Old McDonald had a farm...and so does Otavalo. The alarm clock blared out Merengue at 7 am this morning at which point Rachel and I hit the streets for the reknowned Otavalo animal market. Here, traditionally clad women dangle fluffy white and khaki colored guinea pigs by the neck, shouting out bargain prices. A few feet over other women clutch clucking chickens by the feet and still others parade lambs and sheep around the open air market. Nearby pigs and cows for sale sit tied to pittiful little wooden yardsticks. Much to the relief of the US customs officers, neither Rachel nor I made a purchase. We did, however, capture some priceless photos.
The animal market wrapped up around 10 at which point our massive souvenir shopping began. Rachel and I flashed through rows and rows of brightly colored embroidered goods, clay pottery, and artwork in search of the perfect gifts. Being as indecisive as I am, the market began to close down before I had a single thing in my knapsack! Out of sheer panic, I grabbed a couple things and called it done. I hope no one wanted a personal guinea pig roaster or shrunken head after all.
Wiped and shopped-out, Rachel and I boarded a bus back to Quito. The bus ride was one in true Ecuadorian style--meaning the maximum capacity of the bus was well exceeded and the aisle in between the seats was packed with passengers. The highlight of the ride back was thus when we passed through a police check point and the driver instructed all the standing passengers to duck. We skirted through the checkpoint unscathed. Oh, the power of ducking.
My time in Ecuador is now limited. Rachel and I head to the Quito International Airport at 4:30 am tomorrow, returning to Boston via Panama City, Panama, and Newark, New Jersey. The trip has been phenomenal. The terrifically traveled duo shall now return to the real world.
I will post one final time, adding the promised photos, when I am back in Boston.
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