Otavalo used to have a problem with people leaving their garbage out on the street for collection. Now the Otavalo trash trucks are all equipped with speakers that play Musica Nacional to announce trash collection so that one knows to bring the garbage out.
The potato originated in the Andes.  Dozens of varieties of tubers are cultivated in Ecuador, many used in traditional medicine. Sr. Jaime Esparza  has been selling Yucca, Camoté, White Carrots and many other exotic tubers in the Otavalo market for over 25 years.
More wonderful sights and sounds, friendly smiles and great photo and video opportunities greet you at the Otavalo food market.  One can visit the food market all day every day for the best, freshest and most exotic in produce that Ecuador has to offer.
I have been driving in Ecuador for over 22 years and I swear I am  the only person in the town that stops at a stop sign……….. I proved it the other day with these shots on a random corner in  Otavalo.  More later on Driving in Ecuador……..
The neighborhood of Buenos Aires in Otavalo takes one back to  another epoch.  This is a slideshow of some photos I shot the  other day.  It is one of my favorite areas in Otavalo and in dire  need of restoration.  Most of the properties are over 50 years old.
You’ve read about it, you’ve seen photos, now let’s wait for it to arrive.  Unfortunately, the train system from Otavalo to Ibarra has been suspended with no hope in sight that it will once again provide that unique experience we once enjoyed.



     OTAVALOVIDEOS.COM     Images of Otavalo


Barrio Buenos Aires, Otavalo
                           

The Sound of Trash Collection in Otavalo
Tortillas de Maiz

The Otavalo Food Market Revisited
Pakari Tambo     part 7 
                         
Travel from atop the clouds down through the Andes into the Otavalo Valley.   Volcanoes, cobblestone roads and beautiful views bring us into the town of Otavalo and the valley of eternal Spring. Welcome to the Awakening Valley!
There is nothing in the world quite like the sights and sounds of the Animal Market.  For many, the Otavalo Animal is the height of their visit on Saturday.  Very graphic, never boring, the Saturday animal market provides some excellent photo and video opportunities!
 
The Otavalo Animal Market

The Otavalo Vegetable Market

The Train from Otavalo to Ibarra
STOP……………………
I met Doña Estele, viuda de Oña, only last week, tucked away behind some stalls in the food market.  She makes Tortillas de Maiz, corn cakes that have existed as part of the Otavalo culture predating the Incas.  By the way, they are delicious.  
After documenting the renovation of  this beautiful old home in Otavalo, we visit the finished project, the new location for Pakari Tambo, a center of Andean Culture and spiritual knowledge.   The owners offer local food, crafts and culture on Calle Roca.

Restoring an Old Home     part 6
We visit the restoration project of tio Marcelo Farinango once again to view progress.  This is a slideshow of a few shots I took yesterday while I spoke with tio Marcelo about the plan after over a year of construction and the date of inauguration.
Un Mensaje a los Norte Americanos
Like many Ecuadorians with family in the US, this hard working vendor worries that they may meet the same fate as Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero.  She asked me if she could send a message to my viewers and here it is……...
All otavalovideos.com videos are owned and copyrighted 2019 by Frank M. Kiefer.  Reproduction is prohibited.  All rights reserved.
If you have any questions please write to videos@otavalovideos.com

Que Papa Quiere, Casera?
Everybody, rich or poor, eats Papas.  There are several varieties available in the Otavalo food market.  My papa casera explains what types of potatoes are for sale, how they are prepared and how much a basket or a one hundred pound sack might cost.
Downhill Bicycling
Downhill Bicycling is most enjoyable, takes little effort and is a great way to spend the afternoon in Otavalo!  In this video,  join us for 32 kms. of fantastic views, beautiful valleys and small Andean villages.   There is nothing quite like it!

The Architecture of Otavalo
Many beautiful buildings remain in Otavalo despite the policy during the 90’s encouraging destruction rather than restoration.  From simple Latin deco of the 50’s to detailed Spanish colonial of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s,  this slide show pictures a few of my favorites.

El Molino de Otavalo
Tucked away in a hidden neighborhood of Otavalo one is carried back to a time in the past when the water driven grain mill was one of the most important locations in town. Today, this kind of mill is the last of its kind. I plan to go back when it is actually operating.

