Day 3 - Simien Mountains/Gonder

Today, we told our guide we wanted a little later start. The kids start getting cranky if we have to wake them up too many days in a row!  So we planned for 8 am breakfast and left the hotel around 8:45.

We drove up the mountains from Gonder for about 45 minutes.  Eventually we pulled over, and our guide asked a group of men by the road if there were any baboons in the area.  They said no, but directed us to a place another 10 minutes up the road.  There, Werku hired a local man to lead us into the mountains for our "trek" and to help us look for wildlife.

A word about the word "trek"... Do not be fooled, as I was, into thinking this is a mere synonym for "hike" or "walk".  This was uphill, rocky terrain, crossing streams by  skipping from rock to rock "trekking".  I would say our kids were the absolute minimum age, and we were the absolute minimum fitness level! Haha.  I also was ill-prepared in terms of footwear; my Skechers took a beating!

The view along the way was absolutely stunning!  So lush and green, with mountains in all directions.  We encountered very few people along the path, and those we did were glad to say hello and go on their way; none of the pressure to buy tchotchkes along the way.  The hike was difficult, and the two guides often carried the children over particularly uneven ground.  We were so thankful for them!

The start of the trek.  I thought, "This isn't so bad..."  Ha!

The locals get their water here.

Lunch was boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, oranges, bananas, and bread.  I was surprised that both kids ate the plain boiled potatoes without complaining. :)

This is more representative of the trek...

The clouds rolled in and it was literally like standing in clouds!  Very cool!

We hiked about 2.5 hours in sort of a "C" shaped path.  The van met us at the road and we drove the local guide about 10 minutes back to where we started, lol.  It was physically exhausting, but so, so worth it!  So beautiful and peaceful and amazing.

Werku suggested we stop at a local Jewish market, but Thomas veto'd that. Haha.  We haven't asked the kids' opinions on many things lately, and they've seldom complained, so we decided we would just go straight back to the city.  I thought we were going directly to the horse back ride, but Werku said that wasn't until later in the day, and so we went back to the hotel for a nap/rest time. (I napped, the kids played video games on their ipods).

At 2, we met Werku in front of the hotel.  I thought we'd be driving to meet the horses, but there they were, decked out in full regalia! lol.

We mounted our horses, and began our ride, each horse being led by a "horseman" and our guide, Werku, coming along for good measure.  We were quite the spectacle as we made our way through the streets of Gonder!  Everywhere we go, people call out "Baby ferengi!" and today it was "Baby ferengi! Horses!" hahaha.  I think we waved to half of Gonder.  It felt like a parade!

Eventually we made it out of the city to a more rural area and enjoyed an hour long ride.  I think the original plan had been a much longer ride, but by now, Werku knows the kids attention spans, and adjusts accordingly.  I sometimes feel like we should be "getting our money's worth" but really, a one hour ride that ends with smiling children is better than a 3 hour ride that ends in tears!

We were back at the hotel by 3:30 and then we walked to the tour company office to pay for our trip! (I can hardly believe the trip was half over before we had paid a dime!  Very trusting people!).  Then we walked for supper, back to the restaurant where we had lunch yesterday.  Once again, it was very yummy! (Master Chef, for anyone coming to Gonder).

We came back to the hotel and the kids played while I started working on the blog posts about yesterday and today.  Dave and Thomas went to their room to sleep, and Faith has been reading while I finished up.

Tomorrow we are up bright and early for our flight to Lalibela, the last destination on our little trip.  Hopefully we will have wifi and I can update from there, otherwise we are back in Addis in 3 days!