I'm currently on the bus back from Banos, it about an 7 hr ride, but due to traffic it will be about 9. I've moved mile in the last hour!
However, I had such a good time on my four day weekend!!
Banos is famous for its fun activities, and hot spring baths, active volcanoes Targungura and it's awesome mountains.
I traveled with a cool program leader from my school ( Lisa, 25, speaks French and Spanish, from Syracuse) and her novio Christian ( a guide in cajas national park). I almost missed the bus because I couldn't find a taxi! Dania, a woman who works at the school, saw me, took pity and her husband and three kids made room in their tiny car to take me to the station!! Lifesavers.
The bus ride was uneventful and we got to ambato about 9. Then, sardine packed a local's car who took 5 of us on to banos for 5 bucks a person( deal)!!
I ended up at the wrong hostal at 2 in the morning and called my friend from Guayaquil to see of there were up and could help me out. Calling from the Kitchen of wrong hostal number 1, I see Mentijte ( friend) on the porch, laughing.. Guess I found one right place. I crashed in a tiny twin bed with another girl, Charlotte Id met in Cuenca.
5 hrs later, I woke up to an offer to go canyoning ( repelling down water falls, in a wet suit). Off I went, followed by Chiva ride ( open car that tours to the nearby volcanos and water falls)
Back for a shower then out to party, and the next day... Bungee jumping off a bridge.
Okay, so I got up the platform, then chicken out, but got back up after my friend lived the first time haha ( pics below)
To reward out selves we headed to an awesome spa, and had a beautiful barefoot walk in the spa gardens. ( hour hot rock massage 25 bucks) The pics below are from that walk and life quotes accompanied us on out walk.
The rest of the weekend was spent walking around the town, eating awesome food and shopping.
Perhaps the quirkiest thing that happened this trip was my encounter with Kelsey B. Charlotte and I were getting eggs in the hostel kitchen and I saw two American girls, one looked reeallllyyy familiar. After chatting for a bit, I learne they were students from Quito and Kelsey went to Niwot high school( about 5 mins my house), and now CC and we have mutual friends!!!! Even funnier is that she knows Charlotte's twin who also goes to Colorado College.
As vast as the world is, these crazy coincidences happen a lot.
Met up with Christian and Lisa for a delicious breakfast and the best coffee I have had yet and four days later, I'm Cuenca bound again.
There are about 18 people in the group I'd met in Gayaquil and it's wonderful to have awesome people to meet up with around the country. I hope to visit a few of them back in the states and Canada when I get back!!
On a more somber note the day before we left 26 people died in a bus crash on the same route that we will all take out of Gayaquil. We all changed out plans to make sure to take only day buses and understand that there are always risks associated with traveling and how lucky we are to be safe and living such an adventure, and that there is nothing more you can do but be as safe as possible.
I'm also very excited to have met Lisa because she is awesome and going to Denver in 3 weeks for an international education conference. I'll be able to assist her in seeking out some awesome food and of course great coffee hangouts. ( Kaladi, anyone!?)
My Spanish is coming along and now I get the gist of most traveling and necessary vocabulary which is a blessing. I would recommend for anyone traveling to South America to learn " survival spanish" here it is necessary.
I was getting a bit cloistered in Cuenca and missing a couple convinces of home. However, after this awesome weekend, my travel vigor has been rekindled.
This week I also have decided to Change my flight home to leave from Lima instead of Quito, the change fee
will be more affordable then traveling back to Quito. I'm hoping to also hang with my friend Milena in Tampa for a few days at the end of this journey. Hope it all works out.
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