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Published: June 15th 2010
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Otavalo
Doña Emilia is going to be my homestay host until the end of June. At last I´ve found someone shorter than me. Estoy en Otavalo. ¿Dónde estas?
Yes I'm in Otavalo. And it's high in the Andes in northern Ecuador, just north of the equator, not far from the border with Columbia in Latin America. Elevation is 2560m. Altitude sickness has kicked in; yet it is a new world for me and immensely exciting. Strangely, my Spanish has improved since I left Argentina last October, but it will need to get much better before I can understand anything much about the culture here. Except that the people are friendly and welcome strangers. It is a textile centre, with a very busy craft market that attracts tourists from all over the country. It's best for a newcomer to let the pictures speak for themselves.
¿Como viajé aquí?
A twenty-two hour flight, Sydney - Auckland - Santiago - Quito delivered me safely into the hands of Ali and Steve's friend Luis, keeper of the
Jumbo Lodging (cUS$20:00 per night). What a lovely guesthouse! They looked after me like family for a day and a half and delivered me to a bus terminal on the outskirts of town.
Two hours to cover sixty-five km on a well surfaced, two lane highway that switchbacked
The Andes
Volcanoes seen from the plane. over amazingly mountainous terrain. In Otavalo Ali Steve and I are staying in the charming
Hotel Riviera Sucre (cUS$15.00 per night). After three nights here we'll go off to Pucará, the village where they're working, until the end of the month.
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Guenter
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Good place to be when it’s 6 degrees at home
Seems you’ve landed in a lovely spot. How long will you be staying there? Best to Ali and Steve. Guenter & Aek