The worms/caterpillars were part of our dinner the last night of three that we spent in the jungle, a half-hour hike from the nearest house. The cuisine was mostly "jungle foods," from around our cabana, including the worms. We also harvested and ate yucca, wild onions, and the marrow of a palm tree.
When we met our Aunt Leslie at the Quito airport last Wednesday evening, we didn't know exactly what we were going to do--only that it was going to be an adventure. As we were lying in our beds early the next morning, we decided to go to Mindo--the birdwatching capital of Ecuador. We arrived at the bus station outside of the city 40 minutes too late to catch the last bus, so after a few taxi rides in search of other buses, we decided to settle for a visit to the equator.
After a fun day at the equator museum and a tour of one of the largest inhabited volcano crater in the world, we found out about a tour the next day to an ancient Kichwan site that was actually on the equator. The site that is now the equator museum is actually about a quarter-mile from the actual equator, according to GPS readings. We hiked up a mountain to a site where, for the last 2000 years or so, the Kichwan people have sacrificed to Pachakamaq, the creator of the world, and observed the equinoxes.
We rode the bus to Otavalo that evening to go to the Saturday market, said to be one of the largest in South America. We started around 7:45 am at the animal market, where farmers come to buy and sell livestock, including ducks and guinea pigs, and continued first into the fruit market, and then the seemingly endless rows of artesians' stands packed into the streets surrounding the main market square. By the end, we were all clutching large bags full of various gifts and seemly empty wallets. I can't even count how many times we said "alright, we have enough," only to find something else incredible.
That brings us to the jungle. And the worms. We left Quito Sunday morning and spent the afternoon at a natural hot spring that is said to be the nicest in Ecuador. Even though I forget the name, I will never forget how clear and warm the water was--so warm we could really only stay in for 15 minutes at a time. I hope Seth forgets how I pushed him into the cold water pool. That was a little mean.
We didn't arrive in Tena, the city closest to the jungle we'd be exploring until after dark. We were all outfitted with ponchos and knee-high rain boots and bought what Aunt Leslie described as the "local insect repellent." She said on multiple occasions during our trip "okay, pass me the local stuff--it probably has the most DEET in it." It was so strong, the writing on the outside of the bottle started to smear, but not strong enough to keep all the bugs away from Aunt Leslie.
It was about 8pm when the local operator drove us 20 minutes outside of town and left us in what felt like someone's backyard while he went to pick up our local guides and cook. Eight of us hiked 40 minutes into the jungle, crossing several streams--or perhaps the same stream multiple times--until we arrived at the 3 story cabana and kitchen hut. We were the first tourists there in 6 months, so the crew worked to get our mattresses and mosquito nets ready while we watched a native dance performed by two energetic girls and one reluctant boy.
After dinner, which I confess I don't remember exactly--thus probably chicken and rice--we fell asleep quickly to the sounds of the nearby stream and an army of crickets.
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