Quito area

country side

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Nov. 19, Saturday:  We had a tour arranged which was supposed to start at 7 am at a hostel Mel was at before.  However, not everyone was ready to go so we didn't get going till 8:30 am.  There were lots of friendly people around, so the time passed swiftly.  Anyway we went to the Otavalo markets...We just almost missed the livestock market ( which was probably the most interesting).  The rest is blocks and blocks of little stands selling almost the same things.  It is a rather overrated tourist trap.  It takes some searching to find anything that is somewhat unique (We found better and more unique products in the markets in Quito) however the prices were good and bargaining made the prices even better.  The food market was interesting, there was all kinds of unidentifiable vegetables and fruits for sale, as well as mystery meat.  Also the 75 mile journey by bus through mountain passes and craters, and lakes, etc. was worth it, just to see the country side. 

waterfall

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After the markets our guide took us (over very rough roads) to a large waterfall.   Some of the party took a very risky walk over a log spanning the waterfall while others took pictures.  A fall would have landed them on sharp rocks in rapids, and would probably have been fatal. 

 Next we went on a boat ride into Laguna de Cucocha, which is a crater lake.  The water is intense turquoise, caused by sulfur in the water.  There are 2 cinder cones in the crater in the middle of the lake.  The volcano is still active, gasses still bubble up through the lake, though the water is quite cold and deep.  No fish survive because of the mineral content, but strange little black ducks bob for insects in the shallows.  There are lots of reeds & bromeliad plants.   Then we rode back to Quito, arriving at sunset.  The lights coming on in the city with the backdrop of the sunset behind the volcanic mountains surrounding the town was quite dramatic.