Hello Amigos!

I've located internet to catalogue the ongoing journey.  We have left Quito and traveled to Otovalo.  The hostel where we are staying is actually about a 45 minute saunter outside of Otovalo in Pambuche.  I say saunter lightly because every once in a while you must sprint to avoid children attempting to spray you with all things carnival including white silly string esc material and water balloons or "bombos".  And then there is the occasional angry dog, unlikely to be ravenous but you never really can tell. So we just carry rocks and yell loudly to scare them off.

This morning we head off to our first true health brigade in the community where the things they need the most are toothbrushes, eye glasses and basic medications like ibuprofen, benadryl and immodium.  So far I've escaped the need for my immodium or cipro but that may change.  I anticipate clutching my medical spanish printout like it was pure gold.  Althought a lot of the community don't speak spanish, they speak in an indiginous language I won't understand anyway.    We toured the Jambu Wasi clinic yesterday and the main hospital in Otovalo.  It was fascinating to see the difference in the facilities between the US and here.  Their hospital is actually pretty nice for third world rural standards but would be considered not up to snuff in the US.

Our hostel in Pambuche backs up to a stream and has a dirt road running in front, it's actually a great place in a beautiful setting.  Last night we saw fireflies and not being from a place with a lot of those I was pretty excited but not as excited as Linds who screached and jumped for joy when she caught one.  We've started a nightly workout routine here and last night Leah (Kansas) and Jenny (Indiana) joined us as we squatted and lunged and jumped our way around the sitting area in the back of the hostel.  Hmmm, good thing not too many people could see our strange ways.  The oregon girls went wogging the other day, it's hard to run at 9000 feet.  We happened upon a futbol game that was basically a huge party.  The downside of a huge party?  Children with carnival in the air and yep we got silly stringed, haha, it's all in good fun and amusing to see the huge grins of the faces of these kids as they get the gringos. 

The city of Otovalo is larger than I thought it would be but the market is great and I bought my first souvenir yesterday after a bit of bargaining, a beautiful blanket.  I'm going to work on my bargaining skills again today and pick up probably more than a few new things :).  Tomorrow is the major market day and I anticipate going scarf and jewelry crazy - presents for friends and family!! Bargaining is a good way to practice my spanish skills and also fun because it's like a game. 

Gotta run to breakfast so I don't miss out.  I hope all is well back in Los Estados Unidos!

Ciao!