The first hot shower with good water pressure in three weeks was this morning at the hostal in Otavalo. What a treat!
Buses run from Otavalo to Cotacachi every 15 minutes or so. The ride is quick and just vente cinco centavos. The rest of the group planned to do a 4-6 hour hike around a lake nearby. They got off before Cotacachi and I carried on by myself to the town known for its leather goods. One entire street (and maybe more) was lined with leather shops selling jackets, belts, purses, boots/shoes, wallets, vests and horse saddles and other riding paraphernalia. I shopped for a couple of hours buying myself a purse, gloves, belt and jacket. Quite a shopping spree for me!
Before I left town (and while a quick and hard rain came through) I hit the cybercafé to send my mom a happy birthday email. There was a beautiful cake in the bakery this morning with Feliz Cumpleanos on it and it was nice to think of her in that moment. I took a photo but its not the same as being there (or having a piece of cake together).
It was a seamless trek back to Quito. The guy who takes the money (and sometimes another “sales” guy) is at the bus station shouting Otavalo, Otavalo, Otavalo and other city names. So, its easy to find your bus and just get on. No need to have a ticket because he comes through and collects the money. The bus to Quito took the PanAmerican Highway there and back. There were two toll booths between Quito and Otavalo but I couldnt make out what the toll for a bus was.
Over the weekend I got to listen to the other students speak Spanish and, in the market and stores, I practiced both my negotiating skills as well as my Spanish. It was a good weekend and Im glad I went.