We and the Cuy

So about that dancing...those local boys got a big kick out of us gringos. Pablo sends his regards...even though the extent of his English seemed to be the phrase "you are very beautiful." We had a fantastic time getting a taste of Quito's nightlife and thanks to Sarah's remembering to take home a taxi with an orange license plate (taxis with white plates are generally not trustworthy) we made it back exhausted and safe.

This morning meant an early wake-up for a 2.5 hour bus ride to Otovalo to visit its famous mercado. I am now the proud owner of an awesome blue alpaca poncho...and the not so proud owner of some terrible haggling skills. I spent most of the time meandering the market with Michelle, who happens to be excellent at haggling.  The only problem is that both of us only took French in high school, so communicating with the vendors was entirely dependent upon my caveman Spanish.

Nikki (our TA), and professors Elena and Chuck--who could ask for cooler teachers?

From there, we headed to lunch, which was avocado salad, steak, figs/cheese, and let us not forget the tomato juice (and no, I do not mean those disgusting V8 things, but Ecuador tomato juice, which was more like tangy heaven in a cup). And yes, the moment you have all been waiting for...we had cuy! That is the spanish word for guinea pig. Is it at all a surprise that it tasted like chicken? I just wish they had taken off the head and the little paws...

Ashwin, Kevin, and Me!

From there, we stopped briefly at another market, one that sold mostly leather products. Then, of all coincidences, we found ourselves in the middle of the annual "take the square" ceremony.  This age old ceremony is done primarily for its tradition's sake more than anything, because it is entirely gruesome. The different villages try to take over the central square of the town, as such an action symbolizes triumph.. The members of these villages begin with dancing, drinking chicha (the standard alcoholic drink of Ecuador), and parading through the city with pikes and rocks, all the while making an eerie, pulsed whistling sound. Then the fighting begins. No guns are allowed (they are completely illegal here in Ecuador) but sticks and heavy rocks are fair play. James decided it was like the Ecuadorian version of The Hunger Games because sometimes the people fight to the death while trying to win the square for their village. The winning village is held in high esteem for the next year, until the battle repeats itself all over again.

We would later learn that 2 people died during this year's events

Before things could get too violent, we left the "celebration" and took a trip up to the volcanoes. A short walk following a ridiculously bumpy bus ride brought us to one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen in my life. Two volcanoes, one relatively close and one in the distance, overlooking an enormous cerulean lagoon with a hill of an island poking though the center. I have been told that my picture did not upload on the last post...so I will take the first opportunity with dependable internet that I get to put some of Patrick's pictures on so that you can at least begin to comprehend how majestic it all is.

Tomorrow we leave for the Amazon, and I have to say that we are all rather sad to part with both our tour guide and our bus driver. Each were beautiful people with an extreme interest in connecting with us and sharing the vast extent of their knowledge. I am sure that it can be quite harrowing to have to put up with American tourists for a career, but this did not stunt their overwhelming amiability.

Okay, time to go take a malaria pill...talk to you from the Amazon!