Mall Del Rio and the Otavalos Market

Aloha Everyone,

Mall Del Rio is an upscale and the largest mall in Cuenca. It is in the New Town area about 20 minutes taxi ride from our apartment. Coral, a store that is comparable to Walmart, is the anchor tenant. You can purchase nearly everything at Coral from appliances, automobile goods, hardware, household goods, clothing and groceries.

J.J. had Panini lunch at El Espanol restaurant. I was feeling a little motion sickness after the exciting taxi ride.  So my choice for lunch was a banana and a cup of tea.

Dramatic sky as we left the mall

Everyday J.J. and I greet Mercedes and her daughter Gina who have little open stalls just outside of our apartment building. They open their business at 7:30 AM and close at about 7:30 PM.

Mercedes and Gina are Otavalos. The Otavalos are indigenous people who live in a province in Northern Ecuador.  Handicrafts and retail commerce are their main economic activities.

We purchased from Mercedes a couple of blankets made of Alpaca wool for Honu.

Aloha -- Cathi