Today, I took the option of going to the indigenous market, Saquisili, with the school instead of having lessons in the morning. The market here is only open on Thursday and is by the indigenas for the indigenas, where they come from all over to gather here, for both trade and social reasons. There are 7 plazas, which specialise in different things, such as large livestock: cows, goats, llamas (yes, llamas - not many admittedly, definitely there, saw one) and pigs; smaller livestock: chicken, cockerels/roosters, geese, turkeys, and of course, the national speciality, cuy (guinea pigs), which ranged in sizes. There were also other plazas selling things such as fruit in small portions; larger portions, handicrafts: wooden spoons, woven hairbands, bowls, etc.; food (fish), tools, secondhand clothes, etc.

It was very colourful as the indigenas like colour and choose their clothes for contrast and different indigenous groups have their own style, such as hats and ear decorations. For one indigenous group, to be elegante, means wearing a hat with a peacock feather in addition to the bright colourful clothes.

As for the Spanish, I now know three different words for workers, from discussing tube strikes and pay demands on the coach to Saquisili.

I ended up buying a hat (I've always wanted one like it but never found the right size) for $11, which I'm really pleased with. It hasn't got a peacock feather but it does have a small cluster of feathers at the side. Of course, it may not be practical for travelling around with later. I also bought a woven hair band which wraps around your ponytail, tried some fried battered fish and some fruit (a big portion of chinese lantern, also known as cape gooseberry, I think).

On the way back to Quito, we stopped over at a restaurant that serves the speciality, cui, which you can get in 1/4, half or entire portions. I bought un quarto de cui, and when I got it wished that I'd had my camera on me. There isn't much meat on the guinea pig and it tastes a bit like duck, whereas the crispy skin (obviously, defurred! Wonder how they did that?) was a bit like pork scratching. It was served with potatoes, an avocado slice and lettuce in some sauce, with an accompanying chilli sauce (but not what you'd get in a bottle at home). I got the head quarter because although I didn't see the head, I did get the top part of its jaw, as well as one little paw (to gross people out)...

When we returned, I had a little wander (the first time I've had free time where it didn't rain), managed to find a little shop from where I bought leggings and a jumper. It's so great that the leggings fit lengthwise! I think I fit right in here, size wise.

Then it was time to get ready for the welcome dinner that Monika had organised for us three volunteers as well as a farewell dinner to Debbie, one of the other people that Monika was looking after at hers. Then it was bedtime, especially as I've not had a proper nights sleep since last Thursday and I was completely shattered by this time.