Search This Blog

Monday, October 25, 2010

I underestimated Otavalo market

Otavalo is famous for its Saturday market. It is on every traveler's Ecuador itinerary. The local indigenous people are well known for their weaving. I had thought Otavalo was just another souvenir megacenter. Boy, was I wrong!

We got up at 7AM to catch the animal market. I was expecting maybe a few dozens of animals. Instead, there were hundreds of cows, pigs of all sizes, chickens, various pets, and turkeys. Business was brisk too. Money and animals changed hands left and right, just as we looked on.

In fact there were different markets and stalls all over town. It turns out the vendors that cater to tourists were only a fraction. But there were still a lot of them, enough to make John, who usually gets or feigns illness in face of shopping, queasy. But I hardly bought anything. The only thing I do not like about long trips is that I have to be extremely selective so not to overload our family mule.

Some shots from the market.

Cattle Market
P1040890

Pig market in foreground.
P1040894

Pigs for sale.
P1040898

Sold!
P1040897

One pig for sale.
P1040895

Inside the pet market.

P1040889

Locals buying gold-washed glass beads.
P1040903

Local woman wearing gold-washed glass beads.
P1040879

Stacked fabric.
P1040904

Clothes market.
P1040902

Cruising down the cyclo via (bike lane).
P1040900

No comments:

Most Recent Post

Qatar: Doha

Doha is another bonus visit for us. We picked a long itinerary that gave us 18 hours in Doha, then Qatar Airways canceled the original fligh...

Most Popular Posts of Last 30 Days