LEGENDARY LAND OF CHURCHES AND CULTURES June 12 to 30, 2020 a program of the stanford alumni association Ethiopia is both breathtaking and extraordinary, a country perched on a high plateau in a region known as the Horn of Africa. Its independence and regional role in Africa has endured for more than 2,000 years. A country of surprising contrasts, it has held fast to its autonomy and its cultural, religious and artistic traditions. Ethiopia is home to an indigenous Christian church centered in Lalibela, where churches were carved out of red volcanic rock some seven centuries ago. Its rich history is matched by amazing natural wonders, such as the Tis Isat Falls and the Simien Mountains, and the indigenous peoples who thrive to this day in southern Ethiopia’s Omo Valley. Dr. Rachael Hill, PhD ’19, an expert on the social and cultural history of the central and northern highland regions of Ethiopia, will provide us with penetrating insights. Join the adventure! BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Highlights ADMIRE the Royal WATCH for an array of EXPLORE the amazing DISCOVER the vibrant Enclosure in Gondar, wildlife—including the 13th-century rock-hewn cultures of several of the surrounded by high stone Gelada baboon and the churches of Lalibela, carved Omo Valley communities, walls and containing five Simien fox—in the scenic below ground from the red taking in their intricate face castles linked by tunnels Simien Mountains National lava soil. painting, jewelry, clothing, and raised walkways. Park, a UNESCO World dances and customs. Heritage site. SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK Faculty Leader RACHAEL HILL, PHD ’19, a visiting assistant professor at San Francisco State University and former graduate student instructor at Stanford, specializes in the social and cultural history of health and medicine in Ethiopia and conducts research on the social etiology of disease and indigenous African therapeutic practices. Her interest in Ethiopia was sparked by its rich literary tradition, its indigenous Christianity and its avid support of African liberation. “After studying the Amharic language at Addis Ababa University and living and working in the country for a year “Nothing beats a and a half,” she recalls, “I have returned to Ethiopia every year and visited various regions of the Stanford Travel/ country. I continue to be impressed by its cultural and ecological diversity and find that there’s always something new to learn about a region as complex and varied as Ethiopia.” During our Study program. program she’ll discuss such topics as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Indian Ocean trade during The lecturers are the Axumite Empire era and the impact of Ethiopia’s current politics on ethnic conflicts. really first-rate and — Visiting assistant professor, 2019; adjunct professor, 2018—San Francisco State University so accessible — Graduate student instructor, 2015–2019; teaching fellow, 2017–2018—Center for throughout the trip. Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity, department of history, Stanford University — Managing co-editor, Ex Post Facto, history student journal, San Francisco State You very soon University, 2010 have new friends — Recipient: Excellence in First-Time Teaching as a TA, Stanford University, 2012; Joseph Mullin Prize in History Writing, San Francisco State University, 2011 in academia.” — BA, 2008, and MA, 2011—both in history, San Francisco State University MARY FIEDLER, NEW ZEALAND BY — PhD, 2019, African history, Stanford University STANFORDPRIVATE AIR, TRAVELER 2011 SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?ethiopia2020 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093 Axum SIMIEN MOUNTAINS Gondar NATIONAL Lake PARK e n y A d Lalibela e f Tana l f o l u l Bahir a G V Dar B t lu f e ile Addis i N R Ababa DJIBOUTIDJIBOUTI t Melka Kunture a e Lake Ziway r G E THIOPIA Arba Awasa MAGO Minch NATIONAL Lake Abaya Jinka Lake Chamo PARK Konso Omorate Turmi BET GIORGIS, LALIBELA summit of 10,500-foot Mt. Entoto, rock face. Learn about the Woito spectacular Simien Mountains, which offers spectacular views people who live by the lake and whose highest peak stands at Itinerary of Addis Ababa in all directions. pay a visit to one of their lakeside 15,157 feet. Simien Mountains Continue to the Maryam Church communities. KURIFTU RESORT National Park, a UNESCO World FRIDAY TO SUNDAY, and the remains of Emperor AND SPA (B,L,D) Heritage site, is home to a large JUNE 12 TO 14 Menelik II’s palace. Stop at Entoto variety of wildlife, including the DEPART U.S. / ADDIS Beth Artisan, a social enterprise WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 Gelada baboon and the Simien ABABA, ETHIOPIA dedicated to providing fair-wage BAHIR DAR / GONDAR fox. Enjoy a scenic walk along the Depart the U.S. on an overnight employment to local