Reply #5: They won't let you in to see it. Your best chance is to go during

[alfredo]

the religious festival where they move the ark from the small church to the large church. I can't remember the name of the festival.

Be sure to visit Mitara, Gondar, and Lalibela. Addis Abeba (new flower) is the world's largest village. If you get the chance to visit Eritrea, please do, but do check with the State Department before you do.

http://www.ethiopiatravel.com/Lalibela_eng.htm

visit Mekele to see the Abraha castle. I spent a night there. At the time I visited it, the castle was owned by the De Ponti family. A good time to visit Mekele is during Meskele, the finding of the true cross by St Helen.



Edited to add metara. It is a magical region.
http://members.aol.com/atobrukh/archaeology/matara/matara.html?f=fs