Otavalo Market: Food, Textiles & People
We spent a lovely Saturday afternoon at the Otavalo Marketplace. Our tour guides, Pablo and Kristen accompanied us as we traveled deeper into Ecuador to discover this jewel and its indigenous people.
Otavalo is situated in the valley between the Imbabura volcano, approximately 8,300 feet above sea level and is another incredible view of Ecuador in all its glory. I still found myself catching my breath as I toured the countryside. The Otavalo Marketplace is the most famous Indian Market in Ecuador and one can find beautiful textiles throughout the craft shops as well as indigenous fruits of all kinds, mora (blackberries), tomate (tree tomato, much like passion fruit), granadilla (mild fruity flavor). Mango season was upon us and numerous types were available along with a variety of spices and herbs, the smell was intoxicating at times. The colors of the grains, fruits, spices, and textiles were so vibrant, I couldn't help but find myself lost in a sensory overload.
More than that, the people of Otavalo, although anxious to sell their goods, seemed to keep a pleasant demeanor on greeting the overwhelming Saturday tourists coming by the busloads. Although one can bargain the price down to virtually half, (if you're willing to go the distance) Pat and I found the prices to be fair and decided to bundle items to get a better deal versus single purchases. I guess all those hours of watching 'American Pickers' was not in vain, huh? Nonetheless, I was like a happy child, wandering from booth to booth with excitement, admiring the work of the Otavalo people.
Such a different walk of life, but it all seemed to work, the people, the place, the faith, what keeps them going? Clearly, this was a tourist town, mainly supported by the best bargaining one can do to secure items that probably took hours upon hours to make and ultimately negotiated down to the lowest denominator. Interesting...how is it that we appreciate the work of some and willing to pay a higher price tag and not others? Cost of living is so much less than the United States, but still does that qualify for not paying a fair market price and what is a fair market price? So many questions yet to be answered and it won't happen on this outing, so I'll just continue to enjoy the day!
Otavalo is situated in the valley between the Imbabura volcano, approximately 8,300 feet above sea level and is another incredible view of Ecuador in all its glory. I still found myself catching my breath as I toured the countryside. The Otavalo Marketplace is the most famous Indian Market in Ecuador and one can find beautiful textiles throughout the craft shops as well as indigenous fruits of all kinds, mora (blackberries), tomate (tree tomato, much like passion fruit), granadilla (mild fruity flavor). Mango season was upon us and numerous types were available along with a variety of spices and herbs, the smell was intoxicating at times. The colors of the grains, fruits, spices, and textiles were so vibrant, I couldn't help but find myself lost in a sensory overload.
More than that, the people of Otavalo, although anxious to sell their goods, seemed to keep a pleasant demeanor on greeting the overwhelming Saturday tourists coming by the busloads. Although one can bargain the price down to virtually half, (if you're willing to go the distance) Pat and I found the prices to be fair and decided to bundle items to get a better deal versus single purchases. I guess all those hours of watching 'American Pickers' was not in vain, huh? Nonetheless, I was like a happy child, wandering from booth to booth with excitement, admiring the work of the Otavalo people.
Such a different walk of life, but it all seemed to work, the people, the place, the faith, what keeps them going? Clearly, this was a tourist town, mainly supported by the best bargaining one can do to secure items that probably took hours upon hours to make and ultimately negotiated down to the lowest denominator. Interesting...how is it that we appreciate the work of some and willing to pay a higher price tag and not others? Cost of living is so much less than the United States, but still does that qualify for not paying a fair market price and what is a fair market price? So many questions yet to be answered and it won't happen on this outing, so I'll just continue to enjoy the day!
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