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The trip to Calpaqui with Francisco and Eduardo, August 8, 2004
Steve Hein
Francisco has asked Eduardo and I to help him get some volunteers and some tourism business in his community of Calpaqui. Calpaqui is about 10 minutes from Otavalo and the bus ride only costs 18 cents. It is a community of about 1,000 people with a lot of beautiful land including a lot of mountains and natural forests. Eduardo and I spent most of the day walking around the land with Francisco. Francisco is interested in building a small hostal made from wood and natural materials and inviting tourists to stay there. It really is some beautiful land with beautiful views as you will see. So far there are no tourists visiting at all. Francisco said I was the first Gringo to walk all the way around the land with him. He would like to get some volunteers to help with developing the land a little. For example, making walking trails through the mountains and building the hostal. He would also like volunteers to help teach languages at the school.
Francisco was a very good tour guide. Very friendly and easy going. I hope to be able to help him learn English so he can give the tours partly in English. There was a lot he said that sounded interesting but I didn't understand it all. It is a perfect opportunity for volunteers both from other countries and from Ecuador for students studying tourism.
To help Francisco and his community, Eduardo and I designed this page for Francisco and his community at no charge. We are also providing free webspace on our site www.ILoveOtavalo.com
Here are some of the pics.
Eduardo and Francisco getting off the bus in Calpaqui and the first view of Imbabura mountain right at the bus stop.
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Here is a pig tied with a rope to a stake. The first time I ever saw something like this was in Ecuador, but then I saw it in Columbia, too. Next is a picture of a family drying out corn to cook later.
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This is straw which they sometimes use for roofs. Francisco said it lasts about ten years. Then there is house made from bamboo and dirt.
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