Otavalo

Trip Start Jul 23, 2004
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Ecuador  ,
Thursday, July 29, 2004

I heard that Otavalo, a market town in the northern highlands was worth a visit so I decided to head up there for a few days before going to the coast. To get from Mariscal Sucre to the bus terminal you can get the trolley which is actually a number of electric busses connected to the telephone lines that run down the centre of the main roads. The bus terminal is three stories of toilets, food vendors and touts pushing tickets to each companies destination. It actually makes it pretty easy to find the bus you need. The bus ride to Otavalo is roughly three hours, half of which is spent leaving Quitos surrounds. After the city the land dries out into big cracked earth valleys, with great views if you can tear your eyes off the American action film on the telly (guaranteed to be J.C. Van Damn or Steven Segal). Meandering through the hills you descend into a green valley with a big lake watched over by an impressive volanoe.

Otavalo is actually a market town that has been used by traders since pre-inca times and you can feel the oldworldiness as you walk into town. All the local folks are dressed in traditional Ecuadorian Indian threads, the blokes with long plaited hair and tombowler hats and the women draped in beads and ponchos as they hobble along the streets like yoda. The town is bustling and friendly and being the Monday it was easy to find accomodation as the main tourist market day is Saturday.

Went for a cruise through the produce markets, awesome place with lots of fresh fruit, animals and the latest Segal DVDs, the centre being dedicated to eating. A couple of whole roast pigs sitting staring at me made me hungry so I found a stall and ordered the set menu ($1) which comprised of soup, a plate of rice and chicken and a pineapple juice. I was actually hoping some food-borne bacteria might free up the dam of rice and fried chicken which has blocked my lower colon since arriving in SA, as I sat eating while a dog licked my feet and I pulled the chicken feet from my soup. Very tasty though! After my now daily siesta I headed back into the town for some beers and a Churrasco (rice, chips and steak topped with three fried eggs).

Early the next morning walked out of the village to get a good view of the town flanked by the volcanoe. Beautiful views early in the morning with the sun breaking through the mist and the townsfolk getting ready for another day of traditional life.

Three pairs of socks was a bit of misjudgement as I´ve had to recycle until I can smell them staring to ferment - washing time!
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