Otavalo
Trip Start
Jun 15, 2008
1
10
25
Trip End
Aug 15, 2008
Otavalo,
Ecuador
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Spent a long time deciding where to have our coffee (weŽre trying to limit ourselves to one bought coffee per day so its a very important and taxing decision..
Market
. lifeŽs tough) and an even longer time deciding where to have dinner. While deciding where we wanted to eat we managed to pick up Lars, a strange smelling and ever so slightly dull Swede who we were then stuck with for the rest of the evening as we went into and left different restaurants before finally settling on one and then went into and left different bars before eventually deciding that weŽd rather have hot chocolate and go to bed (travelling adds years...).Yesterday was market day which means that the every street in the town was taken over by hundreds of stalls (run by locals who all where the traditional Ecuadorean costume, hats, long hair and three-quarter length trousers for the men and colourful long skirts and blouses for the women). Glad we did the buying yesterday as the market was amazing to see but a little overwhelming so instead we resorted to our favorite activity and retreated into a cafe for juice and then later for coffee (of course).
Today we are off to a village about 35 minutes away to Žtake part in community lifeŽ which involves staying in a rural lodge with our own bathroom before we get up at 4.30am to climb the Cotocachi volcano... not quite sure what weŽve got ourselves into as we will go from 3100m up to 4800 in a 5 hour climb
Market
. When we got the cable car up to 4100m in Quito we were both a little breathless! The views should be amazing though and as its just us in the group we can always turn round if its too hard core for us.This morning we did a horse ride to some healing pools (we are now quite the Amazonas-cow girls) which was really nice and a lot more comfortable than the last ride we did. It was through some beautiful countryside and we got a glimpse of the volcano we are planning to climb tomorrow (it had snow on top!). The guide took a particular liking to Barbara and made her a crown out of some flowers we rode past... charming.
Excited and a little nervous about the walk tomorrow, and hoping we are not too stiff from all the horseriding (though we should be nicely healed by the volcanic pools and Barbs also found a four leaf clover!)...
Hope everyone is well.
Imo xxxxxx
Not much to add, other than the fat that Briget maybe underplayed the crucial part of the day where I found my four leaf clover....NEXT TO A HORSESHOE! Surely I am now luckier than a leprichaun on lucky pills? Also, said clover was found after swimming in some "magic healing pools" (also the crater of the volcano we were climbing the next day). Not as warm as one might expect a volcanic pool to be but it was a natural jacuzi. Pretty cool, apart from the part where our guide failed to tell us that the pool dyes your skin and swimming costume yellow (well actually he told us as we were getting out)
Market Stall
. Also, it seems the healing properties of the pool are manifested in a stingy prickly feeling all over your skin, which according to our guide is a sure sign the water is working its magic, and not, as one might suspect, the effects of swimming in sulphur infused acid water...sure.All is good though, was an excellent horseride. I am very good at the gallop now, especially as my horse seemed to fiend for the speed, unlike ImoŽs, which tired and a bit sad (long in the face one might say?) baha.
Lots of Love,
Penny xxxx
