Day 5: Milton & the Hilton

On Friday we decided to venture further from Quito to the northern market town of Otavalo, whose Saturday markets are famous in this part of the world. We set forth in an intercity bus on a two and a half hour journey. The deep canyons and volcanic peaks were spectacular but Sarah's trip was adversely affected by one of the Saw movie sequels played loud and on repeat!

We settled in to the quaint village and headed off to the Condor Park, a sanctuary for predatory birds. The taxi ride with an illiterate driver and a dodgy clutch was eventful in itself! Highlights of the park were seeing condor close up and a flight demonstration.

Day 5 we got up early to get to the Otavalo markets! The whole town becomes a market on a Saturday, with animal (bit smelly and a little cruel), food, textile and main markets, kilometers of markets taking up the streets! After trying some new foods (we'll see how that goes!!) and being completely marketed out, we headed back to Quito on the long bus ride home.

We are now settled in at the Hilton, ready for our Galapagos tour in the morning!! So if we don't blog for ten days, there's no wifi on the boat!

Sam Fact Day 5: the Andean condor has the largest wingspan of all the birds of prey, and is second only to the Albatross.

Next post will contain Galapagos animals!!

Xoxo