women. After Today drive to Gondar, founded mountain ridge and a lovely picnic flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s lunch, visit the National Museum in 1635 by Emperor Fasilidas. lunch. GOHA HOTEL (B,L,D) largest city and the third-highest and explore the Mercato, Addis Gondar is home to Moorish- capital in the world at an elevation Ababa’s biggest shopping area, and Portuguese-style castles FRIDAY & SATURDAY, of 8,000 feet above sea level. where grain, spices, clothing, and imperial buildings that JUNE 19 & 20 Upon arrival on Saturday evening, ironware and baskets are sold. are some of Ethiopia’s most GONDAR / AXUM transfer to our hotel. On Sunday Enjoy a welcome reception fascinating structures. Visit the This morning fly to Axum, afternoon, enjoy a brief orientation Ethiopia’s oldest city, the capital and dinner this evening. HYATT Royal Enclosure, where high tour that includes a visit to the REGENCY HOTEL (B,L,D) stone walls surround five castles of the far-reaching Axumite Holy Trinity Cathedral, the and a complex of connecting Kingdom that dominated the vital country’s largest Orthodox TUESDAY, JUNE 16 tunnels and raised walkways, crossroads of Africa and Asia for church, and a stop at nearby ADDIS ABABA / and Fasilidas’ castle, a mid-17th- almost 1,000 years. During our Africa Hall, the headquarters of BAHIR DAR century melange of Portuguese, two days here, attend a religious the United Nations Economic This morning fly to Bahir Dar, Axumite and Indian influences. ceremony at the Church of St. Commission for Africa. This a town located at the southern Stop at the small Debre Berhan Mary of Zion, where according to evening gather for dinner at a shore of Lake Tana, the largest Selassie Church, perhaps the legend, the Ark of the Covenant local restaurant. HYATT REGENCY lake in Ethiopia and source of country’s most famous house of resides. View the city’s famous HOTEL (6/14: D) the Blue Nile. This area is the worship whose ceiling is covered obelisks and monolithic stelae, traditional homeland of the with the winged heads of 80 and tour the Axum Museum with MONDAY, JUNE 15 Christian Amhara people, who Ethiopian cherubs. At day’s end, its fine display of inscribed tablets. ADDIS ABABA make up approximately one- meet with the director of Yenege Just outside of town, visit King In this ancient capital, tall office third of Ethiopia’s population. Tesfa (Hope for Tomorrow), an Ezana’s inscription (330 to 350 buildings, elegant villas and During a boat cruise around Lake organization that works to provide C.E.); the inscription is Ethiopia’s marble theaters vie for our Tana, discover the area’s historic the street children of Gondar “Rosetta Stone,” a pillar inscribed attention alongside traditional churches and island monasteries, with shelter and education. GOHA in Sabaean, Ge’ex and Greek. homes formed of “wattle and including Ura Kidane Mehret with HOTEL (B,L,D) Then explore the nearby tombs daub,” a 6,000-year-old building its colorful frescoes of biblical of King Kaleb and Gebre Meskel, method in which lattices of scenes. Enjoy an excursion to THURSDAY, JUNE 18 noted for the refined precision of wooden strips are held together Tis Isat (“Blue Nile” from the GONDAR / SIMIEN the joints between the stones. MOUNTAINS NATIONAL with clay, sand, animal dung and Amharic) Falls, where the Blue SABEAN HOTEL (B,L,D—BOTH DAYS) PARK / GONDAR straw. Begin the day going to the Nile plunges over a 150-foot-high Depart in the early morning for the BET GIORGIS, LALIBELA SUNDAY & MONDAY, at Melka Kunture, an important Amharic), which takes its name fish eagles, just two of the lake’s JUNE 21 & 22 Paleolithic site extending more from the bubbling streams that many bird species. HAILE RESORT– AXUM / LALIBELA than three miles on both sides of spring up amid the undergrowth of ARBA MINCH (B,L,D) Fly to Lalibela, set among wild, the Awash River with numerous the luxuriant forest that surrounds craggy mountains and vast rocky sites dating back some 1.7 million the town. The spectacular Lower FRIDAY, JUNE 26 escarpments in the mountains of years ago. Enjoy a sweeping view Omo Valley’s diverse ecosystems ARBA MINCH / KONSO / TURMI Lasta at an altitude of 7,000 feet. of Lake Ziway, one of the five lakes include grasslands, volcanic Drive to Turmi this morning, The 12th-century king, Lalibela, of the Great Rift Valley, a deep outcrops and one of the few stopping at Konso for a specially gathered together the world’s fissure that extends for more than remaining pristine riverine forests arranged visit at the home of Kala greatest craftsmen and artisans 3,700 miles—the string of five lakes in semiarid Africa. HAILE RESORT – Gezahegn, chief of the clan of the to carve a number of churches is the most visible manifestation of ARBA MINCH (B,L,D) Konso people, whose population below ground level, connected these subterranean tectonic forces.