Had a good first night in Ecuador. Lots of night time noises – traffic, dogs, roosters, people on the sidewalk, etc. Always sounds like the windows are wide open. But it feels great to be rested and well. Another sunny warm day with intermittent clouds.
Took my cell phone to a place last night to get it unlocked. They said pay $10 and come back in an hour. Went back in an hour and they were closed. I thought I had been taken and would never see the cell phone again. But this morning, they finally got it fixed by 10 a.m.. And it works! I called Janelle twice today.
We took the bus to Peguche, a small weaving village. Fell in love with it. Plan to go back tomorrow and sleep there in a hostal. Peguche is one of Ecuador’s best kept secrets – away from tourists. As we walked the streets, we followed the sounds of machinery, and ended up at one of the weaving places. Three large looms weaving thread into beautiful garments. They allowed us to come in and take pictures. Walked another couple blocks and heard more weaving machines. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.
Waited for a bus to return to Otavalo, then hopped immediately on another bus to San Antonio de Ibarra – the woodworking town where all the shops are full of beautiful woodcarvings. We had to stand part of the way, then I sat down beside a man who began a conversation in Spanish. His name was Carlos, maybe 10 years older than me, true indigenous with long black pigtail. He told me he made musical instruments and invited me to get off the bus with him and walk to the place where he made instruments – about ten minutes before San Antonio. I mentioned it to Judy who was across the aisle and back a row and we decided to get off with him.
It was along the Pan American highway, but pretty much out in the country. We huffed and puffed trying to keep up with his fast pace up a steep hill. Near the top, he proudly invited us in to his music studio where he had dozens of wind instruments. We spent the next hour listening to beautiful Ecuador folk music with him demonstrating and telling us about each instrument which he handcrafted. He then took us through his house into his shop where he makes the instruments. He showed us several that were in process. We tried to play the instruments. They are quite difficult, but after some personal lessons from the master, we were able to make some nice sounds. We ended up buying one – it is a beautiful looking instrument.
It was now 2:30 and we still had not eaten, but had plenty of practice speaking Spanish, which was more fun than taking Spanish classes. We were ready to leave, but he said something to his wife who was sitting in the courtyard shelling frejoles (beans). The next thing we knew, his wife headed to the kitchen and he was inviting us to stay for rice and beans.
He invited us into the other part of his house across the courtyard to sit down at a table. His wife quickly prepared some very tasty rice, beans and carne (meat). Added a large bowl of soup and a large glass of juice that was white colored – forget the name. The juice was perhaps a bit risky, but it was very good. We left calling each other amigos. We will email him and hope to see him again.
These are the types of experiences we came to Ecuador for and we walked down the hill thanking God and smiling! We then jumped on another full bus to San Antonio. I had no idea where to get off and could not see out the windows when standing. So I kept reminding the conductor and he still forgot. But the bus driver had heard me, and he stopped for us to get off.
In the town, we met a 28 year old lady from Germany who married an Ecuadoran and has two small children. They were in the central park and we decided to introduce ourselves. She and her husband cannot find jobs. He is a sociologist and she is an anthropologist. So they are going to be opening a café. She wrote down her email address and we took a picture of their house where they are planning to open the café.
We rode back to Otavalo in another very full bus, arriving in Otavola as the sun was setting. We bought some fruit and an avocado and then two personal pizza’s for a dollar each. Judy returned to our hostal and I waited for the pizza to be completed. About a minute after Judy left, the electricity shut down for the whole city of Otavalo. Everything went pitch dark. I assumed Judy probably got to the hostal okay since it was very close. I waited at the pizza place. The pizza oven must have been powered by gas or coal or wood, because they told me to wait.
I waited about ten minutes and then found my way back to the hostal along the dark street. Wasn’t sure how I was going to get into the hostal since the gates were all locked and the only way in was to ring an electric buzzer. Fortunately, Judy was waiting for me. She was ready to cut up the avocado and we put it on the pizzas and they were super delicious! The hostal brought us a candle and we ate by candle light sitting around a table outside in the courtyard.
After we were done eating, we found our way upstairs and are sitting at a table by candlelight, with Judy writing in her journal and me journaling on my computer. And now the lights have just come back on and we have electricity!!! But no internet, so I will have to wait to send this to the blog.
Just heard three loud explosions – sounded like canons. Sounded like they were out on the street. Judy asks, “Shall we turn the light off?” Our room is right by the street. We wait. Everything seems calm again. Since it is 9 p.m. and we’ve had enough excitement for the day, think we will stay in for the rest of the night.
Sorry this is so long, but that is what happens when the lights go out and there is little else to do than reflect on a very blessed and super fun day! God blessed us with everything we could have desired plus much more. Thank you God!
A weaver demonstrating the loom. 
Our huge helpings of chinese food for lunch for $2-3 each. 
The policia leaving the restaurant. 
Taking a walk up the road Thursday morning. 
Eating breakfast at La Luna. 
Enjoying the fireplace and candlelight when the power went off. 
These are a few pictures from Thursday. Read the posts below for more stories behind the photos. 
Taking a walk up the road Thursday morning. 
Eating breakfast at La Luna. 
Enjoying the fireplace and candlelight when the power went off. 
These are a few pictures from Thursday. Read the posts below for more stories behind the photos. 
