Timkat!

We were advised to be at the Fasilades Baths by around 5am.  Surely nothing much can happen before sunrise.  So Stephen and I took a gamble and got there by 5:45am.  It was still rather cool.  We waited patiently till nearly 0800 before anything significant happened.  I guess we did absorb a bit of atmosphere during the wait, being amongst the faithful holding candles and chanting in the dark.

After sunrise, the clergy dipped the cross into the water of Fasilades Bath, blessing the water I guess.  With that, the frenzy began.  The crowds jumped into the chilly water of the pool.  It seemed like an opportunity to play in the water; maybe even a pool party.  But for me, it would have been dreadfully cold.

With the frenzy in full swing, the clergy left the pool for a speech outside bath but still within the complex.  I joined them outside in the hope of getting some good pictures of them.  With the crowds and light from the wrong direction, it didn’t happen.  I gave up and left.

Timkat Eve and Timkat has certainly been the highlight of my Ethiopian visit.  The colour and the excitement was just unbeatable.  Good research and planning has sweet rewards.  If I had visited Ethiopia at any other time, I probably would have found the sights inadequate to compensate for the many long days of early bus rides.