Otavalo: Ecuador's Famous Saturday Market

We spent a couple days working with our colleagues at the Embassy in Quito, then headed for the (higher) Andes to the traditional town of Otavalo for the weekend.  Top on our list was to experience the world famous Otavalo Saturday Market, well known for its textiles and fine weaving, but equally known for the presence of many traditional inhabitants of the region in their native clothing.  There is also an animal market selling every conceivable critter from guinea pigs to cows and llamas.  We were thrilled to be a part of such a unique experience.  Here are a few of our shots of the market and surrounding areas.

Shelly Campbell, Vice Consul

Talk about being a life-long learner!  After just three years of traveling,  learning, and experiencing new activities in new parts of the world, here comes another!   Shelly begins her new job today, far from her prior work in the hallowed halls of academia.  She has worked very hard to learn the job and the language for her new role as Vice Consul of the United States of America in Consulate Guayaquil, Ecuador.  Good luck, honey!!  I love you!

Buying fresh chamomile

Scuba diving in the Indian Ocean

Shopping Dubai's Gold Souk

Celebrating Hindu Holi in Mauritius

Hugging koala in Perth

Feeding the Kangaroos Down Under

Seeing Paris with Bailey

Independence Day on Capitol Hill

The White House State Dining Room

A White House Christmas Tour

White House Press Briefing Room

Celebrating Nuptials at Temple Square in Utah

Iguana Photo in Ecuador

Learning a new game in Guayaquil

Learning on the Links

The other day, Shelly and I were counting up all the NEW things we are doing that we never did before in our 28 years of marriage . . . living in South America, learning new jobs, working in the same office, speaking Spanish daily,  . . . now, we add to that list "learning to play golf"!  We started lessons this week as absolute beginners with a wonderfully patient golf pro.  Despite the tropical heat and the frustrations of being really bad at it, we're having fun.  Especially enjoying membership at the La Costa Country Club, a beautiful facility about 20 minutes from our house.

Milagro, Manuel y Manos Para Las Plantas

She's anticipated this day for three weeks . . . the trip to the gardens and nurseries of Milagro, Ecuador, with our new gardener, Manuel. Shelly's been dreaming of what she wanted to cultivate in the front and back yards of our new house, and the little agricultural town of Milagro (English: Miracle) is known to Ecuadorians as LO MEJOR (the best) place to get all kinds of beautiful plants and flowers. At 8 am Saturday morning, we hopped in the back of Manuel's truck for the hour-long trip to the town of miracles.  It did not disappoint.  There were dozens, if not hundreds, of roadside nurseries with all kinds of plant life the length of the town.  And very affordable, too.

Shelly inherited her green thumb from her Dad, Ike, who was a very talented nurseryman and arborist.  Wherever she lives or lands, she carries Ike with her . . . she loves to be surrounded by natural beauty.  In Spanish, "green thumb" is "tiene manos para las plantas". With Manuel's manos and Shelly's vision, we will have a beautiful collection of tropical plants and palm trees surrounding the house.  I'm even getting into the act . . . I get to cover the barren carport with 8 different colors and varieties of bougainvillea, and am pretty excited about that. Enjoy these photos of our special field trip to the town of miracles.

Shelly, Manuel, and his son Jesus: miracles happening

Miraculous shopping

Loading Manuel's truck with beauty

Bougainvillea Bargains

Shelly doing horticulture in fluent Spanish