El Mercado, Otavalo & Laguna de Cuicocha

An Yesterday afternoon (Thurday) after shops, Teresa took us to a local, open air market (think Farmer's Market X 10). We walked there with two others groups - it was about 10 blocks away from the volunteer house (CMT#2). On the way there, we saw the many obligatory stray dogs, but the most interesting thing was the two donkeys tied together walking down the street by themselves. 

  

At the mercado, there were areas for fruits and vegetables, including about 15 different types of potato (the Andes region is where potatos are from, and there are over 300 varieties of potato here). 

Then there was an area to buy pork products ... like these guys and all different parts of there brothers, sisters and cousins (feet, heads, hearts, intestines, kidney's, etc.) I'll spare you those pictures! 

An area for fish/shellfish and even turtles...here are some crabs in ingenious carriers of banana leaves.

And finally, live animals to buy; chickens, chicks, guines pigs, rabbits, ducks, geese, and even a few kittens. In this area, I happened to look down and saw two discarded chicken heads on the ground (I'll spare you that pic too!) Some of the girls (especially Siena) were very upset about the way that the animals are treated so I had to explain that animals are viewed differently than back home. All the animals are either food or work animals. Cats help control the mice & rat population, dogs protect the homes and all the others are food. 

I'd have to say that this was the coolest cultural experience I've had - it was new, we've never done this before on previous trips and both Maria and I found it challenging to not stop and buy things to bring home to cook! I took tons of pictures and will create a food slide show when I get home.

Today, we went with St. Peter's Prep and Fordham Prep (both from the Northeast) to Laguna de Cuicoha for the boat ride on the volcanic crater lake then to Otavalo, the largest open air craft market in all of South America.

At the lake, there is a small craft market and snack bar area, then you buy your tickets - $3.25 each and put life jackets on and get on the boat. The ride takes you around the island that's straight ahead and slightly to the right in the picture. They pull into a little cove, turn off the engines and tell about the lake, while you watch for the bubbles. The last time it erupted was 3,000 years ago, the mountain blew it's top off and fell into the crater. The lake formed in the crater. The bubbles are caused as a result of the volcanic gases bubbling to the surface. At the end of the ride, when you get back to shore, they serve "canalazo" which is hot, sweet cinnamon tea - exactly what you need after the cold boat ride.

From there, we got back on the bus and drove to Otavalo. The kids all bought lots of souvenirs, had fun bargaining with the vendors and choosing from all the craft items offered.  

Tomorrow, we go on our Minga. "Minga" is a Quechua word for "work gang". We will go with one of the members of the CMT and help with a building or cleaning project at their home. It will be a long day full of hard work!