Otavalo

Our last big excursion was to go up to the markets in Otavalo.  It did not disappoint us.

Everywhere we looked was color, color and more color.

Bags, blankets, dream catchers, scarves, silver, hammocks, wooden figurines, crystal and stone figures.

Yarn stores were also very big in Quito.

Cassi and Hayes had different ideas on what kind of hats they liked.

All in all, a fun day of being in the markets of Ecuador.

Tomorrow we will start packing up to head back to the States.  

Old Town Quito

We decided to stay in Old Town in the Historical Center.  It was very beautiful.

We walked around and tried to get used to being in a big city - so many people and traffic.  Walking was the best way to get around.

Grand Plaza.

The kids liked the Basilica the best.

With it's high alcoves and they had also never seen such architecture before.

We climbed up to the Clock Tower - very steep and caused a bit of vertigo.

But worth the view.

This stained glass window was awe inspiring....but, being up close, we saw that it was really just painted.  Regardless, it was gorgeous.

We liked Old Town - everywhere you looked was quite a bit of history.

This area is fairly new - called La Ronda - is a street that is lined with quaint cafes and restaurants.

Tomorrow we head up to Otavalo - to the markets.

Mariposas in Mindo

We went to see the butterfly farm that they have in Mindo.

They hang the cacoons on a board and they looked like earrings - very colorful.

We got to feed them bananas.

And Hayes's favorite landed on his shoulder.

Cassi is in the background trying to save one that fell into the water - she did!

We decided to head to Quito this afternoon, so we will say goodbye to beautiful Mindo.