Saturday, May 19
From EcuadorWiki
Contents |
Page Maintenance
Sarah Nicholas is maintaining this page of the trip travelogue.
Otavalo Indian Market
By 8am today, we were all napping our way out of Quito and into Otavalo. Out professors tried to prepare us little by little all year for what we would find when we stepped off the bus, but that would be impossible. The vast number of stands that covered numerous streets was unbelievable. Between the variety of textures, colors, designs, fabrics, woods, and merchandise in general - we were sold on this great place known as the Otavalo Indian Market. The group immediately split off in every direction and began to bargain as if we knew what we were doing...until we did know - the old "fake it til you make it" deal. The few hours we spent browsing and buying was not enough to cover much ground, but the experience was incredible! When our time was finally up, people returned to the bus with art, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, woodwork, clothing, and a variety of other treasures. Although most would have loved more time at the market, our tired bodies and empty wallets probably appreciated the break!
Lunch
Next up was a much needed meal in the welcoming home of Antonio Quinotoa. A few of our Scotties tried some "cuy" - better known as Fluffy, your favorite childhood Guinea pig! =( Sad, but true. The best part of this visit came after the meal, however, when a band took the stage and young children took the dance floor! It wasn't long before we were all roped in and dancing along to the indigenous beat.
Hotel in Imbabura Province
After a short stop in San Antonio de Ibarra for some woodwork shopping, we were finally off to rest at our hotel...at least for an hour. We arrived with few expectations and were amazed to find cute little quarters on a beautifully sculpted piece of land. Each set of roommates had their own room spread out across grassy yards, a courtyard, and even a small river! After unloading our bags and scoping out the rooms, many toured the property or found a hammock to lay in.
Hacienda in Urcuqui
Dinner tonight was spectacular. Before we even began to eat, every other sense was taken over by this amazing Hacienda. As we approached this unknown wonder, we could see a white tent, a beautiful home, and exceptionally welcoming faces! We were immediately free to roam not only the blossoming yard, but also the house itself. Inside we were stunned to find real Picasso sketches, among other art pieces that filled the walls. The house was incredible.
Until dinner, we lounged around the deck, the benches that were flooded with flowers, and for a while, the living room. Before long, we made our way over to the white tent. Here we found U-shaped tables draped in white cloths, flower petals, and candles. The dinner was basically amazing! Between the soup and lasagna - many of us had found some new favorite recipes and an appetite that was quite satisfied!
Although we were drained once again, it was hard to leave this Hacienda. We were treated extremely well throughout our trip, but there was something about this place that was just incredibly welcoming and made us all feel at home in Ecuador.