El Molino de Otavalo     part 2
I wandered by the old Molino and was fortunate to meet some campesinos milling whole wheat into flour. This flour mill is the last of its kind, perhaps in the entire province, and is still used by many Indigenous rural campesinos to mill wheat, dried corn and barley.
Welcome to Otavalo
Cockfighting is still very much a part of Andean culture.  Many make a living betting on their fighting cocks.  Here at the animal market anyone can buy a fighting cock.  I have been invited to see the cockfights next Saturday and look forward to taking some videos.

Each Wednesday and Saturday, sellers and buyers meet at the Copacabana Market in Otavalo.  This is a wholesale market where the  locals buy goods to carry or export to sell in other cities and countries.  Tia Olga Otavalo of La Joya, producer, talks with us. 
For owner Marcelo Farinango, the restoration of this beautiful colonial home built in the 1800 s is a labor of love.  He is dedicated to each and every detail with special attention paid to the stonework and woodwork that  no longer exists in constructions these days.
Restoring an Old House in Otavalo     part 5
Searching for a Good Fighting Cock   
The doors of Otavalo are an art form unto themselves.  Restoring this 100 year old door is a labor of love for Maestro Carlos of Sayri Muebles in Otavalo.  This is but one detail in the total restoration of the property located on Calle Roca and Colon.
Restoring an Old House in Otavalo     part 4

Buying Pork Chops
Each day I buy meat for my employees.  It is always a very graphic experience.  No, not at all like driving to the Safeway and buying nice packaged, ready to eat meat in neat clean plastic wrapping!  Buying meat can definitely convert one to a vegetarian!
Yes, it is MANGO season and the sweet smell is in the air again!  Today was a big day for mangos, the first really tasty mangos of the season.  Just everybody sucks on mangos for the next few weeks.  Who can resist the sweet sales melodies of the vendors,
It was a really hot day today and by chance I saw this guy selling snow cones.  I have not seen snow cones since I was a kid (a lotta years ago).  I immediately ordered a snow cone and spent a little time checking out the very neat snow cone machine.
Mangos, Mangos, Mangos Barratos
Snow Cones in Otavalo
The Saturday Animal Market is still one of my favorite things to see in Otavalo!  Never a dull moment!  Today was no exception.  Now youll know what to do with that pig you bought.  Background sounds guarantee plenty of atmosphere every Saturday morning.
Fast food, Otavalo style, is found in the food market.  Sra. Piedad Chirán offers hornado, corn, beans, moté, peas, tostado, whatever you like!  She is on her feet all day working at this fast pace.  I have enjoyed watching her work like a dynamo for 18 years.  Incredible!

The Otavalo Animal Market Revisited  

Paradero Inca Tambo, the "House of their Grandparents"
Fast Food in Otavalo with Srta. Piedad Chirán
Today I visited the Paradero Inca Tambo in Peguche to visit with Tio Mario Tontaquimba Diaz and his wife who welcome guests to visit their workshops and to obtain insight into the Indigenous Andean culture of the Otavalo rural area.  
So many beautiful homes in Otavalo have been razed rather than restored.  This colonial gem will be saved.  Moorish architecture provided plenty of space, light and elegance.  This is part 1 of the process. 
Musica Nacional by Nelson Maldonado.
Many believe in the powers of herbal medicines.  Today I saw a traveling salesman hawking several remedies, particularly a salve for arthritis and rheumatism made with the principal ingredient of Aloe Vera.  This guy has style and he did quite well.

Traveling Salesman in Otavalo
Restoring an old Home in Otavalo     part 1
Okay.  You just bought a cow.  How do you get it home?  You load it on the truck and go.  Not so easy for this buyer!  I have to admire his persistence and ingenuity.   The Saturday Animal Market in Otavalo is a must see with a story at every turn.

The Otavalo Animal Market Revisited
So many beautiful homes in Otavalo have been razed rather than restored. This colonial gem will be saved.  Humberto Lema is the Otavalo architect in charge of the restoration. He explains the need to restore and preserve this 100 year old building.
So many beautiful homes in Otavalo have been razed rather than restored.  This colonial gem will be saved because of a vision held by the owner, Tio Marcelo Farinango.  He speaks of his dream and the process and challenges of restoring an old home.
Restoring an Old House in Otavalo     part 3
Restoring an old Home in Otavalo     part 2
There are always some great shots during the animal market!  Selling a chicken is not as simple as it may seem.  Buyers will barter persistently...everyone is looking for a bargain.   This deal almost came to pass, but the price was not quite right!

