Otavalo, Ecuador

Otavalo has markets every day of the week but on Saturday the place explodes with a bewildering array of goods. Colors are made even brighter by the intensity of the equatorial Andean sunshine.  From rugs and blankets......

........to bags and purses..........

.........to hats.......

.........to unknown street food (which was mighty tasty).....

.........to the most common street food: little plastic bags with corn, chochos, and a tomato onion lime sauce, there is something for everyone.  I guess it's the Ecuadoran version of fast food but it's all healthful and vegetarian (and it sure was tasty also!).  Vendors were everywhere selling it.

Out of thousands of people here, I saw four national police officers milling calmly in their blue camouflage uniforms.  I guess they're blue to blend in with the intensely blue Ecuadoran sky.

A cross-section of Ecuadoran cultures exhibit the Spanish influence, the indigenous Quechua influence, and even the United States influence with the kid in a Hollister hoody.  Otavalo is a town of many markets - the tourist market, the fish market, the animal market, the fruit and vegetable market, the meat/fish/chicken market, the housewares market.  People out in the fresh air and brilliant Andean sunshine buying and selling and visiting and hugging instead of shopping in isolated shops or malls.  They've been doing it this way for hundreds of years and I hope they keep doing it for thousands more.  The land of eternal Spring breeds an attitude of warmth and friendliness among it's people - many here haven't much by "first world" standards, but they seem to be kinder, more helpful, and more caring of each other than many in the "first world." 

  I hope you've enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have enjoyed creating it.  This ends our trip to Ecuador. We head back to Quito today, fly to Miami and Boston tomorrow and wake up Monday with 18 inches of snow to clear away in single digit temperatures - it sure was fun while it lasted!  We'll be back again! Hasta luego.

Otavalo, Ecuador

At 15,100 feet MSL, the summit of Volcan Imbabura is often shrouded in cloud.  We were lucky to get a couple days when the summits of both Imbabura and Volcan Cotacachi (16,200 feet MSL) on the opposite side of the valley were visible.  This photo was from the steps of town hall at Parque Bolivar.

Another attempt at the panorama feature.  The town spreads out in the foreground with Volcan Cotacachi in the distance.

This adornment of the streetlamp is one of many different stained glass creations on streetlamps in the downtown area.

As dawn breaks over the town, Volcan Imbabura towers on the horizon. I assure you that this photo in no way captures the majesty and presence that these mountains inspire when standing there in person.

Morning in Otavalo.

At this particular hole-in-the-wall restaurant the cook stands in the doorway, the diners are seated at the tables in the darkness behind her.  The far end of the pan in which the precooked/smoked pig is lying sits on the gas stove and the cook carves off pieces to order and cooks/heats them on the spot. The "plato del dia" today in this instance is pork with some accompaniment such as rice, salad, chochos, toasted corn, and/or grilled bananas/plantains. We didn't eat here since we're vegans but I'd bet the food was outstanding for the meat eaters who did.

Street vendors include wheeled carts or the guy in the background with a bucket of bread on his head for sale.

Few homes and businesses have any heating or cooling systems installed. With this climate who needs it.  But most everyone cooks with propane.  Here's the propane man wheeling his bicycle cart through town dispensing propane refills where needed. Note the little Chevy in the background - lots of them here.

Amidst the explosion of color at the Plaza de Ponchos market area, we braved the aggressive vendors hawking a wide range of beautiful fabrics, hats, jewelry, and other resident necessities or tourist trinkets. 

Amy begins her quest for the perfect winter hat.

Is it this one?

Or this one?

Maybe this one?

Meanwhile, on a side street off the market square we stumbled upon the leadership of the secret cabal of finger puppets. There must have been tens of thousands of these little people waiting to take over the world.  I think their leaders were plotting on how to get out of the storage room and into your homes.  Having no legs and no mobility makes it very difficult for them but, they are wily and clever and will no doubt be seen near you very soon as they advance their world domination scheme.  Amy bought quite a few to help sow the seeds of finger puppet domination in North America.

Otavalo, Ecuador

East of town along this dirt/cobble road lies some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable.  The road leads to Parque Condor , a refuge for birds of prey and center for environmental education. The obscured mountain is Volcan Imbabura described in an earlier post.

Lush fields abound with year around growing seasons.

The town of Otavalo lies in the distant valley.

A trained rescued hawk returning to his handler at the Parque Condor.

A rescued bald eagle healing before flight can occur again.

And as if the day hadn't already provided unequaled visuals, the summit of Volcan Cotacachi, 16,200 feet MSL, peeked out from above the few remaining clouds at the end of the day.



Otavalo, Ecuador

A new day dawns over the impossibly beautiful area of Otavalo.  The town is at 8300 feet MSL and the mountain in the distance, Volcan Imbabura, is 15,100 feet MSL.  Imbabura is one of three volcanoes that encircle this valley.  Otavalo's altitude and location on the equator create perpetual spring conditions - 75 degrees or so during the day and 50 or so at night all year. Otavalo has been a market town since before the Inca civilization lived in the Andes.  The markets in food, household goods, animals, and tourism trinkets see the biggest display at the Plaza de Ponchos in the center of town.

A main street early in the morning.

The same street as the town starts waking up.

This church and also the town hall frame two sides of the Plaza Bolivar.

Above is one of the dozens of produce vendor stalls that line the streets adjacent to the Plaza de Ponchos.

Pink potatoes? Yes - there are also dozens of potato vendors here too.