Tags
Andean, Andean Markets, authentic, experiences, Incas, kichwa, Latacunga, mercados, Otavalo, quichua, real, Zumbahua
The Andean Markets are not the typical crowded ones you find in Africa or Asia with hundreds of tourist. Besides of being authentic indigenous markets for visitors, the Ecuadorian Andean Markets are close to authentic as they used to be even before the Incas came to Ecuador. You will witness here the real people; families meeting relatives and friends, everyone trading what someone has in excess and what others lack, mingling about their experiences daily life, is not only a place to buy and sell but also to socialize, does not sound familiar to you?
Thousand of years ago, our ancestors already used to trade all kind of local products of the land, the most colorful textiles, animals and very unique things like the spondylus shells from the Pacific Coast worth as a “coin” money wise back in the day. Due to this trade, the Quechua language known as Quichua in the north of South America was a wide spoken language in the Andes region.
When the Inca Empire reached the center of the Ecuadorian highlands, they were quite surprised the local tribes spoke a very similar language. In next 40 years of the Inca campaign to Ecuador, a common language was a very important column of the Empire consolidation even though local population was always reluctant to accept the Incas as rulers, but try to leave peaceful and adapt to the new regime.
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