BAÑOS

AFTER WE LEFT THE RANCH, WE HEADED BACK TO QUITO. WE WANDERED AROUND THE CITY SOME MORE, THIS TIME CHECKING OUT THE OLD PART OF TOWN. THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES THERE THAT ARE 500 YEARS OLD. WE CLIMBED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BELL TOWER OF ONE AND SAW AN IMPRESSIVE VIEW OF THE CITY. (AND THEN WE ATE SOME MORE HOMEMADE ICECREAM).

YESTERDAY WE TOOK TWO BUSSES FROM QUITO TO THE TOWN BAÑOS, WHICH MEANS BATHS. OH- ON ONE OF THE BUS´S, WE WERE THE TARGET OF A THREE PERSON ROBBERY. BASICALLY SOME YOUNG GUY ¨HELPED" US ONTO THE BUS, EVEN SHOWING US WHERE TO SIT AND TRYING TO HELP WITH MY BAG. I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST WANTING MONEY BUT WHEN HE STARTED TALKING TO DOUG AND THE BUS STATRED MOVING I KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP. SO I HAD MY BAG BETWEEN MY FEET AND I FELT A SLIGHT TUG. THERE WAS A GUY BEHIND US KINDA HIDDEN. AND ANOTHER OLDER MAN ACROSS THE WAY. WE SWITCHED SEATS. WHEN THEIR MISSION FAILED THEY ALL GOT OFF AT DIFFERENT STOPS.

HERE IN BAÑOS THERE IS AN ACTIVE VOLCANO AND SEVERAL HOT SPRINGS. TODAY WE TOOK A SOAK IN THEM, WHICH THE RESIDENTS HERE SAY CURE MANY AILMENTS- THE ONLY ONE I COULD UNDERSTAND WAS ARTHRITIS. I´M HOPING THEY CURE MY BUG BITES. WE HAVE BEEN EATING DIFFERENT DISHES, THE MAIN TYPE OF MEAL IN ECUADOR IS CALLED AN AMUERZO. IT IS A FULL MEAL (SOUP, CHICKEN AND RICE, VEGETABLES, AND FRUIT JUICE) AND DRINK AND COSTS ABOUT A $1.50.

THIS TOWN (BAÑOS) IS SET UP FOR TOURISTS. THEY HAVE BOOTHS EVERYWHERE OFFERING HORSEBACK RIDING, RIVER RAFTING, HIKES TO THE VOLCANO (WHICH OUR GUIDE BOOK TOLD US NOT TO DO BECAUSE, WELL ITS A VOLCANO), AND JUNGLE TOURS. SO WE SIGNED UP FOR A THREE DAY JUNGLE TOUR. IT SOUNDS PRETTY COOL, BUT I MIGHT REGRET IT WHEN I´M SLAPPING BUGS AWAY AND WALKING IN MUD FOR FIVE HOURS. WE LEAVE TOMORROW AND GET BACK SUNDAY. WISH US LUCK!