I¨M IN A LITTLE VILLAGE ABOUT THREE HOURS OUTSIDE OF QUITO FOR MY LAST FULL DAY IN EQUADOR: ITS KNOWN TO HAVE THE BEST SATURDAY MARKET IN QUITO: SO I PURPOSELY STAYED IN QUITO LONG ENOUGH TO COME HERE ON A SATURDAY: I ARRIVED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON: AS IT TURNS OUT; THIS LITTLE TOWN HAPPENED TO BE CELEBRATING ITS ANNIVERSARY THIS VERY WEEKEND: SO THE WHOLE TOWN BECAME A HUGE STREET PARTY COMPLETE WITH BEAUTIFUL PARADE; LIVE BAND WITH DANCING ALL NIGHT IN THE SQUARE; STREET FOOD; BOTTLES OF DOLLAR WARM SPICED RUM; AND LOADS OF PARTYING ECUADORIANS: IT WAS A BLAST! I AM SO LUCKY TO HAVE ARRIVED WHEN I DID: EVEN THOUGH I WAS OUT LATE; I WAS UP EARLY TO GO TO THE MARKET: IT HAS CERTAINLY LIVED UP TO ITS FAME: IT PRACTICALLY ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE TOWN: ITS FABULOUS: IVE BEEN ON A BUYING RAMPAGE: AND; NOW; I¨M OFF TO DO MORE: BACK TO QUITO TONIGHT; DINNER; OUT: THEN TOMORROW; I¨M FLYING BACK TO BUENOS AIRES TO (HOPEFULLY) RECLAIM MY SUITCASES: I¨LL BE HOME IN NO TIME AT ALL: