Spent the last week or so in Otavalo, north of Quito. It´s famous for it´s Saturday market, and justly so. The first day I saw the market I wanted to buy everything. (So I promptly removed myself and went back later with less cash in hand.) Everything is colourful, tapestries, bags, purses, jewellery, woolley jumpers and ponchos, more bags (I´m addicted to bags here), art, HAMMOCKS!!, all manner of clothing.. etc.
I also popped into Cotacachi twice which has a small leather market on Sunday and a whole street of shops with all various qualities of leather for a bargain.
Soon I should really get back to a community to practice spanish. Shopkeepers, hoteliers etc are ok but they´re quite fast, and some in the city are typically stressed.. don´t have patience for silly gringos who don´t bother to learn the language before they come.
For now though I´m heading to Cuenca as recommended by Majo from Quito to have a look around and admire it´s architechture.
