First off, I'll say that I really like Aaron's idea. A lot of our experiences with the local culture of Quito, the Galapagos and Otavalo had to do with purchasing (usually food or hand crafts). In no way do I view this negatively - it was what it was and, frankly, I enjoyed this aspect of the trip immensely.
When I look back on the Ecuador trip (and when I describe it to others), I think more about the experience of being immersed in a culture so different from what I am used to, as opposed to the specific museums, destinations, etc. that we visited. I think about the women in brightly colored clothing carrying more than their weight on their backs, about the piles of dead chickens sitting (warm) on store counters in the streets of Quito, about the signs in every bathroom stall that read "do not flush toilet paper down the toilet," about the deep fried cuyi and, unfortunately, about the man who tried to steal Angie's camera. As much as I loved the trip, when people ask me if I would like to return one day, I say "probably not." It's not because I didn't enjoy the trip immensely but rather because I feel that a return trip could never have quite the same impact as this one did.
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