Otavalo, Ecuador - América del Sur

Otavalo, Ecuador.

I hope I have found the right words to describe how awesome this place is.
Nestled in the mountains, near the border of Colombia---this place is breathtaking.

I took a two week trip traveling around Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands with a group of classmates. We traveled from Quito to Otavalo by bus for part of it. It was a three hour trip and worth every minute. Plus, you cannot pass up the scenery any day of the year. While you could probably rent a car and go yourself, it is important to know about the traffic jams you may run into...and if you will be able to handle them.

This was one we got caught in coming down a mountain. There had been a wedding in a nearby city and they were heading back up to their house to continue the party. After an hour of standstill, they decided to walk. The bride was stunning, the groom proud. They were thrilled, walking or not.

 It was such an experience. We learned a lot and did some brushing up on our Spanish. We also learned to hold our share of  $2 - 40 oz. Ecuadorian beers. Tehe!

The people are quiet and kind here. So accommodating and interested in where you are coming from, your reason for travel, and most importantly how many languages you speak.

We spent some time at the markets in the heart of the city. The colors alone at the markets in Otavalo are amazing. But there is more than just color that waits to be learned about here. The colorful people. Here is a couple that made me smile.

My friend and I spent the better part of an hour talking with a Quichuan man. He was so jolly.
He was extremely interested in learning more English and we were interested in learning a few Quichuan words.
---Let me side note that we were debating in Spanish so it was a funny and interesting conversation we were having because we were all speaking in a second or third language.

We were debating back and forth about who should teach and who should be the student.
I think we all knew we would teach each other something,  but it was fun to hassle each other.

Funny how a little humor with a touch of sarcasm is a universal language, huh? Ahh culture, you never seize to amaze me.

Moccasin Approved