The Otavalo Market

As they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words." At the same time, photos don't do the market justice because overnight centre town is transformed into market stalls selling textiles, tagua nut jewelry, musical instruments, dream catchers, leather goods, fake shrunken heads, indigenous costumes, hand-painted platters and trays, purses, clothing, spices, raw foods and spools of wool.

Products come from goodness knows where on people's backs, by carts, vans and trucks. All the wares are stashed in large bags or plastic drums. The stalls are made of metal tubing cover by plastic sheeting. Very small children help out and there are lots of them in this city. It's like Deep River ON in the 60s here. Tons of families making babies.

Wearables and decor.

Food.

Yum.

This looks and smells like stewed prunes.

They are put into a bun with cheese and voila, a sweet sandwich.

Spices.

Unchilled chickens.

Pealing fruit to make juice.

Deep fried corn,

is served as an appetizer (top).

We couldn't tell whether these were small clams or fried insects. I think I'm getting more squimish around food now. Hundreds of families take part in this eyepopping market.

Be well.