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Published: December 4th 2007
Mercado Saquasilli
This photo was taken at one of the best and most important indigenous markets in Ecuador. This market is only open on Thursdays and attracks people from all over. It is not touristy at all and most of the people selling goods only speak Quechua, the native language here. Hello Everyone! Been super busy since the last blog. Still taking Spanish classes with my last day on Wednesday, then it is off to the Galapagos!!
Last weekend, went to a the town and national park, Cotopaxi, followed by the city, Baños. Cotopaxi is a beautiful mountain, (when it is not overcast), with a beautiful national park at it´s base. It is about 2 hours from Quito and I went with an Australian girl named Josie and a German woman named Petra. Cotopaxi is definitely a tourist attraction but we were some of the only people there! It is the off season and incredibly cold, so I think that could be the primary reasons that we had the park to ourselves. Also, it is a tad tricky to get to. The bus drops you off on the side of the Pan American Highway and then you find some Ecuadorian with a private vehicle to drive you into the park. We lucked out and found someone that guided us through the whole park for the day, ($20, unofficial guide), and who knew all about the flora and fauna in the area.
Next stop was Baños, a town with a name that
An Orchid for Anthea
Anthea is the orchid queen of SF, so this photo is for her. It is taken from the botanical garden in Parque Carolina in Quito. says it all. Baños is directly under an active volcano and people flock here to hang out in the many thermal pools here. About 99% of the tourists in Baños over the weekend were Ecuadorians! They absolutely love the thermal baths. Tons of stuff to do during the day too. You can go to see the many waterfalls in the town, hike, swim, rent horses or four wheelers (see pictures!), bungee jump, para glide and more. We had a ball with a view of one of the waterfalls and the beautiful lush mountains right out of our hostel window. The active volcano made noise the whole time we were there and sometimes, when it rumbled, the force opened all of the windows in the hostel that were unlocked. Really cool, but sort of scary at the same time. I guess living in a town directly under a volcano is sort of like living in SF with all of the earthquakes....more or less.
The pictures will explain a few other note worthy attractions, so please, check them out!
Anyway, hope you all enjoy the blog. If you get a chance, shoot me an email to let me know how
you are doing too!
Love,
Cassandra
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Ann Costello
non-member comment
Hi Cassandra....... It looks like you are having the time of your life. I am soooooo jealous. To be (let's just 40+ years younger). Totally enjoy...Loved having your Dad and Rose for Thanksgiving. Do have soo Much Fun when and your darling sister hook up. Miss You and Love You....Old Auntie Ann