Week 10 - Otavalo

Otavalo is a pretty tourist-heavy city outside of Quito thanks to its huge weekend markets that crowd the entire city center. Additionally, it's just a really nice city in a beautiful location. A great place to spend a couple of days.

Some photos from the big parade for whatever celebration was going on this weekend

At first I thought these horses has a limp, but as I watched I realized they were all stepping together, and someone told me they had been taught to dance. It looked more like they were all having convulsions, but that was just me.

Weekly animal market

A wide selection of ropes and collars to match your newly-purchased animal's personality

Big pig...Pigstick 12S?

Stained-glass animals and figures adorned the lights on one of the main streets

One of the sellers at the huge Saturday (non-animal) market in town

Waterfall in this awesome park right outside of Otavalo

I hiked up some trails from the waterfall and hit a nice, quiet town surrounded by mountains.

I feel like this picture is a good summary of my time here in Ecuador- kids running around being loud while animals hang out nearby with trash strewn around on the outskirts, all the while surrounded by picturesque mountains and blue skies. Also, there's a festival going on in the background. That sounds stranger when I put it into words, but apt nonetheless.

Week 10 - Quito

After I left Tena, I arrived in Quito where I am staying with friends of a friend of my grandparents. The family is really kind and has shown me around a ton of Tena, so I got some cool photos is all. 

A crater formed many years ago by volcanoes and tectonic plates (or something) that is now home to some farms and villagers.

Some sort of art in the big ecopark I went to

La Virgen at the Panecillio,

View from the Panecillo at night

Weeks 8+9

Pictures from my last couple of weeks in Tena. There wasn't too much left to document in photos, so it's another random assortment of stuff. 

Going to a birthday party I think?

Our gringo thanksgiving dinner, it was awesome. Credit for the great faces go to my coworkers.

A huge turkey I saw, definitely not going to be there after Christmas.

I saw a couple of these in the supermarket and found them really funny at the time...I think they still are? I have no idea why they are in English in the first place, maybe 3% of Tena speaks English.

This one was my favorite.

My despedida (going away celebration) lunch at work on my last day.

Hasta luego, Tena and the Amazon.

Week 7

The experimental plot of guayusa we planted. I think it's more exciting than it looks

Late afternoon from the back of a pickup truck taxi

Sunset is weird in Ecuador

And really awesome for pictures.

With Nick (right of me), Cass (behind him), Carolyn (next to her), and one of the funniest Ecuadorians whose name I am forgetting, on the canoe en route to Carolyn's community

Into the Jungle

Chontachuros - a type of Gusano (worm in spanish- for those in Hanover this blew my mind to know that a restaurant is named after these), which are actually tasty when cooked over a fire in a palm leaf, and less tasty when grilled directly on the flame.

Jewelry made by the community

Busted water pipe-turned sprinkler

View overlooking a plot of banana trees

I stumbled upon this ecolodge paradise, it looks quite nice!

Week 5/6

 A more random assortment of pictures this week, mostly from Banos. Enjoy!

Guava fruit (the white stuff) with a big pit in the middle, they grow all over the place

Sugarcane in one of the many stands around Banos where they are sold

A strangely european-looking church in Banos

The church at night

A view of Banos from the beginning of the hike

Followed me for a bit up one of the dirt roads I was walking on. One of the few smaller dogs here I liked!

Accidentally found this national park

View from where I ate lunch

A sign along the way - "To look after the water is to look after our lives"

A local delicacy in Banos, Cuy. In english: Guinea Pig. (I didn't try it this time)

Soccer game in Tena

A view of the sunset and sky from the office