Otavalo Again
I decided to stay in Otavalo another night. I like it better than Quito because its smaller and more relaxed, easier to figure out. Today was a good day. I spent some time in the plaza this morning. Then went to the markets. They're more active on Saturday but there was plenty to buy today too so I picked up a few items. My pack is now completely full. I may have to dump the t-shirts and socks before I come back. This is mainly because the items I bought are cloth and some of them quite large and expensive (Joe Spencer!).
Then I decided to walk out the Pan-American highway... and walk and walk. I stopped and had a weak cafe con leche, played some soccer with a little kid until he started destroying the restaurant and his sister made him go outside. I also stopped in some of the "villages" along the way. I wasn´t very impressed with these as they are basically just neighborhoods and everything was closed (I guess because its Sunday.) It is Sunday right? Anyway, I kept thinking I´d walk to see what was over the next hill, then the next, then the next. Eventually I saw a sign for Cotacachi (sp), 3.5 miles it said. I figured that was shorter than walking all the way back so took the side road. It wound down into a very nice valley and then, to spite me, rose again to a fair height. There must have been a "Welcome to..." sign every 500ft but it seemed I´d never get to the city. However, there were some great views of the volcano and the surrounding area. During the morning the volcano is always crowned with clouds but sometimes later in the day it clears up. By this afternoon it was completely clear. It looks like a fun volcano to climb, but that would be a trip unto itself. Anyone? Anyway, the city of Cotacachi (such a hard time remembering this name) is a city of leather. It´s plaza area is almost as nice as Otavalo´s and the people are at least as friendly. While walking around I noticed a sign that said "6k to Laguna". In the book it said you needed to hire a ride and have it wait for you at the crater or risk being left there with a 3 hour walk back. 6k is NOT 3 hours! So I decided to risk it, I took a taxi out to the crater which is filled by a very beautiful blue lake and two large islands in the middle. There are boat tours that go out near the islands for $1.80, but the line was very long. I walked some trails nearby and took some photos then started asking taxis for a ride back but all of them had been hired to stay. Eventually a taxi driver pulled up delivering styrofoam cups and agreed to take me back. He dropped me off in Cotacachi, where I hoped the bus back to Otavalo, for 25 cent. And so here I am.
I just took a brisk shower before dinner and am about to go over to a place I think is called Mi Otavalino. I happened on it this morning but they didn´t have any food then. Tomorrow morning I go back to Quito and maybe on to some hot springs south of town, just depends on the timing. If not that then I´ll be in Quito covering the items I didn´t get to yet, like El Mitad Del Mundo, the Panecillo, and the ride up to the top of one of the peaks.
Then I decided to walk out the Pan-American highway... and walk and walk. I stopped and had a weak cafe con leche, played some soccer with a little kid until he started destroying the restaurant and his sister made him go outside. I also stopped in some of the "villages" along the way. I wasn´t very impressed with these as they are basically just neighborhoods and everything was closed (I guess because its Sunday.) It is Sunday right? Anyway, I kept thinking I´d walk to see what was over the next hill, then the next, then the next. Eventually I saw a sign for Cotacachi (sp), 3.5 miles it said. I figured that was shorter than walking all the way back so took the side road. It wound down into a very nice valley and then, to spite me, rose again to a fair height. There must have been a "Welcome to..." sign every 500ft but it seemed I´d never get to the city. However, there were some great views of the volcano and the surrounding area. During the morning the volcano is always crowned with clouds but sometimes later in the day it clears up. By this afternoon it was completely clear. It looks like a fun volcano to climb, but that would be a trip unto itself. Anyone? Anyway, the city of Cotacachi (such a hard time remembering this name) is a city of leather. It´s plaza area is almost as nice as Otavalo´s and the people are at least as friendly. While walking around I noticed a sign that said "6k to Laguna". In the book it said you needed to hire a ride and have it wait for you at the crater or risk being left there with a 3 hour walk back. 6k is NOT 3 hours! So I decided to risk it, I took a taxi out to the crater which is filled by a very beautiful blue lake and two large islands in the middle. There are boat tours that go out near the islands for $1.80, but the line was very long. I walked some trails nearby and took some photos then started asking taxis for a ride back but all of them had been hired to stay. Eventually a taxi driver pulled up delivering styrofoam cups and agreed to take me back. He dropped me off in Cotacachi, where I hoped the bus back to Otavalo, for 25 cent. And so here I am.
I just took a brisk shower before dinner and am about to go over to a place I think is called Mi Otavalino. I happened on it this morning but they didn´t have any food then. Tomorrow morning I go back to Quito and maybe on to some hot springs south of town, just depends on the timing. If not that then I´ll be in Quito covering the items I didn´t get to yet, like El Mitad Del Mundo, the Panecillo, and the ride up to the top of one of the peaks.
posted by outpostbabu at 8:06 PM
2 Comments:
"quite large and expensive" Can't wait to see what you bring me!
Stella caught you a delicious bass.
Post a Comment
<< Home