So our guide takes us around the back of the monastery, down a hill to a small concrete shack. Inside it is a monk. As our eyes adjusted we realised that the shack, locked only with a padlock on a flimsy wooden door, is a room full of old books, crowns, swords and other items. The monk proceeds to tell us that the books are 13th to 16th century texts collected by the scholarly monks over the centuries. We all look at eachother in awe and say "Dude! You just keep these in a shack?!" The monk giggles and says, "No problem". Excellent attitude, but it gets even better...
Our guide, a fifteen year old boy, picks up a sword and swings it around telling us it is the sixteenth century sword of the man who helped to rebuild the monastery, chucking it back onto the shelf after he is finished. Hah! but it gets even better...
The monk asks us if we would like to take photos of one of the fourteenth century bibles he has. We say "Yes please!" with disbelief as he pulls it out. This isn't even conceivable in Europe. But it gets even better...
He says there is not enough light for a photo. He picks up the bible, and to our utter amazement, takes it outside and places it on a stand so we can take better photos. Outside! He flicked through the pages like it was yesterday's newspaper until he had slaked our interest.
This monk was hilarious, and genuinely happy that we were so interested in his monastery. Check him out below...
2 comments:
Very very cool Marky!!
Hello!
I'm a total stranger to you, living in Cape Town, and following your trip with interest :). Cape Town is the most beautiful city on Earth, although I'll admit New Zealand isn't half bad in spots.
You turned me pale green with envy at the thought of all those beautiful manuscripts. A reason to go to Ethiopia!
Wear sunscreen.
W_N
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