Day 200 - Epiphany Day.Timkat day
Saturday, January 19, 2019.
Today I wanted to get up early because it is Ephifany or Timkat day and we heard that there was going to be a ceremony probably very early in the morning. I was upset with myself for not setting up the alarm and instead chose to sleep. Well, we had a late start and then after breakfast, we were all trying to decide where to go next. Planning is always hard because everyone wants to do different things. This time, Gregory had done all the research and planning and got frustrated when he heard Sunshine saying that she didn’t want to go to Dire Dawa. He was frustrated with me for not showing any interest and for not doing any research in general about Ethiopia.
After talking about our options for a while and not coming to any conclusion, I decided to walk to the church nearby to see if I could catch any celebration going on. Sunshine came with me so we could walk to the nice Western Hotel looking for fast internet so she could send some of her homework.
We walked to Maryam church and we found a lot of people dressed up all in white. Many people were gathering outside the church which doors were closed. We walked around and took pictures of ladies dressed in their beautiful cotton dresses. Which by the way, are not cheap. I asked local people how much they paid for the dresses because I wanted to buy one and many of them said that they start from $ 80 to $500. I found that hard to believe especially considering how poor people are here, but then again, it might be their only fancy dress for special occasions. In any case, it looks amazing to see all the streets covered with people dressed in white. Even the man wore a white fancy vest with a colorful cross on the front.
Sunshine and I left the church and head to the Western hotel where we had a drink so we could use their internet. Sunshine was able to send her photos for her photo class and I was finally able to relax. It is so frustrating having bad internet at home because we all get behind in everything. A little later, Gregory and Daniel caught up with us. I told the waiter that I was bummed that I had missed the mass and he told me that there was something going on at the moment. We went back to the church despite Sunshine and Daniel’s complaints. They had closed the main road and there was a big crowd following some umbrellas so we walked to that direction. When we got there, we saw a procession going on. The pope, priests, and deacons were all wearing fancy and colorful outfit and different hats. Some of the priests were wearing really big square hats on top of their heads. I wasn’t sure if it was to cover from the sun or it was a hat.
It was fascinating seeing some many people singing, dancing, clapping, playing the drums and following the procession. We also saw a group of younger people singing and dancing in another side of the procession. There were so many people of all ages and most of them were singing. You could also smell the incense behind the procession. After half an hour, we were melting and we decided to go back to the church where everyone was heading to. My family was done but I wanted to see if something else was going to happen. Gregory and the kids waited by the door, I walked to the church mostly because the doors were open and I wanted to see the inside. I took off my shoes and covered my head like all the locals. The inside of the church was simple and decorated with very colorful frescos all over in the roof and the walls. I wanted to say a small pray but this little girl kept distracting me and instead I took some pictures. The mom came to get her and I felt little embarrassed and decided to leave. Besides, I was starving by then. Daniel's note: She was very hangry (Hangry means angry because you are hungry) and still decided to go into the church despite her body telling her not to.
We walked back to a nearby restaurant that had pizzas and hamburgers and I have to say that it tasted like heaven. After lunch, we walked the kids back home. Daniel now has a cold. Gregory and I are were going to go to Meskal square but instead, we stayed and rested. I took a two-hour nap. I feel like we are still recovering from all the traveling. I made tomato soup for dinner for the kids and Gregory and I walked to a nearby bar for a drink. The bar was very cool, it was decorated with many umbrellas as the roof and patio furniture. We sat outside. It was empty maybe because it was early but in any case, we had a good time. We walked back home and still had time to watch some tv. It was a good day!
Today I wanted to get up early because it is Ephifany or Timkat day and we heard that there was going to be a ceremony probably very early in the morning. I was upset with myself for not setting up the alarm and instead chose to sleep. Well, we had a late start and then after breakfast, we were all trying to decide where to go next. Planning is always hard because everyone wants to do different things. This time, Gregory had done all the research and planning and got frustrated when he heard Sunshine saying that she didn’t want to go to Dire Dawa. He was frustrated with me for not showing any interest and for not doing any research in general about Ethiopia.
After talking about our options for a while and not coming to any conclusion, I decided to walk to the church nearby to see if I could catch any celebration going on. Sunshine came with me so we could walk to the nice Western Hotel looking for fast internet so she could send some of her homework.
We walked to Maryam church and we found a lot of people dressed up all in white. Many people were gathering outside the church which doors were closed. We walked around and took pictures of ladies dressed in their beautiful cotton dresses. Which by the way, are not cheap. I asked local people how much they paid for the dresses because I wanted to buy one and many of them said that they start from $ 80 to $500. I found that hard to believe especially considering how poor people are here, but then again, it might be their only fancy dress for special occasions. In any case, it looks amazing to see all the streets covered with people dressed in white. Even the man wore a white fancy vest with a colorful cross on the front.
Sunshine and I left the church and head to the Western hotel where we had a drink so we could use their internet. Sunshine was able to send her photos for her photo class and I was finally able to relax. It is so frustrating having bad internet at home because we all get behind in everything. A little later, Gregory and Daniel caught up with us. I told the waiter that I was bummed that I had missed the mass and he told me that there was something going on at the moment. We went back to the church despite Sunshine and Daniel’s complaints. They had closed the main road and there was a big crowd following some umbrellas so we walked to that direction. When we got there, we saw a procession going on. The pope, priests, and deacons were all wearing fancy and colorful outfit and different hats. Some of the priests were wearing really big square hats on top of their heads. I wasn’t sure if it was to cover from the sun or it was a hat.
It was fascinating seeing some many people singing, dancing, clapping, playing the drums and following the procession. We also saw a group of younger people singing and dancing in another side of the procession. There were so many people of all ages and most of them were singing. You could also smell the incense behind the procession. After half an hour, we were melting and we decided to go back to the church where everyone was heading to. My family was done but I wanted to see if something else was going to happen. Gregory and the kids waited by the door, I walked to the church mostly because the doors were open and I wanted to see the inside. I took off my shoes and covered my head like all the locals. The inside of the church was simple and decorated with very colorful frescos all over in the roof and the walls. I wanted to say a small pray but this little girl kept distracting me and instead I took some pictures. The mom came to get her and I felt little embarrassed and decided to leave. Besides, I was starving by then. Daniel's note: She was very hangry (Hangry means angry because you are hungry) and still decided to go into the church despite her body telling her not to.
We walked back to a nearby restaurant that had pizzas and hamburgers and I have to say that it tasted like heaven. After lunch, we walked the kids back home. Daniel now has a cold. Gregory and I are were going to go to Meskal square but instead, we stayed and rested. I took a two-hour nap. I feel like we are still recovering from all the traveling. I made tomato soup for dinner for the kids and Gregory and I walked to a nearby bar for a drink. The bar was very cool, it was decorated with many umbrellas as the roof and patio furniture. We sat outside. It was empty maybe because it was early but in any case, we had a good time. We walked back home and still had time to watch some tv. It was a good day!
To see pictures click here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Xtrzs8oWkiLk7Wxo7
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