From the Amazon to the Andes

My mom and I are now in Otavalo, after a six hour car ride through the countryside. The landscape here is much different than the others we have seen so far. Otavalo is known for its indegenous people, the Otavalans. Every morning they come down to the town square and set up one of the largest artisan markets in the country. There are many different groups of indigenous people in Ecuador and all are quite different, with varying customs, jobs and traditional dress. 

So far we have seen the more modern and hip city of Quito as well as the old town. With its antique buildings and churches, there is a wealth of history throughout the area. Next we saw the more hippy-town of Baños. Positioned on the edge of the rainforest  where the ex-pats and street performers roam the streets selling arts and crafts by day and roam the busy streets by night. Now, we are in Otavalo, a mountain town inundated with culture and customs, beautiful mountains, volcanoes with several lakes throughout the valley.