October 3rd Dese to Lalibela.

After breakfast I head for Lalibela.. one of Ethiopias major tourist attractions. Eleven churches cut out of solid stone. 12th/13th century.

But I must get over a few mountains to get there.

Ethiopia has 71% of Africa's mountains.. The scenery gets better and better.

Dese is set in a beautiful part of Ethiopia.

Dese set in mountains 8000 feet above sea level

Desee Kids on the way to school

Lovely and green ..this is Autumn

How good is this.

Various photo's on the way.

Market day in one of the villages

With water there is life.

The fastest way to drive is to follow the local mini buses.. These guys know the road and know where the potholes are.. I do this a lot but they drive like a bats out of hell.. Hard to keep up and dangerous.

The passes rise many thousand feet.. I started at the valley floor.

Today I would have done at least 3 or 4 this high.

Timber huts like this are everywhere..Low cost housing.

Housing is a big problem for the 110 million Ethiopians. One report said that 80% of people in Addis lived in substandard housing. In the country, it is worse.

Simple but effective.

The wooden frame is gum. After the main gum tree is cut.. the stump is left to sprout and these saplings provide the walls for these houses.

Villages of them.. Cheap and what a view.

Government and NGO's involved.

Long horn cattle common in the valleys.

At the top of one mountain pass the GPS tells me to take a sharp right turn to Lalibela..

I have had a few arguments with the GPS.. not always taking me the shortest route.

This time I take the advice

70 k's of dirt road to Lalibela

The road is rough and plenty of wash aways..

But I will save about 1.5 hours

Teff grown everywhere..Hand made terraces

I meet a Sri Lankan group on this road.. they are heading for Lalibela.. I'm 40 k's away and say to their driver/guide.."about an hour to go". He says "more than 2" and he is right.

The scenery is ever changing

I get to Lalibela at 3 and check in to a hotel and head straight to the churches..US$50 entrance fee .. guides hassling me to be given "a good tour" I decline ..a local says he is a deacon at one of the churches and would love to show me around.. no cost. I decline but he is there anyway.

63% of Ethiopians are Christians.. Orthodox church in the main and 34% Islam.. the rest like me.

Church of Saint George.. the most famous of the eleven

And with a name like that it should be!

It is an impressive engineering feat .

Interior of St. George

I move on:

Another

And another.. Tunnels and dark narrow passages to get in.. It's fun so they say.

Nice structure

I see 6 in a couple of hours.. that's enough!

The deacon asks for US$30 payment.. I give him 5 and head for the hotel and the bar..

The barman speaks English.. and the waitress is pretty...what more could you want. We chat ..it only takes 15 minutes for the barman to tell me the pretty waitress is 22, a virgin and wants to marry me and come to Australia..After the second beer I think it is a fine idea..

Dinner is acceptable/bordering on good.. Must be a good hotel as there are 2 groups staying.