Markets and off to Columbia

We got some choice at breakfast which was a nice surprise. As we looked around we noticed some friends from earlier were sitting at the table next to us. We caught up while munching through a great breakfast. As i enjoyed my eggs with Vegemite, another traveler comented about it and how much he missed it. i thought for a second and offered it to him, i have alot and there was enough for him to enjoy for a week or two.

Sarah took advantage of the good Internet and Skyped while I headed out to the market to buy a few items for mum. Before I left, We joked at my reading on the bus from the day before, i read the market had 'an abundance of wooden gods' and listed items. This was where Sarah questioned if ponchos and beenies were more likely to be 'woolen goods'. Weakly, in my defense, there were a lot of wooden gods, some in ponchos. Otavalo is known for its market and they were right, really great craft market with almost everything. I returned to the hostel and we both headed out this time. I showed Sarah the market but also the odd bits like the shrunken heads and a painting of Jesus with his bits out, first time either of us have seen a painting including his tackle. On a different topic, I bought a present for Mum and Dad to help them remember their time in South America, a beenie for the return to Europe and a painting. Sarah bought two paintings and with the three we worked out a great deal. I don't think I could be happier with mine, a huge canvas piece, around 70cm wide. We had to leave the market or else a few more things might be bought, including another painting Sarah liked. We stopped for a great lunch of nachos, picked up some tape to put my bag back together and got ready to leave.

We left to catch the bus, where... to the corner of the main road naturally as naturally they didn't use the bus terminal for this bus either, surprise surprise. We got onto the bus and to our surprise took some seats, not offered from a dodgy guy. It was a nice relief as its a three hour ride and I didn't want to stand there protecting my possessions for that long. If you're wondering, this time the bag stayed on my lap the whole trip.

When we arrived three hours later we then got a taxi from the border town of Túcan, to the border. This was not a trip that Sarah enjoyed as we maxed out around 135km/h on the one lane each way road.... Well really it was a wide road so sometimes we just made it into two one way and one the other, corners included. The average was a bit over 120km/h. We arrived both happy to Leave the taxi and I thanked Speed Racer for the trip.

Sarah buzzed through immigration and I took a long time, with system errors and a lady who had a very busy social on the other side of the glass. It didn't start very well for me, with questions in spanish 'where are you going?' She asked, 'Umm Columbia' I responded wondering where else I could go if she stamps me out of Ecuador on the Ecuador-Columbia boarder, 'where are you going?' She repeated, 'Col-um-b-ia' I said slower, finally, 'where are you going?' She asked slower...... Really lady, 'Columbia' I repeated slowly with a poor Spanish accent. She got it that time. It was a long time later and it took another person but i got stamped and finally we crossed.

A quick waltz across the bridge and we were stamped into Columbia. We found a place, the Gran Hotel, and threw down our gear, hungry and poor (no columbian money yet). We asked and found out the nearest ATM was 9 blocks away and it's dark at 7:30pm. He assures us it's still early and it's safe. So we headed out only with cards, and it was nice with enough people around to make you feel safe. This feeling slowly left and as we passed two guys they called out something about gringos. We changed streets and this one was much heavier populated. We got some money and returned home.

Luckily for us there was a very cheap roast chicken place across the road from our hotel. The chicken was great and only $3 with the most amazing people serving and cooking. They were so helpful, showing us food we might want and speaking slowly and clearly. The cook of the chickens asked us about home and if they still cook chicken like this on coals in Australia and England, or if its all done by gas. All in all a great night for a great day.