Cotacachi

A small shop devoted to making belts only

Always a parade.  Almost everyday a parade "will break out", seemingly spontaneously.  The reason for this one?  As with most, no apparent reason.

Back to Otavalo

The street dogs are very skinny here so Vicki brings a pouch of dry food for some of them.

The city goes up into the hills, so there were plenty of stairs this morning.

In this photo (above) we are standing mid way up.  In the photo (below) looking down from the same spot.

Wow!  That's a lot of fresh eggs!

Sugar cane for sale. Not sure what you would do with it?

Stopped into this Panaderia for break.  Freshly baked croissant with melted cheese inside - 25 cents.

Kirk and Vicki took us to see their Bible study who had a new 2 week old baby.

In the town square, here's how they make sno-cone treats by hand.

Today in Otavalo

Today our group went to territory in Otavalo

We worked many of the blocks in this area.  A young girl spoke some English and a return visit was set up to study the Bible with her.

After a lot of walking all morning, time for an ice cream break.

There are sides of Ecuador that can't be ignored.  As the xmas holiday draws near, over drinking early in the day results in scenes like this couple below.

Laundry is hung wherever convenient.

A walk through the market

Not a real Taco Bell.  Just a local's name choice for their restaurant.  Copyright infringement is quite common.

Aside the main park in the center of town is a coffee bar operated by a local but catering to the Gringo visitors.  It caught the eye of Levi (left) who just arrived from Colorado. 

He wanted an Iced Coffee which turned out to be quite a production to make, taking nearly 15 minutes!

The video below shows the "event" of waiting for the order and finally receiving it.

Notice near the end where Vicki gives the owner some magazines with articles for his family.

Health and Safety?

In a restaurant last evening, notice the fridge cord.

The cord is in a high traffic area leading behind the counter.

Are there a shortage of plugs here?  Not at all.  Why use one when you can just stick 2 wires into the wall?

Almost anything to get you to come into their store!

Today in the Ministry

After traveling by inter-city bus to the Ibarra terminal, we regroup to take a city bus to the territory.

Chris (left) just arrived from Colorado to stay here permanently.  He brought Levi (centre) who will get a "taste of Ecuador" for 2 months.  Both are pioneer elders.  Martin (right) came over from Spanish to assist in the English territory.

What's this hole for?  I recognized the word for water - "Agua"

It tells the water meter reader to look in there for the reading!

Me, Ben and George

Well guarded!

Nikki (Chris' sister) and Ruth

Ben and Bill

Who needs a lawnmower?

Fresh Juice

Warehouse Discovery

Walking around the outskirts of Cotacachi today we found the JW Creations wholesale warehouse where leather service supplies are stocked and shipped out

Yesterday

In the Theocratic Ministry School last night, Ruth assisted an Ecuadorean teenaged sister who just moved over from Spanish to English

Earlier in the day I saw my first snake.  A mischievous boy was waiting on the sidewalk for passerby to walk along and then he'd thrust his pet snake in a cup under their noses.  Seems like he only picked woman for maximum shriek effect.

In Ibarra

We went searching for the train station yesterday.  Ecuador has been on a multi-year drive to rehabilitate and is investing millions of dollars into it's neglected railroad lines.  There's a sort of renaissance going on in that respects.  We heard about a 4-1/2 hour scenic round trip between Ibarra and Salinas.  At the Salinas stop a multicultural group demonstrate some regional dancing for the visitors.  Salinas was once an area that mined tons of salt per week valued more highly than gold and silver.  We'll be booking that excursion when our visitors arrive next month.

In the meantime . . . It takes traveling to a large city, but I found my old friend!

Like in many areas of the world, eggs are not refrigerated here

Some sights around Otavalo

Otavalo is a small town of about 50,000 inhabitants approximately 2 hours north of Quito.  It is home to the largest 7 day a week indigenous craft market in all of South America.  The selection of items is overwhelming.  Scarves, hats, sweaters, silver bracelets, necklaces, leather products, bags, purses, blankets . . . you name it.

Can you spot the interesting spelling on these signs?

Sights in the ministry today

Today back in Ibarra our group worked the downtown stores and business area.  At a shoe repair shop the owner identified himself as a brother from the Spanish congregation.

Ruth and Vicki found a kitten they wanted to bring home

How about some pigeon eggs for breakfast?

These four children seem to be running the Hostel when we went in looking for English speaking people

Lots of grain everywhere