On my first border crossing of this journey I traveled 12 hours from Cali, Colombia to Otavalo, Ecuador. Long bus rides and waiting in line at immigration offices makes for a pretty miserable experience, but flying was too expensive and although you feel your life may end each time your bus driver tries to pass other vehicles on blind mountain turns, it is a good way to see the countryside. Otavalo is best known for its artisan market which takes place everyday, the largest of which takes place on Saturday. Otavala is located in the Imbabura province which gets its name from the massive Imbabura Volcano that can be seen from the city. The surrounding areas contain multiple volcanoes and natural lakes, which in addition to the market, makes Otavalo a popular visit for Ecuadorian and foreign tourists.
The indigenous "Otavalos" {indigenous definition: 1. originating or occurring naturally (in a country, region, etc.); native 2. innate (to); inherent (in)} are known for their traditional lifestyle seen in their dress, hairstyles, food, music, and outdoor markets. While riding outside of Otavalo I saw what I thought were a series of wildfires, but according to a taxi driver it was actually an offering to the rain gods of the Otavalos to help end a drought they were currently experiencing. The following website will show you some of the traditional clothing of Otavalos (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador/northern-highlands/otavalo/images). Unlike most indigenous people in South America, or worldwide for that matter, Otavalos have a relatively high standard of living. Most native groups in Ecuador, including Otavalos, are pushing for more rights to guarantee the protection and prosperity of their culture as seen by the website offered by this organization: (http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5054:the-indigenous-peoples-of-ecuador-are-in-mobilization-for-the-defense-and-sovereignty-of-water-life-and-food&catid=23&Itemid=56). Otavalos actually have the highest standard of living of any indigenous group in South America. This is due in large part to the artisan market and tourism to the region. But issues regarding racism and land grabs by the government and mestizo peoples still exist for the indigenous Otavalos (mestizo definition: 1. Originally used in Spanish to refer very specifically to a person of 50% European and 50% Amerindian descent. 2. Nowadays used to refer to any Hispanic person of mixed Amerindian and European descent, regardless of proportions).
While in Otavalo I hiked nearly every day. A 25 cent bus ride will take you to multiple villages surrounding the city(usually about 30-45 minutes) and from there multiple hikes to volcanoes, natural lakes, and waterfalls. I traveled to Otavalo with an American from Portland, Oregon I met in Cali, Colombia a few days prior and was traveling to meet his mother who was staying there a month. She is a former art teacher and travels there twice a year for a month at a time and volunteers at elementary schools for art instruction and on each visit creates a mural at schools and around the towns containing the students' artwork. If there is one thing I have learned through traveling in third world nations, it is that there are Americans out there of whom we all should be proud. Whether the work is religious-based, government funded, or freelancing, there are Americans doing great things. Oftentimes Americans are viewed internationally as arrogant and ignorant, which is unfortunately true in some cases, but I think you will find most of them within our borders, not volunteering abroad. I hope that one day everyone has a chance to volunteer in some regard. More importantly, it doesn't have to be in Ecuador, it can be down the street or across town from where you live. The following article shows an interesting chart regarding charitable giving by nation, the U.S. ranks 6th according to their estimates:
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/sep/08/charitable-giving-country)
(A lot of photos, Otavalo is liking walking around in a National Geographic magazine)
My arrival
Map of town at the hostal
Central Plaza with Volcan Imbabura in the background
Indigenous military officer (all men have long hair in a ponytail)
Gameday at the market (Vols crushed by Gators in the second half, I watched online, can't seem to leave college football behind)
Traditional baby carriage
Youngest food stand vendor in the world (Jordan, my buddy from Portland, and his mom)
BBQ
Saturday animal market, not a good place of visit for vegetarians and PETA members
Animal market
Main market at Plaza de los Ponchos, Imbabura in background
Favorite item at the market, shrunken heads (fakes unfortunately)
Caldo de Pollo (Chicken Soup, but not your every day Campbell's)
What I pulled out of my chicken soup (2 feet, one throat/neck, one liver, and one mystery organ)
C
Peguche waterfall
Natural heart on Volcan Imbabura
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