We arrived in Otavalo just after noon. It was a beautiful sunny day. Unlike Sundays when the market is bustling with people, the market was almost deserted which made it particularly lovely to experience and photograph.
The first thing I noticed about the market is the colors, brilliant colors everywhere. The handwork was delicate and skillful. Here are some of the sights:
Key rings
Decorated gourds
Necklaces
Flutes
Chess sets
Hanging Chairs
They had lovely embroidered blouses and shirt and dresses as well. They had beautiful woven fabrics in a multitude of colors. The vendors were friendly and nice to deal with. There was none of the hard sell that one experiences in other parts of the world.
We took some time to walk into a little shop and order some diet coke and coffee to go with our lunches. The coffee took a really long time to come. Finally, when the next customer came in, we realized why. They were getting the coffee from another restaurant down the block!
After lunch we continued on to see a hacienda. We found it particularly interesting because our local guide had come many summers with his family when he was a boy to spend time there. It was not only a hotel (and quite a lovely one) but also the food, he told us, was excellent and it is surrounded by beautiful gardens. We looked into some of the guest rooms all of which have fireplaces as well as lofts for additional family members.
The Hacienda
A lovely variety of plants and flowers
A welcoming entrance
The hallway that runs parallel to the front of the hacienda with our hostess
But the afternoon was not yet finished. Next time you will meet some of our fine feathered friends and see a most exquisite resort by a lake.
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