Around Otavalo
The first part of our trip to Ecuador was exploring Otavalo and the Andean highlands north of Quito. We spent a day exploring
Otavalo and its indigenous Indian markets. They say the markets date from pre-Inca times and it is a historical gathering place for trade and commerce.
I was surprised at how developed the market was and the sophisticated sales techniques of the merchants; many of which were multi-lingual and well traveled. Otavalo is renowned for textiles, Indian jewelery, leather, tapestries, and music. The alpaca textiles can get pricey and it probably smart to find a reputable merchant. I really enjoyed visiting
Jose Cotacachi's workshop just outside Otavalo. Talking to his brother and seeing up close how they used traditional weaving techniques and natural dyes painstakingly to weave these amazing patterns was enlightening.
The Inca inspired music is equally intriguing. I spent some time with a family that still made musical instruments by hand. There were a variety of wood winds, small guitar like stringed instruments called charangos, and a variety of percussion instruments; The most intriguing of which was the
rain stick. I was somehow co opted into play the unnamed ancient instrument in the photo below and quickly appreciated how much effort is involved in making music with it. Thankfully, Simmy didn't think of snapping a photo of my musical venture. Unlike myself, t
he woman in the photo has music running in her veins.
Hiking Laguna Cuicocha
The drive through the Andean cloud forest to Laguna Cuicocha is awe inspiring. I was sitting in the back of the van pinching myself from time to time. Cuicocha is an emerald colored crater lake and caldera below the Cotacachi Volcano in the eastern Andes. Think of a caldera as a volcano that has collapsed in on itself and in this case has been collecting glacial run off and become an emerald colored lake. It is breath taking. Find a quiet spot and you'll feel why the Indians consider this place sacred.
The terrain is bio-diverse to say the least. Expect to encounter a myriad of mountain flowers, birds, and if you're lucky, maybe a speckled bear or the infamous elusive red van. That's it for now and see you soon.
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