The Equator, Markets, Friends, and Leather

The incredible balancing egg trick

Panama hats are actually made in Ecuador

Markets

More markets.....

...and two happy shoppers

I am now in holiday mode rather than travel mode (there is a difference, honest), I am sat in a very swish hotel having met up with friends old and new and I have my bags all packed ready to fly out to the Galapagos tomorrow. For today however I have travelled north from Quito and spent the day visiting the equator, shopping at markets, weavers and leather makers and had a very nice meal at an historical hacienda. It is great to meet up with Jill and Brian again and the crowd of divers who will be heading out to dive one of the meccas of diving. It is also great to be on a tour bus, full of people that you know, chatting away merrily and not having to worry about anyone stealing your stuff or asking you questions in Spanish that you have no idea what they are saying, and not having to keep an eye out for your stop - I did miss the people jumping on the bus and trying to sell things though. The equator line is obviously what gives Ecuador its name, and apparently you are supposed to be 1.7 pounds lighter whilst at the equator, I didn´t notice any difference but perhaps that was because I was busy watching an old guy balancing an egg!! The market was Otavalo and is a gathering place for the indegenoius peoples to sell their wears. Lots of weaved goods and jewelry and pictures and hats and bags etc. but it is mainly for the tourists, there was no one selling guinea pigs or live chickens etc.  Did introduce a few people to chochos and tostadas - the healthy 50 cents snack.  Also then visited a 'famous' weaver who mainly worked in alpaca wool and some of his things were lovely - the wool is oh so soft, and then onto a town that has many leather goods shops and again there were some amazing items and at great prices.  Call it an advantage or a disadvantage but when you are travelling you cannot really buy too much stuff, only necessities and consumables, as you have to carry it around with you.  I may consider buying stuff and then posting it home along the route or perhaps I will just leave all my shopping until Asia.  (Have bought my mum a birthday present, but sorry mum, you are just going to have to wait until next month to know what it is).   Onto an old hacienda and a superb three course lunch - very good and very filling, and based on the snoring on the bus on the way back to Quito everyone else agreed.