I figure I have 2.5 to 3 days to see the area, and the market is on Saturday in Otavalo. The area includes Ibarra (larger city), Cotacachi (smaller and popular with a significant number of expats), and San Pablo ( with the lake). Adriana, the hostess at the hostel says I need a day for Cotacachi because most peple like to go see and hike a bit around the crater lake that is above the town. It is midday, so Ibarra it is. She says its a 20 min ride by bus.
There is a big market right as I get off the bus. I had not eaten since 5am (never eat a meal right before a long bus ride, because if it happens to not agree with you, the bus is not where you want to have that experience), so let's find something to eat...
Hmmm, time to take a chance on a traditional pig lunch plate? A man in a suit and his wife were eating here, so... She also offered a half sized plate, which I had not found before.
Those at little potato fritters and the whote stuff is choclo, a corn product. There os also some skin there. Que rico!
Below you see tomate de arbol, a tasty fruit that makes a great juice or dessert.
Wanna buy a chicken? This guy did!
A way to make money at red lights...
My wanderings were a bit aimless and I think I missed the real centers of the city. My goal developed, though... I wanted to see the tennis club and the lake (yes, there is one here, too!). Apparently, the tennis is not where Google Maps shows it, so I have the directions the gentleman at lunch gave me and I grab a taxi.
Pools, saunas, and an Equestrian Center on the other side of the lake (Yes, where is that lake?)
His nine-year old was really hitting the ball well!
Lakes, mountains and tennis...This area seems to have it all, so where is that lake? On the map it is right there, next to the city, bur I walked a zillion blocks and never saw it. My feet were tired and I was ready to retreat to Otavalo, so I grabbed a taxi and said, "Quiero ver el lago y luego ir al terminal." He looked at me like I was crazy, but drove down a long hill, up and over another one, onto a highway, and in about ten minutes we were at the lake, known as "Bloody Lake" because when the Incas conquered the Cani, 30-40,000 Cani were slaughtered and thrown into the lake, turning it crimson red.
On the bus back to Otavalo, I made this self portrait in the reflection in the glass behind the driver. $.25 ride. We pass around Imbabura again...
In Otavalo, walking back to the hostal, I saw this graffiti...
"If the world was a handkerchief, you would be my favorite...moco"
Well, as I say to my students, you don't need a dictionary to figure out what "moco" is.
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