First of all HAPPY PADDIESDAY!!!

Early start to the day, meeting point at Q at 6.45. Had a voucher for free coffee at the Q and they asked if we wanted breakfast. No bread so no breakfast for me, William, Silke, Alan had some thought and it was quite a shock as it was almost 10 dolares.. that is crazy, never again at the Q.

Anyway got picked up then (managed to have some real weirdos in the group again.. every time, so maybe it us us who are weird *gg*).. and off we went.

First stop equator, the REAL one this time. Really cool place. So now I know both places, the "fake" one and the real equator.

Next stop Cayambe, THE place for biscuits in Ecuador. We visited a factory and well, the biscuits are okay, but thy really have to grow on you, the older they are, the better they get. Quite dry, with lots of water or a cold beer they're not so bad.
Next stop Lago de San Pablo, nice lake, although not as nice as Quilotoa. Looks just like any lake in Austria. Nice but not spectacular. Again people making money with their culture, kids dressed up with lamas.. if you want a photo you have to pay. One the one hand I understand, I'd probably do the same but it feels to me somehow that they are selling themselves..

After that OTAVALO!!!! Finally, the market. We only had 1,5 hours so we (Silke and I) didn't waste any time listening to our guide who told us about 5 times that yes, that was the main market!!!! The haggling thing is not for me, it's so cheap anyway so why haggle but apparently that's what you have to do.

Bought a nice jumper for my nephew Jan to bring back for his 1st birthday. Silke and I just were amazed by all the jewellery and I think the boys got bored so off they went. I really like some bracelets and some rings but they were far far far too expensive for us, I wasn't prepared to spend about 100 dolares so we walked on and then, finally, came to a brilliant stall with loads of jewellery at really good prices. Bought loads for like 10 dolares, didn't really haggle, I really don't like that.

The weird Canadian couple bought the whole market it seemed, everzthing, from hammocks to pan pipes, little statues.. everything.. they went a bit wild.. same as with taking photos.. WHY would you take photos out of the car of the road in front of you... doesn't make any sense to me.. it was a laugh though..

After Otavalo went to Cotocachi, THE leather place in Ecuador. One shop after the other full of jackets, belts.. unfortunately no dresses or skirts, would have liked one of them..
had lunch there, really nice food, 4 course meal for only 8 dollars. Really good value.

Final stop that day was Laguna de Cuicocha, lake of the (wild) guinea pigs. Really beautiful, but to me not as nice as Quilotoa. Went out on a boat, there are 2 islands in the middle of the lake, one is the Theodore Wolfe Island..

After that home. Went for a few buckets and then off to bed. Really tired