Otavalo Buying Madness

Snow-capped Cotopaxi from the bus station right after sunrise

Otavalo markets - streets upon streets.  Very much a maze and hard to remember where you found items

We got to lovely Otavalo at 9:45 after a long ordeal at the bus station.  The lady that we bought the bus tickets from wasn't very nice to us at all -  we were supposed to be on a bus at six, but she told us we would have to wait until 7:45.  After we got slightly angry (being up that early probably didn't help) she told us we could get on a bus at 6:30, as the earlier bus had issues.  We waited for the bus for what seemed like forever for the bus and finally the lady that sold us the tickets told us that they would put us all in a car to otavalo for an extra fifty cents.  And promptly disappeared.  As we wondered whether or not we got ripped off, our bus finally came.  We paid fifty cents extra to get on our own bus??  But we were able to see a really clear view of Cotopaxi (a completely snowcapped mountain - we hadn't been able to see it before) and Pinchincha (one of the peaks in Quito) because it was just after the sunrise and the clouds hadn't descended yet.  And the full moon was bright and right above the mountain peaks and ridges.  I love the andes.

Otavalo was crazy! Once you got to the market area, there were just streets upon streets of vendors.  On the outskirts of the market there were many manufactured goods, including knockoff abercrombie, hollister and aeropostale.  We found michigan sweatshirts too.  There was one store that had at least five brands all in one place.  They have a fascination with American brands.  But then we got to the better part and the shopping commenced.  I found a ring, purse, bracelet and many many more items.  Much damage was done, but we figured this was the one time for us to buy souvenirs.  

We went to a pizza place for lunch and as always, we took the place over with fifteen people.  Moreover, fifteen gringos.  They came up and took pictures of us before we left.  Interesting?  We should go back and see if we have a tribute in their restaurant.

We got on two buses to go back to Quito - we almost left Caitlin yikes!  The bus was not going to wait, even as we kept begging them too.  So we got off once they stopped on the street and got on the next one.  Needless to say, we keep forgetting that Quito is a big metropolis and not every bus will go to our station.  We got off at an unfamiliar station and several moments later Alex (a tutor that was in a separate group coming home) stuck his head out of a bus and told us to catch one to go to Quitumbe (who knows how he saw us, but a bus was a lot better than our idea of taking a taxi as we were way in the north).  Thank goodness for Alex.  Someone heard and herded the clueless gringos in the right way.  An hour later we were home - we got dropped off right at our bus stop close to our house.  Homeeee