Otavalo town is located 95 km north of Quito. It is famous for its Saturday markets which predate the Incas. Jungle people from the eastern lowlands came to the weekly market to trade their jungle products for highland goods. (Lonely Planet)
Unfortunately when I visited Otavalo in 2006, I was nearing the end of my South American trip and had little space left on my limited camera SD card. The above postcard is the only photo I have of the Otavalo market.
The Otavalenos have a very distinctive traditional dress. Look at the lady in the postcard. She is wearing a Fachalina on her head. She also wears an embroidered white blouse, long black wool skirt and black shawl, a woven belt and strands and strands of beads. If we could see her feet, we would probably find canvas sandals.
However western fashion is creeping into every corner of the globe. Her little child has runners which were probably bought in the market as well. I wonder will that child grow up to wear the traditional costume or the clothes worn by celebrities on TV?
While I don't have any photos from my day at the Otavalo market, I do have a beautiful souvenir:
Unfortunately when I visited Otavalo in 2006, I was nearing the end of my South American trip and had little space left on my limited camera SD card. The above postcard is the only photo I have of the Otavalo market.
The Otavalenos have a very distinctive traditional dress. Look at the lady in the postcard. She is wearing a Fachalina on her head. She also wears an embroidered white blouse, long black wool skirt and black shawl, a woven belt and strands and strands of beads. If we could see her feet, we would probably find canvas sandals.
However western fashion is creeping into every corner of the globe. Her little child has runners which were probably bought in the market as well. I wonder will that child grow up to wear the traditional costume or the clothes worn by celebrities on TV?
While I don't have any photos from my day at the Otavalo market, I do have a beautiful souvenir:
This painting which is 80cm x 80cm caught my eye as I was walking through the market. It is an acrylic painting and the artist was a high school art teacher. Bargaining is obligatory in Otavalo so when he asked for $40 I had to bargain him down to $30! It seemed like everyone in the market helped him to parcel up the painting as word spread that he had made a sale. It is now hanging proudly in my sitting room. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of Ecuador.
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