Had a dark start to the day, having no power. While we got ready, we had our usual delicious breakfast. Lyle then headed to the Lufthansa office to see if our flights had any bulk head seats available. There are none, so we will not have a bassinet for Mihret to rest in. She will be on laps the entire trip home. Ugh!
The two grandmas decided to go walking and shopping in the neighborhood as Lyle, Mikiyas, Mihret and I were going on a hike to see a church built in a rock below the ground 1600 years ago.
I will interject here a side story. There is a boy here from BC that is 8 years old. He and Mikiyas have hit it off beautifully. They were playing in our room together as we got ready for hike. However, the van left without us. The boy's mother was in the van and didn't have her son. She had been told we were in a van that left before them and she was mad that her son left without her. And we were surprised she left without her son. Thankfully, all was well and they came back to get us.
Anyway ... We were told it was a 45 minute hike. We weren't told it was up the side of a mountain and was beyond any average hike. The entire climb was up. Some slopes as much as a 45 degree angle, which sucks when you are carrying an extra 25 pounds in the form of a squiggling baby. Lyle, myself and one other man rotated carrying Mihret. Given her aversion to being held by anyone but me, the only time she wasn't crying was when she was in my arms so I think I got the brunt of the uphill climb. The elevation is hard in the city here, so we all could really feel it climbing the mountain. At one point, I felt a little light headed. We had a guide who does the climb about four times a day. He is at least 60 years old. We also had a man in a green suit with a machine gun. Half way up I asked why the gun, and was informed it was in case of hyenas or lions.
We enjoyed the amazing things to see and learn at the top. It was incredible what the people carved out of one rock in the ground 1600 years ago. And then we had a most magnificent view of the entire city. The journey down was much easier and quicker. Our armed guard grabbed Mihret at the beginning of the descent. He ended up taking her the entire trip down. He had started singing to her to get her to stop crying and she fell asleep. He put his fancy hat over her head and managed to keep her the entire trip down. I mentioned to them after that all families should be warned not to take small children.
The two grandmas decided to go walking and shopping in the neighborhood as Lyle, Mikiyas, Mihret and I were going on a hike to see a church built in a rock below the ground 1600 years ago.
I will interject here a side story. There is a boy here from BC that is 8 years old. He and Mikiyas have hit it off beautifully. They were playing in our room together as we got ready for hike. However, the van left without us. The boy's mother was in the van and didn't have her son. She had been told we were in a van that left before them and she was mad that her son left without her. And we were surprised she left without her son. Thankfully, all was well and they came back to get us.
Anyway ... We were told it was a 45 minute hike. We weren't told it was up the side of a mountain and was beyond any average hike. The entire climb was up. Some slopes as much as a 45 degree angle, which sucks when you are carrying an extra 25 pounds in the form of a squiggling baby. Lyle, myself and one other man rotated carrying Mihret. Given her aversion to being held by anyone but me, the only time she wasn't crying was when she was in my arms so I think I got the brunt of the uphill climb. The elevation is hard in the city here, so we all could really feel it climbing the mountain. At one point, I felt a little light headed. We had a guide who does the climb about four times a day. He is at least 60 years old. We also had a man in a green suit with a machine gun. Half way up I asked why the gun, and was informed it was in case of hyenas or lions.
We enjoyed the amazing things to see and learn at the top. It was incredible what the people carved out of one rock in the ground 1600 years ago. And then we had a most magnificent view of the entire city. The journey down was much easier and quicker. Our armed guard grabbed Mihret at the beginning of the descent. He ended up taking her the entire trip down. He had started singing to her to get her to stop crying and she fell asleep. He put his fancy hat over her head and managed to keep her the entire trip down. I mentioned to them after that all families should be warned not to take small children.
We returned to the guest house shortly after lunch, exhausted, sore and suffering from some sun burn. After a quick bite to eat for the kids, we went shopping at "Churchill", an area of small, hot, crammed full stores full of souvenirs, gift items and traditional type clothing. We had fun doing a little bartering and getting to know some of the shop owners.
The night ended with ordering in dinner and having some terrific laughs with Mihret and Mikiyas. Mihret had some issues waiting for the second part of her meal as it was late coming to her. She definitely has her issues about needing to eat. But when it did finally come, I was proud to see her finally grab some of it with her hand and feed herself. Just a few times, and a little timid doing so, but a good step nonetheless.
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