Photos part 6: Mentewab's Palace and Gondar Market

It's a less extensive site than Fasil Ghebbi, but that was the point. Empress Mentewab was made to feel unwelcome in the same palace complex as the rest of the dynasty, so she built her own palace far from it.

These were formerly the quarters of Scottish explorer James Bruce.

The palace comes bundled with a church which exhibits many ancient art works. It also holds the final resting place of the Empress and her son and grandson.

Following the palace visit, I explored the parts of the Gondar market containing more traditional handicrafts. Clothes, metal works, jewellery, plenty to be found.

The rest of the set can be found here.

Photos part 4: Debre Birhan Selassie

On the roof of the church you can see ostrich eggs affixed to the cross. The guide said this is because when ostriches are laying eggs they crane their necks around to look at the process, and that this is symbolic of how God watches us from the very beginning.

The other direction shows you the gate with its style of architecture. Space inside churches is limited and often attendees will experience mass from outside.

The place is lined top to bottom with artwork in a traditional style. The colour scheme, as far as I know, comes primarily from what pigments you can generate with local natural sources.

Photos part 3: Fasilidas Baths

The Fasilidas Baths are a more popular attraction during the Timkat festival, but the grounds afford plenty to see at an off time of year. I like how ficus and banyan trees tend to have their roots extending down surfaces and walls.

A river can be diverted to fill the sunken area with water. A drainage system allows that water to head back out again.

 

There is also a building which presently serves as a memorial for a most beloved horse, one belonging to a king.

Photos part 2: Fasil Ghebbi

This was the first attraction I toured in Gondar. There are seven castles in the compound and this was the first most prominent one I saw.

This was called the Lovers' Window because the benches could allow two lovers to sit opposite each other by the window.

There are a lot of different angles on each accessible room and area in the full set from which I bring these images, but as for the post, I would like to finish a thought. If you recall, the first photo post ended with me spotting Fasil Ghebbi from the hotel where I was staying.

Well, there's my hotel, as spotted from Fasil Ghebbi!

Photos part 1: Hotel lookout in Gondar

The Goha Hotel is perched up a mountain with a great view of Gondar. What you also get are a lot of larger birds-of-prey flying fairly close.

In addition, you also get a long-distance view of the Fasil Ghebbi castle compound. More images, mostly test shots and landscapes, are available in a set by following this link.

Day 4: Mentewab's Palace and the local market (March 15)

This day was less epic in nature, but I was happy to see some things and then enjoy a lot of leisure time. If every day involved long drives and trekking in national parks, I might not last.

Day 3: Simien National Park (March 14)

On a side note, the photos which help tell the story will probably have to wait until I get home. I may have already mentioned the bandwidth issue. It takes long enough to upload them on a comparably super-fast connection in Toronto. Well, that extends the life of this blog a bit: after these written chronicles, you will probably get photo posts with explanations.

This day was slightly different than the others: instead of visiting a few things, I would spend most of my day doing one thing. After an early breakfast, a rugged looking vehicle pulled up near the hotel reception; I was about to go to Simien National Park.

Day 2: First day in Gondar (March 13)

Day two's activities started at 4:30 AM; these flights and bookings have turned me into an early bird, if only temporarily. A quick domestic turboprop flight brought me to the airport in Gondar, where I took advantage of free shuttle service to the Goha Hotel.