Saquisilí Market Day

Kevin: My wife made me get up at 5:45am to go to another animal market (remember she got knocked down by a pig at the last one in Otavalo). We saw more pigs, sheep, llama, and guinea pigs, then walked to the rest of the market, which like Otavalo still wasn't really up and running....though we did get to see more rabbits, and found the fruit & vegetable market and the chickens (and chicken parts--feet, beaks, whole heads, etc.). We stayed around long enough to make sure there weren't any sweaters or gloves or hats we wanted to buy, then headed back to Latacunga to catch the bus through the Quilotoa Loop.

I no longer have to go to any more animal markets (at least in S. America)!

Ellen: Yippee! No pig incidents at this market! But we did see more parts of different dead animals than I need to see ever again. Very smelly. One woman was selling "fresh skins" - actual, just-ripped-off-the-body, red-underneath, soft, fresh animal skins. It's fun to see these marekts, but you obviously just have to keep in mind the different relationship the local people have with animals than we do. Twenty tiny chickies in a tinier basket is really just simply food to them.

We did a lot of walking around this town, because the market parts were all over - large animals here, small animals there, fruit and veggies here, clothes there. Yes, it was really early, but that's when all the action is! And I hate to disagree with my husband in public, but that probably isn't the last animal market he'll go to - I hear they are great in Peru, too!

Travel Notes: Bus to Saquisilí-no idea, just let me SLEEP!

Sep 9, 2004

Show all 7 photos