The Otavalo Animal Market Revisited, Selling a Chicken
More Street Food. And on Saturday, it is everywhere. It is really the best way to try the local dishes and snacks. As economic survival becomes difficult, more and more person turn to selling food in the street. Most are licensed and regulated.

Street Food. At one time in my life, I lived on it.  I am not so bold these days but I still enjoy meeting the people that make a living selling food on the street.  Even now, I can never resist the roasted Maduros!
Many travelers have mentioned the beauty and craftsmanship of doors in the city of Otavalo.  It's true.  The Otavalos take pride in their garage and house doors.  This is a slide show of some truly magnificent doors that I photographed today. 

The Doors of Otavalo

Comida de la Calle in Otavalo     part 2
Comida de la Calle in Otavalo     part 1
I went to the city park, in front of city hall, today to video the Banda Municipial. It never arrived, but just sitting for a while in this beautiful park was so inviting. What a pleasant way to spend the morning on Mother's Day, watching the families stroll through the park.
These are the first cuts of a documentary I am making about the Otavalo cargadores. Work as a human carrier still exists. Taita José Manuel is 78 years old and works all day, six or seven days a week, carrying market canastas and heavy bundles.
Otavalo is a center of art and Andean culture. Even the street lamps reflect this. Calle Abdon Calderon is lined with posts and street lights decorated with stained glass sculptures, each piece depicting a familiar icon of the Otavalo area.

Los Cargadores of Otavalo
The Street Lamps of Otavalo

Dia de Madre in Otavalo   
To your Health with Aloe Vera
Maria Rosa Ovindil and Geovanny Rea have been selling their magic elixar for a couple of years now in Otavalo.  Many swear by its curative powers for gastritis, kidney problems, liver ailments, stomach aches, etc.   The secret ingredients are Aloe Vera and herbs.
I was just standing on the edge of the food market one Saturday several years ago and this couple passed by.  You never know what youll see in Otavalo on Market day.........


A Passing Moment
Picking up Chicks in Otavalo

He smoked three packs of cigarettes daily.  He claimed to have fathered over 50 children.  Don Nelson sold pure cane sugar juice and claimed it gave him a long, vigorous life.  He passed away recently at the age of 75 and Otavalo will miss him dearly.
DVDs for $1.50.  Wow.  They are everywhere.  This means that people with an average yearly income of less that $1500. can actually own dvds as well.  Of course, Ive added a public service message just so no one thinks I really endorse these wanton criminal activities.

Sr. Nelson (RIP) and his Sugar Cane Juice Machine
How to Eat Zapote
What I Want for Christmas
The end of the Mango season is bearable only because of an ugly,  lumpy fruit with big black pits called Zapote.  Now, it looks easy, but there involves some skill to eating a zapote.  You must try to gracefully eat and suck the sweet fiber that surrounds the seeds.
I thought of don Sergio the other day.  We have not seen him in Otavalo for quite a while!  He always brings home stories of his great adventures traveling through South America driving his world famous contraption.  We wish you well, wherever you are!
The Otavalo monte is famous for wild black raspberries!  Whats a kid to do?  Schools are closed down and the national strikes against the TLC continue.  What is finer than walking in the mountains eating fresh, natural wild black raspberries, you tell me now!
This is a short clip of a walking street peddler I followed during Saturday market.  I found it amusing that he was peddling a natural cure for rheumatism, a strong poison to kill cockroaches, oh, and oil for your sewing machine....  Also, check out this sound byte.
It's Black Raspberry Season in Otavalo!

