Quito-Otavalo

Otavalo is a little town in the north of Ecuador famous for it's Saturday craft Market. This time, I was invited for real. Since I didn’t have any special plans until Monday(off to Galapagos) I decided to accept the second invitation of my new friends. We arrived to Otavalo on Friday at 6:00pm and started Hostal hopping. Finally after 3 Hostals and a lot of bargaining, we found the BEST place. Hostal Runa Pacha a very ugly building with comfortable beds, great hot showers(shared of course) and cable tv!!!! All of these luxuries for only 5$ per night and the best part is that we were the only people in the Hostal so they gave us all the rooms in the terrace with amazing views to cute Otavalo.

I think is about time to introduce my backpacking FRIENDS, yes I am going to stop calling them my NEW FRIENDS. I even think they like me, they told me that we should meet again after I come back from the Galapagos, that’s a sign no? or maybe they felt bad because I am traveling alone? hummm no, that’s not the reason because they know Maria is arriving on the 9th so they definitely like me! ☺

Jen and Erik
26 and 27 married, from Minnesota.
Nurse and Engineer after they finished school they started working and saving money for traveling. Two years later they moved to China, here they tough English every weekend and travel on the weeks to every corner of China. Now they are traveling around South America for two months with Andy (Jens brother). After this trip they are going back home after a year away.

Andy (Jens brother)
23
Physical Therapist.
First time backpacking he is loving it so far. He will go back home to get his Master degree.

Aidan
20
Studying photography
He was traveling with 2 friends for a month and now he is traveling alone for some time before he goes to volunteer in Colombia. He is not very sure about what he will do there but he thinks he is going to translate.
Before college he took a year off to travel around South America. He told me he spent 4000$ in 7 months and after he ran out of money he volunteered for the rest of the time in the Galapagos Islands.

All of them are great and so inspiring! Also I am very impressed with the Spanish level. Aidan and Jen are fluent and Andy and Erik will get there very soon. Erik have a method to learn that seems very effective. Well the grammar they are learning it with a book but besides that they have flash cards and they learn five words per day. Believe me this method is great they are leaning so fast!

Ok, time to go. Sorry for my golden literature…

dani