Blog Post – Guy Thompson – 7/10/09

Otavalo is the largest open air market in the Andes. And fittingly enough, it is the largest expense for me on this trip. I never thought I would need three different jerseys of the same Ecuadorian soccer team that I never even heard of, but now I have them. I even bought an alpaca wool sweater of Bob Marley, who according to the vendor was a traditional Ecuadorian folk singer.

If you try hard enough, you can find the real Otavalo. The market where instead of selling alpaca blankets and painted gourds they sell tires and industrial sewing machines. I found a place that sells only the soles of the shoes, and you have to find a tailor to make the rest of the shoe. There was even a lady selling live guinea pigs, as food.

The market food court is also quite incredible. Rows of food vendors are surrounded by butchers. So that on your way to a delicious meal of soup, rice and meat you pass by the somewhat disturbing sight of piles of sheep heads and rows of cow hearts.

-Guy Thompson