An Ambulante Salesman in Otavalo
                                      
Don Sergio and his World Famous Mobile Contraption
  OTAVALOVIDEOS.COM     Images of Otavalo
Travel from atop the clouds down through the Andes into the Otavalo Valley.   Volcanoes, cobblestone roads and beautiful views bring us into the town of Otavalo and the valley of eternal Spring. Welcome to the Awakening Valley!
There is nothing in the world quite like the sights and sounds of the Animal Market.  For many, the Otavalo Animal is the height of their visit on Saturday.  Very graphic, never boring, the Saturday animal market provides some excellent photo and video opportunities!
More wonderful sights and sounds, friendly smiles and great photo and video opportunities greet you at the Otavalo food market.  One can visit the food market all day every day for the best, freshest and most exotic in produce that Ecuador has to offer.
You’ve read about it, you’ve seen photos, now let’s wait for it to arrive.  Unfortunately, the train system from Otavalo to Ibarra has been suspended with no hope in sight that it will once again provide that unique experience we once enjoyed.
I have been driving in Ecuador for over 22 years and I swear I am  the only person in the town that stops at a stop sign……….. I proved it the other day with these shots on a random corner in  Otavalo.  More later on Driving in Ecuador……..
The neighborhood of Buenos Aires in Otavalo takes one back to  another epoch.  This is a slideshow of some photos I shot the  other day.  It is one of my favorite areas in Otavalo and in dire  need of restoration.  Most of the properties are over 50 years old.
The potato originated in the Andes.  Dozens of varieties of tubers are cultivated in Ecuador, many used in traditional medicine. Sr. Jaime Esparza  has been selling Yucca, Camoté, White Carrots and many other exotic tubers in the Otavalo market for over 25 years.
Otavalo used to have a problem with people leaving their garbage out on the street for collection. Now the Otavalo trash trucks are all equipped with speakers that play Musica Nacional to announce trash collection so that one knows to bring the garbage out.
I met Doña Estele, viuda de Oña, only last week, tucked away behind some stalls in the food market.  She makes Tortillas de Maiz, corn cakes that have existed as part of the Otavalo culture predating the Incas.  By the way, they are delicious.  
After documenting the renovation of  this beautiful old home in Otavalo, we visit the finished project, the new location for Pakari Tambo, a center of Andean Culture and spiritual knowledge.   The owners offer local food, crafts and culture on Calle Roca.
We visit the restoration project of tio Marcelo Farinango once again to view progress.  This is a slideshow of a few shots I took yesterday while I spoke with tio Marcelo about the plan after over a year of construction and the date of inauguration.
Like many Ecuadorians with family in the US, this hard working vendor worries that they may meet the same fate as Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero.  She asked me if she could send a message to my viewers and here it is……...
Everybody, rich or poor, eats Papas.  There are several varieties available in the Otavalo food market.  My papa casera explains what types of potatoes are for sale, how they are prepared and how much a basket or a one hundred pound sack might cost.
Downhill Bicycling is most enjoyable, takes little effort and is a great way to spend the afternoon in Otavalo!  In this video,  join us for 32 kms. of fantastic views, beautiful valleys and small Andean villages.   There is nothing quite like it!
Many beautiful buildings remain in Otavalo despite the policy during the 90’s encouraging destruction rather than restoration.  From simple Latin deco of the 50’s to detailed Spanish colonial of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s,  this slide show pictures a few of my favorites.
Tucked away in a hidden neighborhood of Otavalo one is carried back to a time in the past when the water driven grain mill was one of the most important locations in town. Today, this kind of mill is the last of its kind. I plan to go back when it is actually operating.
I wandered by the old Molino and was fortunate to meet some campesinos milling whole wheat into flour. This flour mill is the last of its kind, perhaps in the entire province, and is still used by many Indigenous rural campesinos to mill wheat, dried corn and barley.
Each Wednesday and Saturday, sellers and buyers meet at the Copacabana Market in Otavalo.  This is a wholesale market where the  locals buy goods to carry or export to sell in other cities and countries.  Tia Olga Otavalo of La Joya, producer, talks with us. 
