Day 315 - Otavalo

This morning, we set out to visit the Indio Market in Otavalo—a vibrant, bustling place filled with colors, sounds, and plenty of tourists.

The men selling goods wore traditional white trousers cropped at the knee, paired with white button-up shirts under dark ponchos. Their long hair was neatly braided into a ponytail, peeking out from beneath dark felt hats. The women wore flowing skirts and beautifully embroidered blouses, accessorized with gold-colored necklaces and coral bracelets. Watching them in action, negotiating and showcasing their crafts, was mesmerizing.

At one point, we noticed a woman in a flowing, colorful skirt squatting on the ground on one side of the street. Curious about what she was doing, we watched for a moment—until we saw a stream of urine trickling out from under her garment. Suddenly, it all made sense! We couldn’t help but laugh at the unexpected scene.

Ursula traded a used blouse for an Inca-style necklace and some silver jewelry. We ended up spending nearly the whole day wandering through this incredible market.

On our way back, we gave a Swiss backpacker a ride to Quito. He was grateful for the lift, especially since it had just started to rain when he climbed aboard.

Stats: Miles 11, Expenses $1.75Read more