Lalibela is our next destination. The animals and humans have not yet adapted to the higher speeds on tar, therefore, extreme care is necessary while driving.
In the mountainous hinterland beyond Adigrat Bine and Bodo want to visit a rock monastery. Picturesque it is on the edge. As we can see the wooden stairs structure, we do not want to climb up any more but Bodo and Bine give it a try.
From here our route runs just to the south, we want to get to Lalibela, but until there it is still two days to drive.
We find a place to sleep beside the road and quite a few children are here to observe us. My wife asks them a lot of questions which the boys do not like and they are leaving, which ensured a good night.
After the obligatory cup of coffee in the morning, we travel on.
The last 30 kilometers before Lalibela, we are already tired of the corrugated road and increase our speed to 70km/h because you do not feel the pumps at that speed and sail over the pumps but you have little control over the vehicle. Conclusion: I can hear our bearings.
The churches of Lalibela are a highlight of our tour through Ethiopia.
They belong to the last rock-hewn churches built in the 12th Century. These churches are rectangular layout, as opposed to churches built round the 16th Century. However, each of the 11 churches has its own character. King Lalibela had built the church into the red tuff, so the legend says. Angels have continued to be built them at night and accomplished so double the work performance.
More realistic is, that they had been built under several kings, among whom was a King Lalibela. It is still not entirely clear why there is this unique concentration of various rock buildings. Lalibela is a symbolic representation of Jerusalem. There is a place Golgotha, a grave of Adam, and a grave of Jesus.
Although a fee must be paid for the entrance, Lalibela is not a museum but an active faith center, there are still active services held in front of believers and they speak their prayers and religious songs.
Unfortunately, this also is the place where we separate from Bine and Bodo after two months of traveling together. Bodo and Bine go a different route, it takes us to Bahir Dar on Lake Tana.