Saturday marked the end of our final HECUA coordinated field trip. This time around, we boarded a bus and drove north to Imbabura province to the cities of Otavalo and Cotacahi.
Green. Mountains. Lakes. Beautiful.
First stop: a clinic where Western medicine and Traditional medicine collide. A highligt (but also a lowlight) includes experiencing a traditional cleansing performed by an Indigenous man who had learned the trade from his grandfather at the age of 3. This cleansing involved plants, and oil. So much oil. Oil on my face, neck, arms, and hair. oil in my hair. So much. Cleansing, but still kind of messy.
From there, visits to a an artesian couple who have been spinning wool and making beautiful scarves, blankets, etc together for 30 years. Then to a andean instrument workshop where I tried to play Take On Me with panpipes the whole time.
Both nights where spent with Indigenous families in La Comunidad de Morochos. Everytime I tried to help with dinner or breakfast, my host mom just told me to siga no más (go ahead,) sit down at that table, and eat my delicious food. New favourite: warm tomarillos (small, sweet tomato-like fruit) for breakfast. Awesommmmmmme.
One could consider the Fería de Otavalo to be the main event of this trip. Imagine a giant plaza and it´s surrounding streets packed with people selling everything from hammocks, to sweaters to jewelery, to pipes, to grilled corn. Then imagine it being packed with people. Um, mom, I´m just saying, don´t worry about getting any alpaca blankets anytime soon.
Other highlights include being able to sit in on La Asamblea de Cotacachi,(more or less the community´s decision-making body,) a boat ride around a crater lake, cuy (that would be guinea pig,) and some really good llampingachos (cheese and potato all mixed together and fried.)
Today is the 2 week marker, I´m in the middle of Fiestas de Quito, and wrapping up final papers and exams. Oh man, exciting.
Look for updates on Fiestas de Quito and the complimentary Quitu Raymi within the week.
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