We left out of Oton and headed 20 minutes north to Cayambe, a town that occupies a small space at the base of a huge snow-capped volcano known as “Cayambe”. Here is where we met again with our amazing guide, “Pablo Quimbuilco, who runs a small museum, and acts as a cultural resource and performer. He also charters climbing adventures up the snow-capped peak of Cayambe. The voyage is a 12-hour excursion, reaching the ledge of the Volcano at 6am. We would return to Cayambe later that week to participate in a small carnival parde to benefit children with disabilities.

From Cayambe, we went straight to the famous town of Otavalo which is known for its world-traveled merchants and huge Indian market. We arrived with high intentions of finding exotic fruits and traditional vegetables for our lunch feast. All our eyes widened as we saw the multitude of fruits and veggies from every color of the rainbow and from a diversity of climatic regions second to none.

This made for perhaps the widest variety of fruits and foods to exist in the world. From Tropical Coastal or Jungle fruits to mid and high elevation fruits to Amazon rare exotic abundance. Foods with colors of the rainbow that hold the ancient essence of life. We were very pleased to see how traditional foods maintained an important role in Ecuadorian every-day society. After lunch, we went to the middle of the earth, the equatorial line that separates the two hemispheres.

The group had a longing need to get a better glimpse of the Cayambe’s snow-capped Volcano peek. for much of the time it was hidden among the clouds. We traveled around the side of the mountain and into one of the largest valleys, fertile and occupied with mostly dairy cows. Our guides explained that the dairy cow farming have pushed much of the traditional indigenous farmers out and to undesired land and has endangered traditional lifestyles. We traveled these long back roads winding through the hills. We could not believe how green and beautiful everything looked as the road continued the whole way layed in cobble stone.

Slowly, mystically, and majestically Cayambe Volcano began to reveal itself in one of the most awe inspiring moments one can imagine - a large snow-capped volcano reaching up into the heavens. Just an awesome sight as the late afternoon sun made the cone glisten from the distance like a dreamy fairy tale looking painting. We all were humbled and in awe of Cayambe. It was the great example of the power and essence of Andean health and spirit. Embera delegate Omyra Casama, said “that Cayambe was the embodiment of natural life and when seen humans can instantly feel that they are witnessing the creator, God itself.”

That night the delegation was honored during an outdoor musical celebration held in a small “Otavalan” community. Indigenous musical groups and dancers were invited from areas of Ecuador and Andean Peru. The event was held as the night fell. Our guide Pablo blessed the event and held a special opening ceremony that included our delegates and indigenous people representing the 4 directions of east, west, north south and the two directions of above and below. Upon our arrival, we noticed hundreds of local indigenous people finely dressed. Males and females, young and old, all wore traditionally long braded hair. Ladies served aromatic teas out of large boiling pots.

After the ceremony, various music groups and dancers graced the stage and audience. A good family atmosphere prevailed, as there was an absence of heavy alcohol and drinking. Interactive, the audience took place in the dancing and circles of up to 50 people each appeared. Hundreds of people dancing with foam being sprayed and dust kicked up. All beautiful faces smiling at one another dancing and twirling. All the music was in Andean style, folk and modernized traditional music, with a true Andean spirit. Panflutes and base, multi-stringed guitars and cane flutes, keyboards. It was very high energy and before long the vibe of the crowd was overwhelming and all cheering. It was one of the best gatherings delegates had seen in a long time. The event was hard to put into words, but one of the most memorable times the group had

Continued: Otavalo

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Jovenes Intertribal Panama (JIP)

• Programa de Salud/ Health Program for Panama Youth

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