Baños (where we find a large chunk of ourselves..)
Trip Start
Jun 15, 2008
1
15
25
Trip End
Aug 15, 2008
Baños,
Ecuador
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The next morning involved eating our weight in really tasty fresh bread from a bakery called "rico pan" (tasty bread) before setting out to walk up to the volcano lookout point from which on a clear day you can see the volcano smoking and occasionally spitting stuff. Not going to lie, the walk was not really my friend, mainly due to the abundance of bumble beeīs EVERYWHERE as well as midges. bleurgh. Its also hard to concentrate on enjoying the scenery whilst hearing volcano rumbles and wondering it we would be able to run out of the way of a pyroclastic flow...Imo reckons not, word on the street is they are fast and not very fun in an ancient pompeii sort of way
Baños
. The top of the walk very nice though, as the sun came out and we found this mountain retreat which, despite the pretentiously priced food had beautiful views of the whole valley from the restaurant. We ended out nice day with a swim in one of the town swimming pools and some tasty mexican food (and not so tasty red wine!).Our second day in Baņos started slowly, as we had planned to do a long bike ride to a near by town, but woke up to rain and a powercut which dampened the mood somewhat (bahahaha, sure). However, later on the rain eased up a little bit so we decided to so a shorter version of the same bike ride. This turned out to be an excellent call, because I think if we had tried to do the longer ride, we kight have rushed past all the amazing things there were to see en route, in our haste to reach the end.
The first of these was a trip straight across the valley in a rickety cable car which gave us amazing (if somewhat vertigo inspiring) views right down the river. The second was a waterfall called "el pailon del diablo" which Brig and I felt was very underrated by the guide books. A steep walk down through the valleY brings you your first amazing view of the falls from a swinging wooden bridge, and after that things only get better. Its not so much the size of the waterfall but how incredibly close you can get to it
Baños
. From the highest point (where you are able to stand behind the cascades), you could, if you were so inclined, stick your arm out for it to be ripped clean off by the water. Also, there is a series of balconies which take you down to within firing range of the bigger waves of water bouncing around which of course we went to and of course got absolutely drenched on. To get right up behind the falls, you have to scabble up this tiny passage in the rock face, for which even I had to get onto my hands and knees and its not like Iīm an ent. Actually, while we are on the subject of height, I would like to announce that I am, in fact, tall here! Its a strange experience, but the Andean people are tiny, most of the women (especially the older ones) are about a head shorter than me, and Iīm the same height, if not taller than most of the men. Therefore, I conclude that I am not short, but English people are just unusually tall. Apart from you, mum, what with you def being smaller than me! Enough of that. After finally tearing ourselves away from the waterfalls, we made the walk back up the hill where we nabbed ourselved a necklace each, and a ride back to Baņos standing in the back of a tourist truck. I know what you are thinking, but actually, I wouldnīt be surprised if these are the safest way to travel here, it goes so slowly I think at one point we were overtaken by a milk float
Tea?
! That evening, we began our moves towards Peru, heading first to Riobamba for a night and then the next morning to Alausi, where you catch a tourist train to visit the amazing "devilīs nose". I also forgot to mention, it was that day we managed to pick up a lurker from Canada, who is travelling alone and seems to have a bit of a tendency to tag on to other travellers. It would not be a problem if he was less rude and judgemental. But donīt get me started on this subject, itīs a bit or a sore point, and we are stuck with him until the border crossing to Peru.
Missing everyone lots, hope all is good!
lots of love and BBBB
Penny xxxx
Comments
From wet and windy Brussels
All sounds very energetic and adventurous.
Just thought you would like to knowe that Granny Treat has started to write her Christmas cards.
We're heading down to Cornwall at the end of next week.
Missing you, little one
lots of love
Mum