On SATURDAY morning I enjoyed a breakfast of tree tomato juice, yogurt with granola, bread and coffee, all prepared by and eaten with my host dad Marco. Him and Vivi organized a cab for me to get to the Carcelén bus station to catch a bus to Otavalo. This station had enough signs and friendly people where I could fairly easily my way to buy tickets and board the bus. (a whoppin' $2.50)
The whole assigned seating didn't really work out. Someone was in my seat, so I went to another, got asked to move from there and then sat on a stool in the front of the bus for the first 5 minutes of the 2 hour ride. Thankfully, the man collecting tickets on the bus kicked the man in my seat to the stool and I got a real seat for the remainder of the ride. Behind me was a sweet lady and elder man asking about my travels. They were surprised to see a white gal of my age traveling alone... The woman told me all about places I should go in Ecuador and got my name to find me on Facebook. She even shared her chips with me. Another classic Quito sweetheart.
*Which reminds me. I met another one of those Friday on my walk to the bus in the morning. This middle aged man popped up next to me. At first I was startled but he was very sweet and excited to hear about my travels. A very jolly and social man.
In Otavalo, I met Becca!!! She is a friend from Western Wa University who has been working and traveling around Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador for about 5 months! For the past two weeks she was working on a coffee farm in the Intag Valley near Otavalo.
We checked into an adorable hostel that had been suggested to her called Hostal Valle de Amanacer. Becca had not had Encebollado yet and so we found an outdoor restaurant to enjoy some wonderful food. Then we quickly got to shopping in the famous gigantic market of Otavalo where I found many gifts for others and a couple for myself :) It was really, really hot and sunny so we were relieved to find a man selling coconut juice for 50 cents. Yum.
We found some fruit, chocolate and a few beers to bring back to the hostel and enjoy in the common area with hammocks. After some wonderful catching up, relaxing, and enjoying some new fruits (granadilla and something else will find out soon), we headed out for some dinner. For $1 we had some chocho beans, corn and some other wonderful flavors and then found some crepes for dessert...hehe with nutella of course.
SUNDAY
The next day we headed back to the market for a few more gifts (looking at you friends in the States ;)) First, of course, we had some lovely breakfast at our adorable hostel.
After eating some more fruit and laying around in hammocks, we decided to head back to Quito.
We took a nice walk to and around Parque Bicentario right near my house. This very interesting park was the Quito airport until a couple years ago. The runway is now a perfect place for walks, biking, rollerblading, running and pups. Finding our way home was a little complicated, the entrance we came in had been padlocked when we tried to leave. We turned the other way and walked until we found someone to ask whadup and where is the exit. Luckily it was not too far from my house and we found our way just fine. Even stopped for a cheese empanada and pan dulce on our way back.
My sweet, sweet host family made us dinner and sat with us chatting. Becca had a ukelele and since they had never seen one before, insisted on her playing something. She played Elvis Prestly's Can't Help Falling In Love With you. It was great. She has brought this uke around with her throughout her travels.
After dinner Becca and I watched a show and are now winding down for some sleep. Excited to show Becca SINAMUNE tomorrow.
Muchos besos,
Zoe
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