Considered one of the biggest handicraft markets in all of South America, we decided to take a ride north of Quito to check out Otavalo. Market day in Otavalo is on Saturday and there are four different market areas– handicrafts or souvenir, produce, the large animal market and the small animal market. The whole town participates, everyone is selling something, everywhere.
The traditional Ecuadorian women in Otavalo wear a lacey blouse, wool skirt cinched with a decorative woven belt, plait their hair in a woven band, wear a wool shawl around their shoulders or on their head. They didn’t wear fedoras and velour skirts like the women in Saquisili south of Quito, but they did wear gold necklaces. Oh, do they like these necklaces. We found a few vendors selling these necklaces, and the tables were crowded with Ecuadorian women looking to add to their collection. These multi-string necklaces of glass beads filled with gold are made from varying qualities. The color of the gold and the smaller the bead, the more expensive. The necklaces are said to last 15 years, I bought one so I in 15 years I´ll let you know if mine is still good…