On day 4 in ecuador, we were woken up by the hostels roosters. We got ready for the day and were served eggs, bread, and fruit juice like the last place. This seems to be a typical Ecuadorian breakfast. We then went over to Plaza de Pancho. We met with the local, Maria, who was going to show us around Otavolo. She gave us two hours to go around the market which was huge! I bought many things like trinkets, jewelry, and even a duffel bag so my luggage isn’t overweight lol. This market was very fun because you get to bargain for the best price, but also a bit stressful because of this. One guy even wanted to trade bracelets for Carters apple watch.

Next, Maria brought us over to a very beautiful waterfall. When we walked close, we all got soaked from the splashing and misting. She also talked to us about the energy circle we sat in and how they believe in a more circular cycle of life and describes the United States to be more of a straights line. We also learned about her traditional clothing and the significance such as the necklace is gold for wealth and corn. We went to a restaurant back in town for lunch where I got mashed potatoes with chicken and shrimp.

We then went to the Condor Park and watched a bird show and explored the other birds. One of the workers was feeding the birds baby chicks so we watched to see this process. We even got to put on the glove with the American falcon on our arm. When we got back to the hotel, Rick and Skip got us a guniea pig to try as an appetizer. Many people liked it; however, I thought it tasted fishy so I was not a fan. We then went back to Otavolo to get dinner. I shared chicken nachos and lasagna with Maddie. The lasagna was interesting as it was similar ingredients to an Italian lasagna but did not taste like it to me. When we arrived at the hostel, the Ecuadorian couple who owned the hostel set up a special night for us. They served us a blackberry and apple juice that was warmed. This tasted similar to warm apple cider. I really enjoyed it. This is a traditional drink that is normally served on dia de los muertos but they gave it to us tonight to show their gratitude for us visiting. They expressed how everyone who stays there is family and they truly showed these values. While we drank the drink and a bagel shaped bread, we were played music using traditional Ecuadorian instruments that the neighbor had created. We all joined in in dancing and having fun. This was one of my favorite events so far as it was so kind of them to do this for us. To end the night, a couple of us went on the roof and looked over at the amazing view of Otavalo.