19/2/2013 Otavalo all day
12-15°C
It was so nice to have a hot shower and sleep in a heavenly comfortable bed. Waking up to a fresh morning. A shower was enjoyed as was coffee and croissants in the kitchen. Devan made a great vege omelette, that the owner also enjoyed.
From here we slowly got our act together and grabbed a cab up to El Parque Condor to the east of town.
It was bitterly cold up here with a noreaster blowing. Of most interest was that they had Condors at the facility. It was quite an experience to see one up close, they are huge birds, having a bald wrinkly head as they are carrion eaters.
Falconers were handling a few species of falcon and eagles, they would launch them off the elevated amphitheatre to fly free as far as they liked. We were told sometimes they will soar off on the thermals for 50 miles. Most fascinating was a Bald Eagle dropping down from a few hundred feet and land on the falconers arm who was standing a couple of metres from us.
The centre is mainly funded by a Dutch trust. Back in town we relaxed in the room for awhile, then did the tourist thing in the artisan markets. The old Ice Breaker long sleeve shirt was replaced with an Aplaca light weight jumper, oh so warm. It will be used if I am wet, and having lunch so I do not get a chill, keeping it in a front pannier so as to be handy is the plan .
From here we headed to a town north of here for a meal of guinea pig, locally known as Chuyes. The little critters are farmed for the table south of Quito.
Well in a few words, the presentation was the highlight. The meat was scarce to say the least. It was butterflyed and deep fried. The meat tasted a bit stronger than chicken.
Just a word of advice, if you are hungry, order something else. It was nice to experience this local dish. Coming home from the restaurant we hitched a ride in the back of a ute on the Pan Am. Long gone are those kind of rides in NZ and Australia.
The town here is quite a tourist spot, though few were in town. Internet cafes are every few hundred metres, as are clothes shops. Importantly there are just the best panaderias on most streets and corners.
It was a relaxing day with plenty of laughs.
12-15°C
It was so nice to have a hot shower and sleep in a heavenly comfortable bed. Waking up to a fresh morning. A shower was enjoyed as was coffee and croissants in the kitchen. Devan made a great vege omelette, that the owner also enjoyed.
From here we slowly got our act together and grabbed a cab up to El Parque Condor to the east of town.
It was bitterly cold up here with a noreaster blowing. Of most interest was that they had Condors at the facility. It was quite an experience to see one up close, they are huge birds, having a bald wrinkly head as they are carrion eaters.
Falconers were handling a few species of falcon and eagles, they would launch them off the elevated amphitheatre to fly free as far as they liked. We were told sometimes they will soar off on the thermals for 50 miles. Most fascinating was a Bald Eagle dropping down from a few hundred feet and land on the falconers arm who was standing a couple of metres from us.
The centre is mainly funded by a Dutch trust. Back in town we relaxed in the room for awhile, then did the tourist thing in the artisan markets. The old Ice Breaker long sleeve shirt was replaced with an Aplaca light weight jumper, oh so warm. It will be used if I am wet, and having lunch so I do not get a chill, keeping it in a front pannier so as to be handy is the plan .
From here we headed to a town north of here for a meal of guinea pig, locally known as Chuyes. The little critters are farmed for the table south of Quito.
Well in a few words, the presentation was the highlight. The meat was scarce to say the least. It was butterflyed and deep fried. The meat tasted a bit stronger than chicken.
Just a word of advice, if you are hungry, order something else. It was nice to experience this local dish. Coming home from the restaurant we hitched a ride in the back of a ute on the Pan Am. Long gone are those kind of rides in NZ and Australia.
The town here is quite a tourist spot, though few were in town. Internet cafes are every few hundred metres, as are clothes shops. Importantly there are just the best panaderias on most streets and corners.
It was a relaxing day with plenty of laughs.
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