Name your price in Otavalo, Ecuador

Written by Bessie about Ecuador. Feelin' normal
Bessie_thumb
We spent the weekend in Otavalo, Ecuador, a town famous amongst tourist for their markets full of wool sweaters, silly hats, produce, and animals.  And to paint a clear picture of what it's like in Otavalo, I'm going out on a literary limb and compare this 400 year old town town of traditions to, none other than, Las Vegas. 
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ridiculous wool hats (believed to be for Inti Raymi - sun festival)  ;  view from the rooftop of our hostal

Tall buildings and casinos translate to 4 story hotels and indigenous-run market stands.  While not known for their one-night-stands, no one goes home alone with all the cheap wool creations about, just name your price.  In Otavalo, crowds come-a-runnin' for the real party that gets pumping about 5am Saturday morning - don't miss it.  It's a once in a lifetime sort of place you can't pass up, where the American dollar flows, and if you name the right price you and your family can all go home winners.   

Some Background
Otavalo, is full of indigenous people.  Very proud indigenous people that make good money and have even managed to elect an indigenous mayor, much to the chagrin of the 400 year old mestizo families that are the descendants of the founding spaniards.  Set in the cool but sun-kissed Andes mountains 2 hours north of Quito, Otavalo is a prosperous town on the itineraries of almost every tourist because of it's reputation as being the best market in all of South America.

Shop 'Til You Drop
The markets produce, and it's hard to leave without something, well, a few somethings.  The tourist geared market in Plaza de Ponchos sells just about everything you can think of made from wool, from mittens to sweaters, and finger puppets to purses with some art and jewelry thrown in. 
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Kyle (not) purse shopping;  salesman and his booth-o-wool
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wool creations abound;  Kyle & his new sweater in the market maze

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booth filled with illegal dvds; cart filled with veggies

Then there are 3 other less touristy, but equally visited markets spread about town that sell produce, live animals and miscellaneous goods.  Now we've seen a lot of markets so far on our journey, but nothing was quite like the large animal market.  I'd never heard so many squeeling pigs, and voluntarily walked through so much feces. 

It really was a cool experience though.  We were out the door at 6am walking through the streets as vendors hustled to get their stalls set up.  By 6:30am, the animal market was well into full swing, and transactions were going on all around us.

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"chickens for sale!"

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"this pig is good and fat"

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Baaaahhh!  Mooooo!

We stood back watching an indigenous family picking out their new milk cow, and as the new owner handed over his was of $400 in twenty dollar bills. (below)
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Anyone coming to Ecuador, it's well worth the 2.5 hour trip from Quito.  And my suggstion is shop the tourist market on Friday & spend the time Saturday at the local markets.  They are much more exciting than picking out wool sweaters.

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