Relaaxxing in BANOS

DAY 50

Go figure, our last long bus ride had to be the problematic one. We set off on time from Loja for our 10 hour bus trip to Ambato. Just as we had fallen into a shallow sleep, we awoke at 3 a.m. to a loud jolt that lifted us out of our seats. There were also several grown men screaming. The bus driver had hit a speed bump or curb at a high speed that woke everyone up (and apparently resulted in screaming men). The bus stopped to check out the damage, changed drivers, and continued on its way. About 30 minutes down the road, we heard a loud thumping sound coming from our side of the bus. We had blown a tire--likely a result of the large something that we hit half an hour before. For the next hour or so, we waited for the drivers to change the tire. Finally, we continued on our way without another hitch, but without any sleep.

Upon reaching Banos, we were tired, cranky and were severely lacking in caffeine. After a short nap and caffeine injection at a corner cafe, we decided to check out the town. It began to rain while we were checking out the town's food market, which was definitely the best place to get stuck. Until the rain lifted, we tried little bits of everything from the Naranjilla (a citrus fruit that you suck the gooey juice and seeds out from), a banana and cheese empanada, and a hot fried potato cake.

Afterwards, we went back to the hostel with loaded bellies and empty wallets. Still a bit tired from our lack of sleep, we rested up for our second rendezvous around town. This time, we checked out a taffy shop where we tried varieties hot off the wooden block they stretch it on, the base of a small waterfall that we can see from our hostel room, and the church. After a big dinner, we caught up on some well needed rest.

DAY 51

After breakfast, we took the 2 km. hike uphill to one of the town's many thermal springs.  As we neared the summit, we were rewarded with a bird's eye view of the town and a grand vista of the Tungurahua volcano, the largest in Ecuador and the source of heat for the thermal baths.  We spent all morning and afternoon relaxing our travel-weary bodies in the mineral rich pools surrounded by the lush scenery.

After hours of relaxation (for only $3!), we headed back into town to check out some more shops and street food. After a strawberry cake and grilled corn, I almost grabbed a plate of cow intestine for dinner before deciding against it.  Although it suprisingly smelled delicious on the grill (and didn't look so bad either), I figured I'd best not subject myself to stomach issues the day before a bus ride to Quito then a series of flights home.  We opted for a sit down dinner instead.