Riobamba, Ecuador

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Buenos Tardes! (That's Good Afternoon in local lingo)

Quito review... a very interesting city which we both thoroughly enjoyed. The vast majority of the streets are in a poor state of repair, kind of like you see in a film set in 1950s Cuba, but at the same time it is a very busy, lively place. Stray dogs wander around looking for leftovers, street vendors try to sell woolly hats, and eight-year boys earn a living shining shoes (one such lad looked extremely disappointed when he thought he spotted two gringos in need of shiny shoes only to find we were both wearing flip-flops.)

Yesterday we took a public bus (this trip is packed full of new experiences for Bridget!) to a small town called Otavalo, home to the biggest indiginous markets in South America. You can take the girl out of Fosse Park but you can't take Fosse Park out of the girl.
Determined not to be drawn in by the bright colours on the stalls we managed to walk away with just a t-shirt, a pair of gloves, an alpaca-wool hat (he assured us...), and some bits of six-inch long multi-coloured string that Bridget paid 50p for. Bargain!

As the title says, we're now in Riobamba, about 100 miles south of Quito. If anyone can speak any Spanish please let us know what "lomo" is. In our phrase book it says pork / pork sausage, but when it arrived on Jeremy's plate at lunchtime it looked like a beef steak but had a 'different' taste to it. Our bet is horse, but other possibilities are alpaca, llama, or even a super-sized guinea pig (which we haven't had yet because it's three times the price of chicken, pork, or lomo).
Talking of learning Spanish, we are learning a few new words, for example Bridget has impressed a couple of waiters with "s'il vous plait", although she claims this is due to jet lag (not the red wine of course).


Note to Dad (Bowden) - thanks for putting the wheelie bin in the back garden.

Note to Karen - don't worry about the missing wheelie bin, my dad has put it in the back garden.

Note to Mum and Dad (Phipps) - hope you arrived back from Ireland safely.

Note to Andy and team (Cedars) - Bridget has used her Leatherman twice, it only took 30 minutes to figure out how to open the scissors.


Bye for now!
Jez and Bridge.
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Photos

Bridget at Otavalo market.
Look at those superb bits of coloured string she's clutching. Check ebay next week if you want to take them off our hands.

Cotopaxi Volcano.
Honest!

Comments

[Andrew]

LOMO
Meat made from pork loin. The loin is salt cured, then repeatedly brushed with salt and sugar after which it is seasoned with garlic, paprika, pepper, and other spices. The meat is allowed to air dry and when matured is ready to eat. What a shame- I was hoping it would be something to do with a Donkey's groin!

[Dawn (Cedars)]

Hi
String is a very versitile commodity!! Obviously you didn't find the shoe shop Bridget!! I'm sure there will be some suggestions as to what you could do with the string. Tenga un día agradable!!!

[StUART]

HELLO!!
Hi guys, sorry for the lack of contact - e-amil issues. Glad your having a great time, the pictures lookk fantastic!! have bought my North Face jacket to so am very pleased and excited. Anything else you want me to bring out there with me when I come? Keep the up dates coming!! Lots of love, Stuart x x x

[Julie Fox]

lomo
Hi. Lomo just means a good cut of steak like we (Canadians) would say sirloin or t-bone. Sometimes seasoned with salsa-verde or (green sauce): green pepper, cilantro and garlic ground up with water. My husband is from Latacunga and we lived in Riobamba for a while. Julie.