Today was a big day. Before breakfast I tried calling a few hotels in Otavalo to book a room but no one could understand me so I kept handing the phone over to the guy running the place, although he couldn’t speak English and I think he knew what I wanted but would speak to the person and then hang up. After four places I decided that I was going to have trouble getting accommodation for the night so I went back to the hostel and looked up some hotels online, found one and booked it. It was a little more expensive than what I had wanted to pay, but at least I was guaranteed a bed for the night. I left the hostel straight after breakfast and caught a taxi to the Old Town to the hostel I looked at yesterday. I out my bag into storage and then headed to one of the metrobus stations nearby. I haven’t caught public transport until today so it was always going to be an adventurous day. It took me about half an hour to find the bus stop, paid my 25c and then waited for the bus. It was packed! Half way through the trip we all got kicked off. I wasn’t sure why and was standing around like an idiot trying to work out where to go next when another bus turned up and this lady came up and grabbed me by the arm and dragged me onto the bus, pushing me past everyone else in the line. I wasn’t sure what was happening and it wasn’t until we pulled out of the station that this lady pointed to a bus, which was our previous bus and that’s when I noticed the flat tyre…which is why we all had to get off and change buses.
I got into Estacion Ofelia station and then everything fell apart. I had no idea where to go and I couldn’t find anyone to help me. I walked around and after about 20min I started to get really frustrated and then out of no where these two guys came up and asked me where I was going. I told them I wanted to go to Otavalo and they told me they were from there and that I needed to get to Carcelen, the major bus station. They explained how there was a bus that went from the terminal I was in to the main terminal but if I wanted too I could catch a taxi with them. So I did. It cost $2 which was nothing given that it took us about 15min to get there. Once there, it was easy to find the ticket place and then the bus.
It took 2 ½hrs to get to Otavalo and the scenery was really nice. The town is surrounded by snow capped mountains/volcanoes. I found my hotel (Hotel Coraza) really easily and it’s only 3 blocks from Plaza de Ponchos. After checking in I headed straight back out and went exploring. It’s a beautiful city. I had lunch in this little restaurant and ordered the ceviche and a chicken dish for main and struggled to finish both of them. I wandered around the markets and walked around some of the side streets. It’s interesting to see all the young people hanging out and all dressed up. Not sure what they do other than hang out on the streets.
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