My first impression of Ecuador was poor. Shortly after crossing the border I came upon the first toll booth. To my surprise Ecuador charges .20 cents for motorcycles. I mean really is it even worth the trouble. So, now at every toll booth I have to stop to dig out the change pay the toll and then stop again to put my gloves back on, etc. I found this rather annoying after three months in Colombia where motorcycles are not charged.
(This may be unfair because in New York motorcycles are charged as well.)

Shortly after the toll I crossed passed with this fellow traveler. Except for the moto-hostal in Medellin I have met very few travelers on the road. This is Dave from New Zealand. In my book, New Zealander’s are the nicest people, overtaking Canadians in niceness.

The views were incredible, but there were only a few times I could actually stop for a photo.

The next day was Saturday. This is the a big market day in Otavalo which is famous for its market. It was fun to shop around and wasn’t as gringo infested nor tacky as I had feared. Unfortunately, I got really sick in the afternoon and headed back to the hostal early. I’ll spare you the details but it wasn’t pretty.





The next day I managed to pull myself together to see the crater lake of Cotacachi Volcano with a friend from the hostal.



I just wanted to walk a little and then take a boat around the islands, but my young friend convinced me to hike all the way around the crater.





A parent of the pineapple plant.

Someone told me this is Ginger.







These people were out collecting berries for making juice that they sold in town.

It sure was pretty, but I really felt the altitude. Every step up hill seemed to make my head smaller.

Right after we read a sign about Condors one flew in low right over us. By the time I got the camera on him he was coasting away, however.





I think we were one of the few people to actually walk all the way around the crater because the path deteriorated quickly.

I thought we were going to turn into Survivorman, but we made it out . My head was throbbing from a combination of altitude adjustment and lack of coffee.

I decided to spend one more day in Otavalo and relax after all the other guests left.


The owners of the hostal had some very cool dogs!




Hostal La Luna de Mojanda is a nice place to relax with good food and cheap prices.