Quito and Banos

Hey Team!

So quick update for those that like to just read the headlines. I am alive, left Quito, went to tourism capital Banos and am now in my home for 3 weeks Puyo. Gateway to the Amazon.

So now for the stories. Banos is known for its thermal baths that are superheated by the volcano. It is a vacation destination for Ecuadorians and gringos alike. But mostly I saw Ecuadorians.

We went on a hike to Devil's Cauldron! It was amazing and powerful! It falls like 150 ft into a rock hole. The spray comes up 50 feet and the whole area is one huge mist from the rebounding water. Then we went on a long hike to up above Banos, to Bellavista. It was beautiful and a pretty tough hike. It made me miss living in the woods all summer a la Wilderness Trail. Then we went to the banos. Or las Piscinas de la Virgen. It was at night and we watched the sunset with all the Ecuatorians over the mountains in the superhot mineral baths. (when we went back to the banos during the day today there were no gringos so I got a few stares). Heyre is a picture with me and all the locals...the water is that color because of the minerals. There is actually a very strict showering policy. There were warm showers and some spouts coming from the water of the waterfall above. (That fill the pools of the virgen beside the banos...where you can fill up your very own Virgen water jug.)

I have only two good traveling stories.
1. So we have been traveling in these big charter buses from Banos to the Cauldron and to Puyo. But they don't stop filling the bus when the seats are full. So I have been in the aisle for 2 out of three bus rides. The second is funny because I was in the very front of the aisle basically looking down and out the big front window. (They were also playing Fifty First Dates with Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler.) I was looking down watching the double yellow line swerve back and forth sometimes on the left like it should be and then it would drift and I would be thinking "Do we really need to pass that truck around this blind curve?" But I made it ok. But think about standing in a charter bus going through the Gorge to Knoxville and you have some idea. The third ride was much worse all the way to Puyo...not for the car sick or those with weak vestibular systems.

2. My second traveling story involves a tourist trap. So banos is beside a volcano that has been "erupting" lately. And there are supposed to be a way to go see the lava and stuff from another mountain. At night it was supposed to be really cool. So we got on a night volcano cruise. Paid our $3 and got on the "chiva" which was a double decker bus. We went up the mountain leaving Banos behind...and ended up exactly where we had worked so hard to hike earlier that day. With no view whatsoever of the volcano. Not even close even. And ALL of the "night chivas" were there. Everyone is handed a "Canalazo" which is a sugar cane drink spiked with what they call "WHisky" but I think was actually rum someone said? It was terrible and couldn't even sip mine even though it was warm. And with no view of the volcano they instead do a "fire show" basically some guys juggling fire and stuff. And then a stand up comedian which from the laughs from those that understand Spanish was very funny...for me it was a listening exercise that a failed.

Summary: Made it to Puyo!