La Gringa Is Cleansed

by Devan Bey

Beautiful city of Otavalo at night.

Most days I don't take off my clothes in front of people. Most days I don't allow small women to spit alcohol on me and rub eggs on my hair. Most days I don't worry that I'll have to stand over a fire with additional flames being shot at me from all angles. But Wednesday, August 28th was a different kind of day. It was completely wild, new, and amazing. I experienced something new, something special. I allowed myself to take an adventurous step, which was the idea behind my trip to this beautiful country. I'm so proud of the experience and it'll be a tough one to forget.

This voyage began in the small town of Otavalo, a charming and historical city northeast of Quito. The city is known for its indigenous market place, which boasts a mass of stalls and colorful people and objects. Several dozen vendors convene in the Plaza de los Ponchos to sell (usually) handcrafted wares; alpaca clothing, dolls, belts, jewelry, textiles, and much, much more. The city offers the buyer a variety of items and the chance to bargain for them (a skill which I admittedly lack. I was able to talk a lady down on a pair of earrings by $2.00.)