Otavalo, and its "Giant Saturday Market"

Which one????
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Quito, Ecuador, is our “home base” from which we wander. This weekend we took a four day trip north to Otavalo, supposedly the largest “Indian Market” in South America. You all know how much Denny loves to shop! Checking out of the Folklore, we took a “super taxi” north, 6 of us crammed in, for $7.50 a person. It was a quite a winding drive up into the Andes but on a good highway.  We took a bus back for $2.50/person -- much more comfortable, but the ride was just as harrowing!

Hostal garden and fountain
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Our new place, the Rincon del Viajero, is very clean and comfortable with helpful staff.  It has a beautiful garden with a fountain (and fish) at the entrance where beautiful, long-tailed hummingbirds hover. There is also a deck with hammocks and a pool table.  We settled in and then walked the three blocks to the market.

"walking around in a daze" -- so much color, so many choices

I couldn’t believe it -- a full plaza filled with booths: sweaters, ponchos, beautifully decorated blouses, silver jewelry, bead jewelry, jade figures, carved wooden figures, bags, purses, wallets, leather goods, blankets, table cloths, table runners, etc. plus food stuff. We walked through everything and I found myself over stimulated with choices and colors!

Local, long-tailed Hummingbirds
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Friday was basically a rest day with a few walks through the city to see the churches, people and once again the market. The main church at the plaza had a funeral going on.  Later we went in and took these beautiful pictures.  We found two really great restaurants in Otavalo and know there are many, many more.  We could eat for $10-12, sharing a starter and an entree:   the DELI Café & Restaurant (excellent enchiladas) and the Aji Micuy (bananas flambé for only $1.75).  We went back a second time for those!

SO many choices...
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So Saturday (the BIG market day) we jumped up and went out as soon as we awoke to “experience” the event. I thought the everyday market was big – oh my gosh – the Saturday market includes an animal area, an even bigger food one, and all the streets leading out from the main plaza for probably two blocks are also closed off and full of booths. I was already confused about all the choices and variances in quality – Denny accused me of "walking around in a daze" -- so much color, so many choices – I couldn’t choose, not for myself or any of you!   lolol

It all smelled so wonderful...
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The indigenous people are very gracious and seem to have no problem letting you browse through the market, unlike the vendors in Peru who try to sell to you to the point of assault almost.  We found that if we meandered with a smile on our faces and a greeting, it was a fun experience.  The children are so beautiful and playful.  Unfortunately they do not wish to have their pictures taken.

Denny selected a beautiful alpaca sweater. I finally bought a llama one. We have found Ecuador to be much colder than we anticipated and so wanted to have something warmer for when we got to the reserve.

Denny wanted the fruits and Veggies!
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Sunday we took as a rest day – we really have fallen into a pattern that is very comfortable for us. We rarely go anywhere for less than four nights which allows us a travel day followed by a rest day and then at least two active days. Not bad for old geezers! We enjoy it!