Santa Lucia Cuenca

... we{re on the road again. Joy of joys more hours and hours on the bus. So from Baņos it was a short hour trip to ambato. Where with no indication from the bus driver, but a another helpful passenger, we establish this is where we need to jump off. Just manage with a hell of a lot of shouting to shout the bus driving off with our bags still in the holdall- would not have been good!!! Then establish it{s a quick sprint across 6 lanes of traffic and then a hop ...

... the water. We also saw many swimming along the surface, some pop up and slap the water with their tails on the way down, and puffs of water from their blow holes along the surface. That alone made the trip worthwhile. When we got to the island we hiked around one half of it. We saw lots of birds, many blue footed boobies, and 1 lone seal. The views were incredible, cliffs and crystal blue water. We returned to the boat for lunch and drove out a little ways for swimming and snorkeling ...

We arrived in Cuenca on Wednesday, August 5th.

Our last week in Mitad Del Mundo was fun and educational. We packed up for one day and headed to Papallacta hotsprings. The Lonely Planet guide says that it is the best hot springs in Ecuador, like a Roman paradise, that is pretty much describes it. There were several outdoor hot pōols done up with natural stone set against a beautiful lush green mountain, and a raging icy river beside 3 ...

... Treinta y tres’, which I did sheepishly, a number of times, hoping my pronunciation wouldn’t affect the diagnosis. Finally he said I had a chest and sinus infection and wrote out a script. We took it to the pharmacy and realized immediately what I should have already known; that you don’t need a script in Ecuador, but I did have $30 worth of reassurance that I didn’t have anything too serious. As it turns out the antibiotics were dispensed in the ...

... more interesting with the fruits, veggies and grains. I noticed quite a few people snickering at me while I was snacking on raw peas until one older gent finally approached me and explained that you're supposed to cook peas. oohhh. I'll eat my peas how I want, thanks. Within the covered market, it seemed like everyone had a booth set up to sell roasted pig (yup, the whole thing) and potatoes cooked in the grease. mmm I could eat those potatoes now. The competition is stiff in there, as ...

... I organised for Jacqui the really cool Spanish teacher at Secret Garden to organise to make the potato and avocado soup which Milli so desperately loves, and I got some pan con queso (cheese bread) and some chocolate biscuits from the bakery down the road and we had an early birthday lunch for Milli with most of the staff, and Ambross (a guest who has been around so long he might as well have worked there).

That night of to Finn McCools for our farewell drinks ...

... they had ropes around their necks and were obviously imported to add to the atmosphere. There were no other llamas anywhere... I don't think I saw a single llama in all of Ecuador except these two! I couldn't help but laugh as I was totally suckered in by the obvious "tourist plant". If you are unsatisfied by the BRAS in the subtitle, see the pic of the Incan warrior with the bra spray-painted on.
So that's it for Ecuador, next move is on to Peru.

... We didn't know but the famous Panama hat is actually made in Ecuador and there are shop after shop selling them in all different shapes and sizes. Well almost all different sizes - I managed to get one quite easily although Paul had a problem - he has a rather large head. We were laughed out of most of the shops, not even the XXL one would squeeze on. In one of the shops we were taken to a special room where the 'extra big ...

... gave us a really good price, including breakfast and paid for a proper taxi to take us there (we wouldn't have gone if it had just been a random lift obviously!). It turned out to be really nice as it turned out to be their home with a few rooms rented out. It was nice to be in a home....and we got a bit more Spanish practise in too.