Lalibela

Lalibela is a World Heritage Site and it is amazing! It is famous for churches that are carved out from the rock - "rock-hewn" to use the correct term. It is said that all the work was completed in 23 years and this was possible because while the regular workers were sleeping, angels came down from heaven to work on the churches through the night.

Essentially there was flat rock and then they chipped rock away to leave these amazing churches which are below the ground - just imagine being the first person to do the first bit of chipping away.

King Lalibela decided to build them to avoid the pilgrims having to make the dangerous journey to Jerusalem. Or he may have been inspired to build them after he went to heaven (while he was in a coma after his brother had poisoned him) and met God who told him to re-create Jerusalem in Ethiopia. Whatever the reason the churches are so interesting and here are some piccys.

Then there is these really odd looking restaurant which has amazing views, good food and plenty of beer - but no power on the night that we went....