Several months ago, I was talking with a friend who lives in Addis. She has never been to the North of the country yet, and neither had I. So , we decided to plan a little holiday together. And this week, this holiday is actually happening! I wasn't sure it was going to happen ... Already,my flight out of Jb was cancelled yesterday, thought thankfully the was a later flight, and there was space on it for me! So I got to Addis after only one false start yesterday.
Then, we were scheduled to leave the house at 5:30am to catch our flight to Gondar this morning. We're to have the full day in Gondar today, enjoying the palaces of a mideival kingdom, as well as some of the churches and the Kings swimming pool.
Instead, once we checked in for our early morning flight... We learned that it, too, was cancelled! But we were already at the airport, and set for a later flight. So what could we do, it while away the hours (6 of them, all told!) in the airport. Of course, it was about 5 1/2 hours into the air that I finally discovered that there was Internet in the airport!
We finally made it to Gndar, around 2pm, and the tour guide was there to pick us up. We decided to book the whole trip through a travel agency, because they take care of everything - and we both wanted a holiday, not a stressful haggling fest at every turn!
And so far, so good. Even though we were 6 hours late in arriving, we still managed to see the highlights of Gondar. What an amazing thing it was to stand there, gazing up at the castle walls that I have seen so often In pictures... Taking my own pictures of them! This place is so steeped in history, and it's amazing to have the opportunity to be a tourist here for a few days and to see it all first hand.
Tomorrow, we are off to the Simien Mountains for a few day, to look for baboons and ibex! I'm just hoping I can make it up the trail... Gondar is built on the mountain side, and it's been hard enou climbing thought the streets of Gondar, which are nearly 9000 ft high!
However, the driver is careful, the tour guide was friendly and informative (but not overly friendly!), and I have learned a lot a out this country, the Orthodox church and tradition, and even Ethiopian art and Insruments today!
It really does seem about as far away from my normal life as Middle Earth!
Then, we were scheduled to leave the house at 5:30am to catch our flight to Gondar this morning. We're to have the full day in Gondar today, enjoying the palaces of a mideival kingdom, as well as some of the churches and the Kings swimming pool.
Instead, once we checked in for our early morning flight... We learned that it, too, was cancelled! But we were already at the airport, and set for a later flight. So what could we do, it while away the hours (6 of them, all told!) in the airport. Of course, it was about 5 1/2 hours into the air that I finally discovered that there was Internet in the airport!
We finally made it to Gndar, around 2pm, and the tour guide was there to pick us up. We decided to book the whole trip through a travel agency, because they take care of everything - and we both wanted a holiday, not a stressful haggling fest at every turn!
And so far, so good. Even though we were 6 hours late in arriving, we still managed to see the highlights of Gondar. What an amazing thing it was to stand there, gazing up at the castle walls that I have seen so often In pictures... Taking my own pictures of them! This place is so steeped in history, and it's amazing to have the opportunity to be a tourist here for a few days and to see it all first hand.
Tomorrow, we are off to the Simien Mountains for a few day, to look for baboons and ibex! I'm just hoping I can make it up the trail... Gondar is built on the mountain side, and it's been hard enou climbing thought the streets of Gondar, which are nearly 9000 ft high!
However, the driver is careful, the tour guide was friendly and informative (but not overly friendly!), and I have learned a lot a out this country, the Orthodox church and tradition, and even Ethiopian art and Insruments today!
It really does seem about as far away from my normal life as Middle Earth!
No comments:
Post a Comment