More Otavalo and music
After we were all shopped out, everyone headed back on the bus to head back to Quito, but not before we visited Cuicocha Lake and Cotacachi.
I think this is picture of the volcano Cayambe or is it Imbabura? Seriously there are so many volacanoes around here, I can't keep them straight.
Or is this Cayambe? I don't know...moo, by the way.
We arrived at Cuicocha lake for lunch, it is lake that was formed when a volcano erupted and then collapsed in on itself about 3,000 years ago. The water came from the melted ice that was on top of the volcano's crater, and the water is still pretty cold. My guide book tells me that the name Cuicocha is Kichwa for Guinea Pig Lake because when the Incans arrived, they thought that one of the islands in the middle looked like a cuy, or guinea pig. After lunch we were able to explore a little. Some people opted to take a boatride that circled the islands in the middle.
I decided to hike around the lake with my friends Dan and Megan. I took a bunch of pictures because it is beautiful there.
The hike was pretty much straight uphill, which if you are already about 9,000 feet above sea level is a little difficult. There were a few spots where I had to stop to catch my breath, but it just added to the already lindo experience. Megan managed to sneak a picture of Dan and me; I'm pretty sure I couldn't breath when she took this and Dan is trying to protect his neck from the sun and he forgot to apply sunscreen there. Seriously, don't forget to apply sunscreen when you're that high up in altitude and that close to the equator, the sun is brutal.
After we loaded back on the bus we went to the town of Cotacachi that is famous for its leather work, almost every store there sells everything leather: boots, purses, belts, jackets, wallets, catsuits...okay, maybe not the last one, but most anything else you could imagine. But I was pretty much sick of shopping, so I wandered around with some friends until we stumbled upon an alternative music concert. I kid you not. It was pretty cool, but some of the bands weren't that good, the best song was a cover of Santana's collaboration with Mana, Corazón Espinado.
Which brings me to Spanish music in general, I really need more rock en español. Someone should help me with that...someone. In the pop-rock category I would suggest Shakira before she dyed her hair and started singing in English.
In the I-don't-know-what-to-call-it catagory, let's go with Bebe.
Okay, sleepy time now.
I think this is picture of the volcano Cayambe or is it Imbabura? Seriously there are so many volacanoes around here, I can't keep them straight.
Or is this Cayambe? I don't know...moo, by the way.
We arrived at Cuicocha lake for lunch, it is lake that was formed when a volcano erupted and then collapsed in on itself about 3,000 years ago. The water came from the melted ice that was on top of the volcano's crater, and the water is still pretty cold. My guide book tells me that the name Cuicocha is Kichwa for Guinea Pig Lake because when the Incans arrived, they thought that one of the islands in the middle looked like a cuy, or guinea pig. After lunch we were able to explore a little. Some people opted to take a boatride that circled the islands in the middle.
I decided to hike around the lake with my friends Dan and Megan. I took a bunch of pictures because it is beautiful there.
The hike was pretty much straight uphill, which if you are already about 9,000 feet above sea level is a little difficult. There were a few spots where I had to stop to catch my breath, but it just added to the already lindo experience. Megan managed to sneak a picture of Dan and me; I'm pretty sure I couldn't breath when she took this and Dan is trying to protect his neck from the sun and he forgot to apply sunscreen there. Seriously, don't forget to apply sunscreen when you're that high up in altitude and that close to the equator, the sun is brutal.
After we loaded back on the bus we went to the town of Cotacachi that is famous for its leather work, almost every store there sells everything leather: boots, purses, belts, jackets, wallets, catsuits...okay, maybe not the last one, but most anything else you could imagine. But I was pretty much sick of shopping, so I wandered around with some friends until we stumbled upon an alternative music concert. I kid you not. It was pretty cool, but some of the bands weren't that good, the best song was a cover of Santana's collaboration with Mana, Corazón Espinado.
Click to viewWhich brings me to Spanish music in general, I really need more rock en español. Someone should help me with that...someone. In the pop-rock category I would suggest Shakira before she dyed her hair and started singing in English.
In the I-don't-know-what-to-call-it catagory, let's go with Bebe.
Okay, sleepy time now.