Last Post in Quito

Again, the title says it all really. Been spending the week doing more spanish, and also travelling around to some of the places outside Quito. Last weekend went up to Otavalo, a market town about 2/3hrs from Quito, and is the place to buy artisan-type handcrafts. I bought a hammock, and we had some nice typical Ecuadoran food (chickens´feet and all), and then went for an explore to find the sacred Kichua waterfall - La Cascada de Peguche - site of "ceremonial bathing" during festivals (and also a popular picnic spot). It was a great walk, as soon as we (myself and my friend Marie from the school) walked out of Otavalo we didn´t see another tourist for 5 hours, and it was beautiful (see the photos, now up on facebook). Especially since we took the scenic route (I was mapreading). The journey back to Quito was even more exciting- we managed to squeeze onto the last two seats on the bus, which meant hanging on next to the driver while he texted, sang overtook on uphill blind corners, and told us how he was tired since he´d been driving since 3 that morning. It wasn´t very relaxing.

It was a huge fiesta night in Quito on Thursday and that was good fun - 10 de Agosto is possibly the founding of the city (or something similar) and the whole Old Town was open with festivities until 2am, with each old city square having different entertainments and much merriment. School at 8.30am on Friday was less fun.

This weekend Cotopaxi was abandoned in favour of Papallacta, a highland town famous for its hot springs and spa. Much more relaxing and very very pretty (except that it rained and the cloud came down, but apparently the views are great otherwise). Lounging around in 40 degree thermal spas for the afternoon wasn´t too bad though, really. Went out on Sat night and ended up salsa dancing until the early hours (I can salsa!). My head hurt a little this morning, but it must be due to the altitude.

Off to jungly tomorrow, maybe update next weekend... xxx