Welcome back, travellers,
So much has happened in the last few days. I turned into Willy Wonka for a few hours, learned how to negotiate in Spanish, and woke up to some of the best views in the city. We are currently in Otavalo, a small town two hours north of Quito, where walking around town feels like entering. another world. There are houses packed together, dogs running the streets, and people selling and making a living on every corner. However, on the way to Otavalo, we made a quick stop at Bios Chocolate, where we learned the history of chocolate making from the owner, who educated us about Ecuador‘s chocolate history and how it is made today. We indulged in flavours like fig and cheese, melon, and my personal favourite, chili pepper. We even got to make some ourselves, going back into the factory and learning the company’s secrets, like how they roast wood and the state-of-the-art machines they used to develop their products.
Back in Otavalo, we woke up to a view surrounded by volcanoes and clouds drifting into the valley where the town is located. My favourite adventure so far came in the marketplace where we haggled over alpaca wool jackets, handmade bags, and even silver necklaces mined in the area. I loved the challenge of having to communicate prices between English and Spanish, working until we found a price that worked for both the seller and me. We’re currently on the way up one of the volcanoes to see a crater lake and the biggest birds in the country. I’ll be sure to keep everybody updated about my journey and the adventures to come.
Matt Hay