Otovalo, Ecuador, 11th - 12th November

 First stop was the Middle of the World Tourist attraction which was part scientific and largely ethnological attraction. There were llamas at the start,

plus of course the spot to have your photo taken.

Then it was an exhibition things that you find in the jungle, like giant spiders, high boa constrictors and people's worse enemy, the Penis Fish, (check it out on wikipedia and decide for yourself whether it is dangerous).

 There are examples of the head shrinkers art ad the head can be shrunk to the size of a fist, beautifully displayed by our guide.

A palm frond house built by a group of six  natives in just four days with Stu just emerging demonstrating the difference in height between the native indian builders and us.

A burial chamber; natives believe that they comes form the earth and must be returned there with some household goods to ease their journey.

Then it was the main attraction, the actual line of the equator.

 We had experiments about trying to stand an egg on a nail, walking blindfolded along a equator line and of which way the water goes down a sink, and despite being just a few metres away, it really was straight down on the equator,line, clockwise one side and anti clockwise the other side of the line.

There were runs for guinea pigs, nice fluffy creatures which are referred to as cuy or cuyes on the menu. There is another equator exhibition run by the government. it was the first museum but with better measurements, the true equator is at the new commercial site. 

A few shots of our hostel in the centre of Otovalo which was so nice and rustic.

A picture of the breakfast which comes as part of the cost of the room.

And after breakfast it was a trek out to find the animal market. It was difficult to find as it was not marked on any map and the address we had wasn't right, however with perseverance I found it.Th cattle pens.

Loading pigs on to the back of a pickup, the man pulled on the rope around the animal's neck and the woman lifted the back legs. There was understandably quite a lot of squealing.

A pair of sheep.

A view of part of the porcine section.

Part of the small nil section, including guinea its in the back ground, rabbits to the right and pigeons to the left. 

A line of women selling chickens.

A man selling chicks in cardboard boxes.

Then after the animal market which was officially open between 5am and 10am, but whilst I was there shortly before 9am, there was still a lot of activity. But after that activity moves to the Otovalo street market which is a big event on Saturday morning and is allegedly the biggest in the country. It was certainly large as it spread down every side street. However it isn't crowded until after 10.30am when the locals venture out and the tourist buses start arriving.

Then I was swept away by the food market with its colourful produce.

There as plenty of every part of every animal on sale.

Plus the part of the market for fast food and there was a whole row of roasted pigs.

And once of the butcher's stores most loyal and patient customer.