountain.

We were invited in to hear the priests singing and it was very soothing to the soul after the awful election.

On our return we had some soup in the hotel then headed out with the local guide and shoekeeper from yesterday to visit the other group of churches, starting with St Gabriel, a monolithic one, then through tunnels to St Dmitri and then St Bartholomew before wending our way through to the small church dedicated to Lalibela’s wife. It looked like a small Petra, being cut into the rock with only the front carved and open.

We tried to check in for our flight home but Explore have given us the wrong code. On top of it all I must have bumped my phone somewhere in a tunnel as the screen has cracked, despite its protector. Friday 13 indeed.

It’s been a great trip but we are ready for home.