Moving away from the hustle and bustle of the developing and modern city life of Addis Ababa.
We first visited the township of Bahir Dar situated on the beautiful Lake Tana, at the start of the Blue Nile.
We found lots of tourists, visiting to check out the hub of early Christianity dating back to more than 300 years AD.
Ethiopia formally the lands of Queen Sheba dating back to the 10th. century BC Located on Lake Tana, there are several small islands to visit with practicing Monasteries. ( some are restricted to Male visitors only)
Then traveling north west, we found life in the outer rural villages may have not changed so very much in many years.
The people and children that we met along our travels, were all very proud, friendly, polite and seem to be happy-go-lucky with their hard life.
Once again this trip to Africa made us appreciate the importance of water.
Villagers and children may walk many kilometres to get water for their daily needs.
They then carry very heavy loads on either their head or back for several kilometres back to their villages, amazing, most European Youths would not manage such loads.
Especially when realizing that we were at altitudes in excess of 2000 metres, when I am used to walking at sea level, is just so very exhausting.
Unlike the children we have seen in other parts of the world, in the villages there was no begging for money or asking for chocolates; what they did ask for was, 'please give us bottled water'.
What really wonderful people and what a beautiful country. For myself, of course, it was a birders paradise.
I sincerely hope that I will have the opportunity to revisit the country.