The worst week
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2008
1
19
61
Trip End
Apr 01, 2009
Quito,
Ecuador
Saturday, December 6, 2008
guard when someone tried (and failed) to rob me again on Wednesday
while I was looking for a camera shop, but the incident utterly shook
my confidence. Decided I had to get get out of Quito - the hostel was
fully booked with Italian mountaineers on Thursday anyway so I
couldn't just lock myself in my room and hide. But I was really
nervous about getting the trolly and going back to the bus station.
Anyway I did and caught the bus to Otavalo where the huge indiginous
market dating back to Inca times is held on Saturdays.
Woke up with a migraine on Friday after the best sleep I'd had for
days and of course all my tablets had been in my handbag (hadn't even
thought of them till then). I found a farmacia and managed to explain
"very bad headache" and bursting into tears brought forth tablets with
"migra" on the packet.
Otavalo is a nice town north of Quito in a glorious setting of
hills and lakes. I am a giant among both men and women here. Most
adults barely reach my shoulder and my size four feet are enormous!
The Andean men wear their hair in a plait, white calf length trousers
and espadrills with a poncho and felt hat. The women wear embroidered
blouses and straight dark skirts with shawls and a very interesting
arrangement of head scarf. I wish I had a camera.
Nationwide refused to send my replacement ATM card anywhere but my
home address so I told them to close my account and transfer the money
to NatWest, where I still have an ATM card. My new card is now being
sent to the British Consulate in Cartagena.
I really can't wait to get back to the "most dangerous country in
South America". I've met 10 times as many Yanks in Ecuador as in
Colombia and they think here is safe and there isn't. Actually I'd
prefer it if they kept thinking that way!
