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Immersion Experience: Ecuador
DAY 7: BIZCOCHOS, VOLCANOS, & SOUVENIRS
Today was full of action, beauty, and fun. The day started off pretty early as we set off for a volcanic lagoon.
Ora
Today was full of action, beauty, and fun. The day started off pretty early as we set off for a volcanic lagoon. We stopped on the way for a quick break and to grab a couple snacks. I personally got some spicy potato chips and a new pastry I had not tried before. As we sat eating our snacks, a man came in and gave all of the girls roses. We did end up having to pay for them, and I’m still trying to decide if this was a kind gesture or a solid business strategy. After another period on the bus, we arrived at the lagoon which was absolutely gorgeous. We were able to learn about the geography, history, and importance of the lake to the indigenous people of the area from our incredible tour guide. After another bit of driving, we arrived at an artisan market that would have been similar to a flea market in the United States. We had the opportunity to buy from the many artisans in the area. I got a sweater and a few bracelets to bring back home. I am proud to say I successfully bartered a ten dollar price down to a seven. It was interesting thinking about the budgets of a lot of the families in the center, and the amount of money that I was able to spend solely on snacks. As I was walking through the market, I remembered that I had spent what would be a lot of the family’s weekly budget. I will forever be grateful for this experience and the incredible people alongside me during it.
Today we had our Excursion Day where we took trips to many different places and areas outside of the city of Quito, Ecuador. First, we took a trip to Cayambe. There, we had a classic Ecuadorian snack called bizcochos, and they were very delicious. We then travelled to Laguna Cuicocha where we had a boat ride, took many pictures of the Andes mountains, had water splashed in our faces from how fast we were going, and saw the volcano Cotacachi. Overall, I personally had such a fun time on the boat ride. After Laguna Cuicocha, we had lunch on the bus (sandwiches, a bag of chips, oreos, and cokes and water) on the way to our next destination. Lastly, we travelled to a shopping market called Otavalo Market, which is one of the biggest outdoor markets in Ecuador. I bought many gifts for myself, my family, and my friends from the many stands that resided in that area. We did one last pit-stop before arriving at our house at the Center. Overall, I had such an amazing time on our second-to-last day in Quito, Ecuador.
Kelly
On our second to last day, our group went on our last excursion. We all got on the bus for our hour and a half bus ride to a gas station to stop for unique snacks. We all tried bizcochos which are a shortbread cookie, wrapped in cheese, with dulce de leche on top. I was quite nervous to try it, but it turned out to be pretty good! We then traveled to Laguna Cuicocha, a lake formed by a crater that was surrounded by volcanoes. It was so insanely beautiful. After that, we ate lunch on the bus as we headed to our last stop, one of the biggest markets to exist. The products ranged from clothes to jewelry to food to stuffed animals to blankets. We spent three hours there even though it felt like thirty minutes. During that time, I went to a coffee shop and got a Chai tea latte and a bagel with chive cream cheese. It was so delicious! The bus ride back felt so long, but the views were even prettier on the way back. We had delicious tacos for dinner and it was a perfect way to end our last night.
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