For owner Marcelo Farinango, the restoration of this beautiful colonial home built in the 1800 s is a labor of love.  He is dedicated to each and every detail with special attention paid to the stonework and woodwork that  no longer exists in constructions these days.
The doors of Otavalo are an art form unto themselves.  Restoring this 100 year old door is a labor of love for Maestro Carlos of Sayri Muebles in Otavalo.  This is but one detail in the total restoration of the property located on Calle Roca and Colon.
Cockfighting is still very much a part of Andean culture.  Many make a living betting on their fighting cocks.  Here at the animal market anyone can buy a fighting cock.  I have been invited to see the cockfights next Saturday and look forward to taking some videos.
It was a really hot day today and by chance I saw this guy selling snow cones.  I have not seen snow cones since I was a kid (a lotta years ago).  I immediately ordered a snow cone and spent a little time checking out the very neat snow cone machine.
Each day I buy meat for my employees.  It is always a very graphic experience.  No, not at all like driving to the Safeway and buying nice packaged, ready to eat meat in neat clean plastic wrapping!  Buying meat can definitely convert one to a vegetarian!
Yes, it is MANGO season and the sweet smell is in the air again!  Today was a big day for mangos, the first really tasty mangos of the season.  Just everybody sucks on mangos for the next few weeks.  Who can resist the sweet sales melodies of the vendors.
The Saturday Animal Market is still one of my favorite things to see in Otavalo!  Never a dull moment!  Today was no exception.  Now youll know what to do with that pig you bought.  Background sounds guarantee plenty of atmosphere every Saturday morning.
Fast food, Otavalo style, is found in the food market.  Sra. Piedad Chirán offers hornado, corn, beans, moté, peas, tostado, whatever you like!  She is on her feet all day working at this fast pace.  I have enjoyed watching her work like a dynamo for 18 years.  Incredible!
Today I visited the Paradero Inca Tambo in Peguche to visit with Tio Mario Tontaquimba Diaz and his wife who welcome guests to visit their workshops and to obtain insight into the Indigenous Andean culture of the Otavalo rural area.  
Many believe in the powers of herbal medicines.  Today I saw a traveling salesman hawking several remedies, particularly a salve for arthritis and rheumatism made with the principal ingredient of Aloe Vera.  This guy has style and he did quite well.
So many beautiful homes in Otavalo have been razed rather than restored.  This colonial gem will be saved.  Moorish architecture provided plenty of space, light and elegance.  This is part 1 of the process. 
Musica Nacional by Nelson Maldonado.
Okay.  You just bought a cow.  How do you get it home?  You load it on the truck and go.  Not so easy for this buyer!  I have to admire his persistence and ingenuity.   The Saturday Animal Market in Otavalo is a must see with a story at every turn.
So many beautiful homes in Otavalo have been razed rather than restored. This colonial gem will be saved.  Humberto Lema is the Otavalo architect in charge of the restoration. He explains the need to restore and preserve this 100 year old building.
So many beautiful homes in Otavalo have been razed rather than restored.  This colonial gem will be saved because of a vision held by the owner, Tio Marcelo Farinango.  He speaks of his dream and the process and challenges of restoring an old home.
There are always some great shots during the animal market!  Selling a chicken is not as simple as it may seem.  Buyers will barter persistently...everyone is looking for a bargain.   This deal almost came to pass, but the price was not quite right!
Many travelers have mentioned the beauty and craftsmanship of doors in the city of Otavalo.  It's true.  The Otavalos take pride in their garage and house doors.  This is a slide show of some truly magnificent doors that I photographed today. 
Street Food. At one time in my life, I lived on it.  I am not so bold these days but I still enjoy meeting the people that make a living selling food on the street.  Even now, I can never resist the roasted Maduros!
More Street Food. And on Saturday, it is everywhere. It is really the best way to try the local dishes and snacks. As economic survival becomes difficult, more and more person turn to selling food in the street. Most are licensed and regulated.
These are the first cuts of a documentary I am making about the Otavalo cargadores. Work as a human carrier still exists. Taita José Manuel is 78 years old and works all day, six or seven days a week, carrying market canastas and heavy bundles.
