The Gheralta Lodge, about ½ between Axum and Mekele, provides a very nice oasis stop on our trip. The Lodge was designed and is owned by Silvio Rizzotti, a retired Italian businessman who was born in Ethiopia. It is intended to offer a family style resort– but with impeccable standards of finishing, maintenance and cleanliness – and good, simple cooking prepared with local products.

 


 

The lodge is constructed with techniques and local materials traditionally used by the farmers of the Tigray region: stone walls, wooden ceilings, thatched or stone-made roofs. The internal furnishings are modern and functional. The design of the individual rooms is such that it allows maximum privacy and solitude, but with a central building for gathering and eating.

 


 

The lodge is situated so it does not to interfere with the rare natural beauty of this African site, in pleasant, beautiful surroundings. The view shown above, visible from the Lodge, is toward the Gheralta Mountain chain, across a valley covered with farming tracts.  While it looks arid now, we are just at the start of the rainy season.  By September/October, this same view would be bright green, covered with crops ready for harvesting.

 


 

We enjoyed another treat while at Gheralta. We meet with Andrew Tadross and Brittany Franck (pictured above), both Peace Corps volunteers working in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Dick and Andrew connected through mutual family friends in Houston.  It was great to hear their stories of service while here in Ethiopia.  Brittany has been here for 14 months and Andrew for 8.  W2T will help Andrew connect with the team at REST to evaluate the potential water solutions for a school in his service area.  As our traveling group is nearing the end of our tour, we all gather our left over American snacks and share them with Brittany and Andrew to enjoy later.

 


 

One of the highlights of our visit to Gheralta is the opportunity to share our daily devotion study together, overlooking the Gheralta valley. It is a quiet, serene natural amphitheater, allowing everyone to enjoy one of God’s beautiful gifts. This is a good opportunity to thank Jim Sorensen for creating our devotional material and leading our study each day.

 


 

The picture above shows our group, with Andrew and Brittany, behind a stone altar, created by group as part of our devotion.  Our stones that comprise the altar honor someone who has impacted our faith journey.

 

About 10:30 am, we began our drive to Mekele, to catch our flight back to Addis Ababa. We are able to provide Andrew and Brittany a ride in our van to Mekele to save a long bus ride.

 


 

For the evening, the group celebrates our Ethiopian Journey with Diversity Tours at the 2000 Habasha Cultural Restaurant. The evening includes a wide variety of the typical Ethiopian dishes to enjoy, as well as Ethiopian dances from the different regions of the country.

 


 

Throughout the evening, some of our group got to participate in a variety of the dances. Little did she know, Jill was selected for a special one, the “Marriage Dance”.  Hmmm…..you can tell from the picture above who was the happiest about the “marriage”! Great fun was had by all!

 




The picture above is Alem Tesfaye, our tour director for Diversity Tours, demonstrating his best form of the shoulder dance.  Alem has been a great friend to W2T and has assisted with several of tours.  A special thank you to Alem and Diversity Tours for being caring, considerate and attentive hosts on our trip. It has helped to make our time in Ethiopia truly an experience of a lifetime.

 

  

 

 

 The Gheralta Lodge, about ½ between Axum and Mekele, provides a very nice oasis stop on our trip. The Lodge was designed and is owned by Silvio Rizzotti, a retired Italian businessman who was born in Ethiopia. It is intended to offer a family style resort– but with impeccable standards of finishing, maintenance and cleanliness – and good, simple cooking prepared with local products.

 


 

The lodge is constructed with techniques and local materials traditionally used by the farmers of the Tigray region: stone walls, wooden ceilings, thatched or stone-made roofs. The internal furnishings are modern and functional. The design of the individual rooms is such that it allows maximum privacy and solitude, but with a central building for gathering and eating.

 


 

The lodge is situated so it does not to interfere with the rare natural beauty of this African site, in pleasant, beautiful surroundings. The view shown above, visible from the Lodge, is toward the Gheralta Mountain chain, across a valley covered with farming tracts.  While it looks arid now, we are just at the start of the rainy season.  By September/October, this same view would be bright green, covered with crops ready for harvesting.

 


 

We enjoyed another treat while at Gheralta. We meet with Andrew Tadross and Brittany Franck (pictured above), both Peace Corps volunteers working in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Dick and Andrew connected through mutual family friends in Houston.  It was great to hear their stories of service while here in Ethiopia.  Brittany has been here for 14 months and Andrew for 8.  W2T will help Andrew connect with the team at REST to evaluate the potential water solutions for a school in his service area.  As our traveling group is nearing the end of our tour, we all gather our left over American snacks and share them with Brittany and Andrew to enjoy later.

 


 

One of the highlights of our visit to Gheralta is the opportunity to share our daily devotion study together, overlooking the Gheralta valley. It is a quiet, serene natural amphitheater, allowing everyone to enjoy one of God’s beautiful gifts. This is a good opportunity to thank Jim Sorensen for creating our devotional material and leading our study each day.

 


 

The picture above shows our group, with Andrew and Brittany, behind a stone altar, created by group as part of our devotion.  Our stones that comprise the altar honor someone who has impacted our faith journey.

 

About 10:30 am, we began our drive to Mekele, to catch our flight back to Addis Ababa. We are able to provide Andrew and Brittany a ride in our van to Mekele to save a long bus ride.

 


 

For the evening, the group celebrates our Ethiopian Journey with Diversity Tours at the 2000 Habasha Cultural Restaurant. The evening includes a wide variety of the typical Ethiopian dishes to enjoy, as well as Ethiopian dances from the different regions of the country.

 


 

Throughout the evening, some of our group got to participate in a variety of the dances. Little did she know, Jill was selected for a special one, the “Marriage Dance”.  Hmmm…..you can tell from the picture above who was the happiest about the “marriage”! Great fun was had by all!

 




The picture above is Alem Tesfaye, our tour director for Diversity Tours, demonstrating his best form of the shoulder dance.  Alem has been a great friend to W2T and has assisted with several of tours.  A special thank you to Alem and Diversity Tours for being caring, considerate and attentive hosts on our trip. It has helped to make our time in Ethiopia truly an experience of a lifetime.