14th March 2015 – Otavalo – 2015-03-17 23:39

This morning we have a really early start to the day,our guide Pedro picks us up in a bus at 6:00 am to take us to the local animal market.ÿ Otavalo is famous for this market and people come for miles around to sell and or buy animals. There is everything here from 2 day old fluffy chicks, guinea pigs for $6(for eating), ducks, roosters, chickens, cats, dogs, pigs, cows, bulls, llama, horses and takeaway food, fruit & vegetables. It is very busy and we have to watch our step especially walking around the bulls. The way it works is people selling animals just stand there with them on a rope or in a box and those buying approach them and settle on a price. It Is really interesting. As we are driving back to our hotel a lady is dragging a big black pig along the main road, presumably she’d just bought it. After breakfast Pedro takes us to a huge market in the plaza del poncho, where they sell all local handcrafts. It’s extremely colorful as the Andes people love to use colours in things they make. The most popular purchases this morning has been Panama hats folded in a box for easy transporting, table runners, scarves and beanies. They also sell food and spices, the aromas are magnificent and the colours vibrant.After the markets we go to a musical instrument maker and he shows us how he makes a pan pipe, then the family play a couple of songs for us in the Andes style. This afternoon we visit a nearby town of Cotacachi which is known for its leather industry. The shops here have beautiful leather jackets, bags, shoes & belts at a very good price. Michael bought a lovely tan padded leather vest for $90, it will be good for driving the TC when it’s not too cold. Unfortunately the jacket that I liked didn’t come in my size. They offered to make one for me in 2 days, but we leave tomorrow, shame. At 3:00 pm Patricio the owner of the hacienda we’re staying in takes us to Ibarra for a private session on a race track that is owned by a friend of his. Only 4 cars go, RIP, red car, green car and us. The track is just over 3 kilometers long and has some very fast sweeping bends followed by tighter corners, a back straight with a chicane, some more tight corners and a front straight. It’s a lot of fun, we all have a drive and a mock race for a movie opportunity. What a buzz to have this lovely race track all to ourselves, pity we’re not in a race car! Movie to follow. ÿ