Otavalo is a center of art and Andean culture. Even the street lamps reflect this. Calle Abdon Calderon is lined with posts and street lights decorated with stained glass sculptures, each piece depicting a familiar icon of the Otavalo area.
I went to the city park, in front of city hall, today to video the Banda Municipial. It never arrived, but just sitting for a while in this beautiful park was so inviting. What a pleasant way to spend the morning on Mother's Day, watching the families stroll through the park.
Where else can you pick up chicks for a buck. Yes, one dollar. Buy 'em by the bag. Everybody loves to eat chicken in Otavalo. And chicks raised in the campo are especially favored! Country chickens run free and grow naturally on grubs, bugs and the such.
Where else can you pick up chicks for a buck. Yes, one dollar. Buy 'em by the bag. Everybody loves to eat chicken in Otavalo. And chicks raised in the campo are especially favored! Country chickens run free and grow naturally on grubs, bugs and the such.
Maria Rosa Ovindil and Geovanny Rea have been selling their magic elixar for a couple of years now in Otavalo.  Many swear by its curative powers for gastritis, kidney problems, liver ailments, stomach aches, etc.   The secret ingredients are Aloe Vera and herbs.
I was just standing on the edge of the food market one Saturday several years ago and this couple passed by.  You never know what you'll see in Otavalo on Market day.
He smoked three packs of cigarettes daily.  He claimed to have fathered over 50 children.  Don Nelson sold pure cane sugar juice and claimed it gave him a long, vigorous life.  He passed away recently at the age of 75 and Otavalo will miss him dearly.
DVDs for $1.50.  Wow.  They are everywhere.  This means that people with an average yearly income of less that $3500. can actually own dvds as well.  Of course, I've added a public service message just so no one thinks I really endorse these wanton criminal activities.
The end of the Mango season is bearable only because of an ugly,  lumpy fruit with big black pits called Zapote.  Now, it looks easy, but there involves some skill to eating a zapote.  You must try to gracefully eat and suck the sweet fiber that surrounds the seeds.
The Otavalo monte is famous for wild black raspberries!  Whats a kid to do?  Schools are closed down and the national strikes against the TLC continue.  What is finer than walking in the mountains eating fresh, natural wild black raspberries, you tell me now!
This is a short clip of a walking street peddler I followed during Saturday market.  I found it amusing that he was peddling a natural cure for rheumatism, a strong poison to kill cockroaches, oh, and oil for your sewing machine....  Also, check out this sound byte.
Don Sergio and his
World Famous Mobile Contraption
I thought of don Sergio the other day.  We have not seen him in Otavalo for quite a while!  He always brings home stories of his great adventures traveling through South America driving his world famous contraption.  We wish you well, wherever you are!
Fast Food in Otavalo
with Srta. Piedad Chirán
OTAVALOVIDEOS.COM  Images of Otavalo
Welcome to Otavalo
The Otavalo Animal Market
The Otavalo Vegetable Market
The Train from Otavalo to Ibarra
STOP……………
Barrio Buenos Aires, Otavalo
The Sound of Trash Collection in Otavalo
The Otavalo Food Market Revisited
Tortillas de Maiz
Pakari Tambo     part 7 
Restoring an Old Home     part 6
Un Mensaje a los Norte Americanos
Que Papa Quiere, Casera?
Downhill Bicycling
The Architecture of Otavalo
El Molino de Otavalo
El Molino de Otavalo     part 2
The Other Otavalo Craft Market
The Other Otavalo Craft Market
Restoring an Old House in Otavalo     part 5
Restoring an Old House in Otavalo     part 4
Searching for a Good Fighting Cock   
Snow Cones in Otavalo
Buying Pork Chops
Mangos, Mangos, Mangos Barratos
The Otavalo Animal Market Revisited  
Fast Food in Otavalo with Srta. Piedad Chirán
Paradero Inca Tambo, the "House of their Grandparents"
Traveling Salesman in Otavalo
Restoring an old Home in Otavalo     part 1
The Otavalo Animal Market Revisited
Restoring an old Home in Otavalo     part 2
Restoring an Old House in Otavalo     part 3
The Otavalo Animal Market Revisited, Selling a Chicken
The Doors of Otavalo
Comida de la Calle in Otavalo     part 1
Comida de la Calle in Otavalo     part 2
Los Cargadores of Otavalo
The Street Lamps of Otavalo
Dia de Madre in Otavalo   
Picking up Chicks in Otavalo
To your Health with Aloe Vera
A Passing Moment
Sr. Nelson (RIP) and his Sugar Cane Juice Machine
What I Want for Christmas
How to Eat Zapote
It's Black Raspberry Season in Otavalo!
An Ambulante Salesman in Otavalo
Don Sergio and his World Famous Mobile Contraption