Highlights from Ethiopia!

Susan and I had a four-day weekend, courtesy of 'Id al-Adha (thank you, Abraham, for being willing to sacrifice Isaac and giving me another holiday in my calendar year).  So we decided to head to Ethiopia to visit Rachel, who happened to be there on a work trip.

We saw churches and old bones, watched some amazing dancing, ate food that was delicious but harbored malicious bacteria, and spent some moneys on beautiful scarves and silver jewelry.  Overall, it was a wonderful weekend, even if it did make me wistfully wish Rachel and the rest of the family were a teensy bit closer. 

an airport shuttle reservation in honor of the Granny and Daddy, who spent some time in Ethiopia waaay back when

Lucy, or perhaps a cast of her? Wasn't quite clear...

Susan showering in Haile Selassie's bathtub - I'll spare you the picture of me and his bidet

he allowed us to take a picture with him for only 25 cents

but insisted on wearing sunglasses

one of the few times we found Coca Cola Light

eating delicious donuts at a bakery my Mom and Granny used to buy their bread at

the top,

side,

and bottom of one of the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela (Ethiopia's Petra)

old bones

and more old bones - outdoor burials grounds = yucky

what I imagined Hobbit houses to look like as a child, before Peter Jackson interfered

the view from the mountains surrounding Lalibela