A dense fog surrounding the Italian city, we are in January and the plains of Lombardy to dress like this veil of white milk. But how distant six again, Abyssinia, even from the capital we need to pass to be able to reach and walk in the footsteps of your illustrious predecessors.
It rains on Addis Abbeba! But Yemane, our driver, we are faithful, in the heart of the night and take the situation in hand leading us into a hotel of your choice where we learn to sleep without the name! The next day, still a little 'tired from that eventful journey, we will do a quick tour of this capital as is done and that attempts to regulate its small houses in residential area.
People walk safely in the streets, taking care of their chores and only the noise of some vehicle (we are on Sunday) disturbs the quiet of the old Italian neighborhoods. In fact there is almost nothing that colonial one of us, Italian, would find much ...
Drowned by the fumes of gasoline that pinched our noses and eyes, is a long row of vehicles with asthma who is trying desperately to enter the city, which crossed before the tentacles of the last quarters leaves no room for the glazed Ethiopian campaign of huts made of stone or ground with black roofs.
A 'incessant crowd dressed in white s' sees the city go up and low down the streets almost vertical Lalibella, try hard to follow the people who is quick of a pace to attend various ceremonies. Lalibella, the Coptic, is celebrating! It is the Timkat, the Coptic epiphany where we celebrate the birth of the Lord with grand fervor. The religious songs of the priests took possession of the city and every rite is accompanied by a sweet and slow melopea and as a cradle swing the crowd. Here there are no cries and excess, you share the joy of the birth of the Lord watching priests sing and dance. On this eve of Timkat an 'atmosphere of peace and harmony exists on the city of King Lalibella. Avviluppati in large white sheets of pilgrims sleeping on the floor where the rites of baptism will take place, thus controlling all the sacred books of the churches of the neighborhood gathered for the occasion under the same tent, while in another the priests sing all night accompanying the evolution of their throbbing music of drums and sistrum and bathed with light and blessed Lalibella leave with regret.
We travel to the least worst on the road created by Mussolini, 1800 km of Addis Abebba until Asmara built by the Italians in the late thirties. But today, what would think if the Duce to the place of his glorious army battalion saw this parade
of donkeys that hardships can stand under their heavy load, this uninterrupted flow of peasants and children of a rapid pace and are quick to adjust to the markets of the area and schools? Italian employment remains only this long strip of asphalt where tirelessly walking the millions of Ethiopians ... because the Ethiopian walks as if his life depended on it! But where to go? Walk step by his docile and undulating, almost always barefoot, sometimes miserable shoes are attached to his staff as a pilgrim, indispensable and faithful friend dell'abissino. Does not move without him ever, form a single body are so inseparable, much more of a help, he placed on his shoulders which classifies the various ethnic groups so that they walk towards their destiny. In clouds, clusters, groups, men, women and children are the road, all going straight ahead of him at times with very heavy loads, sometimes accompanied by their flock, it seems a long parade human, without noise, as of refugees , find its place on this earth.
But where to come, have a goal to reach? The question remains open to see them get well from all sides, from behind trees, rocks, mountains. Wherever you rest your eyes are poor wretches. Bristly descending slopes to save kilometers, cutting here, cutting across trying to reach as soon as their destination. But where they go, so step by step? Market? At school? In the fields? Nothing seems to know and care, however, but their long march carries within it a purpose: to achieve a better life.
And waiting, trample the earth like the black color of the face sweaty work, hoping that their long search for happiness will be short. But in this country so poor it seems every step away from the suction and Ethiopia will continue for a long time, to walk by his docile long step toward his destiny on the roof of Africa ...
CONTACT: GRAZIELLA: angy8@bluewin.ch and read my pages with practical information such http:xoomer.alice.it/abissinia
THE DRIVER MAY BE CONTACTED TO: yemane60@yahoo.com o: www.geocities.com / visit_ethiopia