Otavalo

Last weekend, Corie, Ty, and I went to Otavalo to take part in the countries largest marketplace. It was amazing. Comparable to Double Decker weekend but on crack. I spent way to much money on gifts I'm sure you will all enjoy. We stayed two nights in the Hostel Santa Fe, which Ty did a fantastic job of reserving for us. Friday night we ate at a restaurant named Quino where we found the best cup of hot chocolate in the world. Not exaggerating. Saturday we got up early and scouted the market for Ecuador's finest artesians. I have tons of pictures but of course I can't upload them so the one you see is stolen from Corie.



We decided to stay two nights but returned home early Sunday morning. AND since sunday was my last sunday in Quito, Ty and I decided to get lost in Old Town Quito. It was so much more pleasant to walk the streets of Old Town without a tour guide who spoke Spanish 90 mph. There was even a music festival going on in La Plaza de San Fransisco so Ty and I enjoyed a cup of canelazo while listening to the Ecuadorian bands. Canelazo is a hot drink made with sugar cane liquor, orange juice, lemon, and brown sugar. The entire evening was "tranquilo," until Ty got jumped by a cracked out ladron with a bottle opener. Apparently, Ecuadorians think that Americans who buy 15 cent pieces of gum have money. Thankfully the police were very close by and made sure nothing happened.

This picture is from the very first week I was in Quito. Meghan and my friend, Rachel Johnson, introduced us to some "equas." Now our friends and Andrew and Marco have since shown us the ropes of nightlife in Quito.