Sunshine and mild temperatures greeted our breakfast. We had a day that ladies enjoy and I tolerate: market day. Oh well ....
Back to Otavallo we went and had 3 hours to wander. First, to an animal market where the newbies saw livestock bought and sold. It was a little rough at times to see animals hobbled, carried in burlap sacks, trussed, and crated and left in the hot sun, but this is a slice of life in the Andes. The, the main market in all its colour. We wandered, bought post cards, avoided pick-pockets and had coffee and lunch. It was OK.
Pablo worked his magic and we changed busses in Quito. Our new bus was large and luxurious, Then, back out of Quito to Cotopaxi National Park. The mountains here are volcanos and there is quite a concentration of them. The king is Cotopaxi, one those perfect cone-ahped mountains like Fuji or Kilimanjaro. It was shrouded by cloud, but still magnificent. Then, to our lodging for the night, the spectacular 18th century Hacienda Cienaga, a true jewel. Lovely gardens, sumptuous food, elegant rooms ... a true glimpse at how the Spanish grandees must have lived in imperial splendor in this sometimes hostile environment. Our dinner was accompanied by another Andean band. They were very young and very excellent and Pablo asked them to play a song called "Negro Jose", which we enjoyed very much. Pablo said the song originated in Uruguay or Chile, and I must remember to YouTube it. We have fallen in love with Andean music, with its haunting melodies on the flutes and charango, and the spirit and rhythmn. South America continues to amaze.
Back to Otavallo we went and had 3 hours to wander. First, to an animal market where the newbies saw livestock bought and sold. It was a little rough at times to see animals hobbled, carried in burlap sacks, trussed, and crated and left in the hot sun, but this is a slice of life in the Andes. The, the main market in all its colour. We wandered, bought post cards, avoided pick-pockets and had coffee and lunch. It was OK.
Pablo worked his magic and we changed busses in Quito. Our new bus was large and luxurious, Then, back out of Quito to Cotopaxi National Park. The mountains here are volcanos and there is quite a concentration of them. The king is Cotopaxi, one those perfect cone-ahped mountains like Fuji or Kilimanjaro. It was shrouded by cloud, but still magnificent. Then, to our lodging for the night, the spectacular 18th century Hacienda Cienaga, a true jewel. Lovely gardens, sumptuous food, elegant rooms ... a true glimpse at how the Spanish grandees must have lived in imperial splendor in this sometimes hostile environment. Our dinner was accompanied by another Andean band. They were very young and very excellent and Pablo asked them to play a song called "Negro Jose", which we enjoyed very much. Pablo said the song originated in Uruguay or Chile, and I must remember to YouTube it. We have fallen in love with Andean music, with its haunting melodies on the flutes and charango, and the spirit and rhythmn. South America continues to amaze.
No comments:
Post a Comment