Otavalo: Version 2

Back on Wednesday of last week, I believe, Ellie and I went to the Mitad del Mundo for a ¨volcano hike¨. Let me tell you, that was the most interesting volcano hike I have ever done. We rode in a van with a family from Guatemala for about 20 minutes until we arrived at some interesting looking site with statues on it. We looked around and then they directed us inside a very dark cave museum. It had all sorts of creepy artifacts, the guide obviously spoke Spanish, so we didn´t know what was going on. We got up to the second level, where there were paintings, which made things a bit more interesting.. then we we told the artist was waiting for us. Apparently, the famous Ecuadorian artist who had painted the pieces we were looking at had a studio right there in the museum. And he also happened to be there, waiting for us to come in. The family was very excited, as it became exceedingly apparent that they were here for this moment. They went on and on about how great he was and how much their country loved him. Then the painter, who we now saw was a finger painter, painted right before our eyes a picture of the volcano Cotapaxi with wildflowers in the foreground, birds and a river flowing through the center. It took all of 5 minutes. Oh, and it looked perfect, as if it had taken hours. Crazy! Then, he gave it to the family to take back to Guatemala! What luck. I would have taken a small one... oh well, I guess we didn´t even know who the heck he was. And that essentially ended our volcano hike. Next time we will have to ask more questions about what we are actually doing... I think our favorite part was our van driver/tour guide who said only, ¨Siga, por favor¨which means something like continue, please. The entire time. All he said. Must have said it 30 times! By the end, we couldn´t stop bursting out in laughter every time he said it. I never want to hear anyone say that again!

So luck of all lucks I had another shot at Otavalo this weekend. If you search back in your Ecuadorian memories, you will remember Otavalo was my first and most terrible trip ever. So, being completely unable to convince anyone to go to the beach with me.. and then being able to talk my new roomie into the idea but then finding out there was no bus tickets left, we headed off to Otavalo. Wanting to be completely prepared for the motion sickness, I took 2 of the Ecuadorian equivilent of Dramamine. BAD IDEA. Apparently throughout the whole bus ride, my roomie thought I was going to awake any moment from my drugged state and throw up on her. Which I didn´t, thankfully. I really didn´t get sick, but even before we left the house to go to the bus station, I was drugged beyond belief. I could barely stand up, couldn´t think hard enough to put together complete sentences, and basically wanted to die. The good news is it did wear off by the time we got to Otavalo. We arrived after dark, so it was a pretty quiet night. We found a hostel, chunked our backpacks, and headed off in search of dinner. Turned out we found a really great little spot because the food was excellent. I had banana and chocolate crepes with a banana shake. Don´t judge. It was rediculously bad for me, but oh SO delicious! Especially the shake, made fresh in-house. Because the town wasn´t so crowded, and cold beyond belief (I had on jeans, tennis shoes, three shirts and a jacket and was freezing), we opted to go back to the hostel. Luckily, we had a fairly nice hostel with a TV, so we watched corny movies (in English!). The next morning we went to go meet the rest of our friends who were arriving for the market. They never came, so we moseyed (actual word - looked it up on dictionary.com) on over to the market. It was just as overwhelming as I had remembered, only this time I knew where things were, had an idea of what kinds of things were there, and what kind of prices to expect. And I was dead set on not losing my escort. We had an excellent time haggling away and buying some beautiful things. Lunch was another perfect meal of pasta, toast and a pisco sour. The restaurant had large doors opened up on either end, so the breeze floated through, and we even had a live entertainer come in at one point. More shopping ensued, along with a tour though the food market - crazy - no health inspectors should ever see it - and a walk around the town. We decided to head back, and this time I took only one pill. Much better, let me tell you. Sunday was just another quiet day in Quito, going to the park, getting some internet and phone time in, and a nice dinner and drink in the Mariscal area. Not a bad weekend for sure. Now if can just find someone to go with me to the coast next weekend. (My new roommie will already be gone!)

Also, to give you a heads up, I am getting a tad bit homesick for the first time, so I am itching to see all of you as soon as possible. Barring the idea that you can come see me here, this is my itinerary for when I get home:
August 1 - fly into Houston around noon
August 2 - attend Grace in College Station, go home to Round Rock with parents
August 2 - 7ish - time in Round Rock
weekends of 8 and 15 - Dallas with my besty!
10th on - College Station
weekend of 22 - might have to come back to Round Rock because I don´t know how the heck my stuff is making it to College Station

Let me know when you are free so I can see you!! Love you all!

Also note: I took down all the pictures of the kids because there was a man at work today who works for the organization that sponsors the orphanage. He said it is illegal to publicly post pictures of the kids because they try to protect them from anyone who is not allowed to know where they are. His wife had a professional camera, and was taking pictures of the kids and of me, so I am hoping I can get the pictures from her. He said it is fine to show them to everyone when I get back, but not to post them up on the Web. So, sorry, I know you all want to see them!