Day 5: Monday

Entry 1
We're flying to Lalibela for the Christmas celebrations. I'm partly excited and partly nervous. I hate crowds. This should be interesting.

Entry 2
I feel bad for Trevion. She got shoved in next to me, and we both have wide hips so you know that was a squeeze. Packed in like freaking sardines. At least they gave us snacks? And orange juice!

Entry 3
Thinking back to my last entry...I may be obsessed with orange juice. Which isn't news. But still. Orange juice.

Entry 4
The ride from the airport up into the mountains where Lalibela is situated was really bumpy and it felt like we were breathing dust the entire way. It was like being back in New Mexico when a dust storm was just starting to brew. I was not a fan. The incline was also VERY steep. But hey, it was pretty?

Entry 5
We're staying at a hotel called Bete Abraham, which means "House of Abraham." See, I was paying attention! It's pretty nice. Dominika and I are sharing a room and praying we don't get attacked by mosquitos. This is a holy site, they should listen to prayers, right?

Entry 6
Had I realized we would be hiking, I would have worn something completely different. Heavy sweaters are great for standing still and being cold, not climbing a mountain and sweating the cold away. We're sightseeing and going on a tour of the eleven churches (for the apostles?), but it DEFINITELY feels more like a hike. Under different circumstances, I'd probably be enjoying the hiking, but there are a million people here and I'm not a fan of having to elbow my way through a crowd of religious worshipers. Like, that's pretty much sacrilege. My parents would be mortified. Oh well.

Entry 7
We're barely into this hike and Trevion has almost died. She was walking across a bridge made of metal pipes and slipped. It was terrifying to watch, and it was made more so by the entire crowd of worshipers collectively gasping. Too bad the effect was tempered by the immediate giggling that followed. I guarantee I didn't let go of the support pipes the entire way across after that. But as Trevion said, apparently thick thighs DO save lives, so both of us are covered.

Entry 8
Pretty sure we've been photographed more than the churches at this rate. Is it that rare to see foreigners? Well, I guess what they say is true: "take a picture, it'll last longer!"

Entry 9
My knee doesn't like me any more right now. I think I overextended it going up one of the rocky hillsides. Dang it.

Entry 10
You know what I said about mosquitos? Yeah, they don't care if we're in a religious holy city or not apparently. And they REALLY like Dominika.