Los Baños "Baths"- September 7-9

Baños is a small town (less than 20,000 residents) located 3 hours south of Quito. A relatively touristy town, Baños is a town for sports like biking, rafting, propeling down a waterfall and also for the natural hot springs in the town, as a result of volcano Tungurahua. The volcano recently erupted a few years ago, but tourism is still pretty popular in the town. This town seemed so small compared to huge Quito, which seems to stretch for miles and miles, probably because it does. Anyway, Baños felt very safe, all streets were well lit, and the street were small and one way, a very cute little town.

With my travel partners, Anouk (from Holland) and Sarah and Heather from the US, we met a rafting guide on the bus who showed us a nice hostel, Hostel Transylvania. It was very nice and clean with breakfast for 6$ a night. The owner had an adorable puppy called "gringo" (this word can be used for any foreigner...gringo, o I have been called a gringa, gringita is more endearing....etc) There were some other people from the UK and Israel staying there as well.


Saturday morning we rose early to start our bike trip. We rented bikes for the day, $5, and rode through and out of the town, for a ride of about 22 km heading south of the town. The ride was so scenic and beautiful, and mostly downhill which was nice. Besides lush looming hills on both sides of the road, there were many waterfalls, large and small. We rode, took pictures, and stopped in Rio Verde, a very small town for lunch at a little restaurant. Here, the four of us had a big almuerzo with chicken, rice, papas, salad and drinks for $7.16. Not bad. Just outside of Rio Verde there are two waterfalls that conjoin called San Miguel and Pilon del Diablo. I was so impressed by the awesome force of the waterfall; all the water rushing at once is so powerful and unending! We biked around more, hiking as well. This was a great but also tiring day! That night, there was a little celebration for the Virgen en la plaza, so we hung out here a bit. There was a band and some dancing. After dinner, we were in bed by 10:00pm!

Sunday morning we had plans to go the natural hot springs. I had never been to a hot spring, but Anouk and Sarah had in Chile and Costa Rica, and so were very exctied. When we arrived to the springs, however, it was something absolutely different than I had expected.

There were several pools of different temperature, but it looked very much like pools you would find in the states, made of concrete, which metal steps. We went around 9:30 in the morning, but the pools were already packed. The smell of sulfur combined with the yellowish/brownish murky water in the pools was, well, something you had to get used to. People of all ages running around in LESS than modest swimsuits, hair floating everywhere in the pool...an activity we planned to do for 3 hours lasted only 20 minutes. Besides the murkyness of the water, the temperature felt very nice. My friends and I were brave, and went to the hottest pool, also with the most people. I think we were the only gringas around, so either people thought we were crazy or, as I like to think, brave. Although the baños weren't what we were expecting, I maintain that I felt a lot better after leaving the pools, as I had a bit of a cold. Was it the magical healing power of the murky water....or just the healing power of time? I'll say a little of both.


Caña de azucar: Sugar Cane
Sugar cane is sold in nearly every shop here. We bought some to try, and you chew on these semi woody strips. The taste is like a very intense sugar water, very tasty.

Cuy:
A few of you have been asking if I have yet tried "cuy" or guinea pig, which is eaten here as a traditional food, but also prepared for tourists. We did not eat this, but we saw some roasting away. I've posted a picture for all those who want to see...who's hungry??


Baños is also famous for taffy, and this, like the sugar cane is sold in every shop. We tried some, and it also has a very nice flavour. It's hard to understand how each stand can sell the same exact thing. When we were leaving, 7 stands in a row,
selling taffy and sugar cane!

This weekend was really nice, my first away from Quito! It was very beautiul and though a little different than I expected still a great weekend spent!