Baños, Ecuador

Baños was going off when we got there. It was the place for Ecuadorians to be for Easter Weekend. For our first couple of days I wasn’t sure what was everyday Baños and what was especially for the holiday weekend. There were fair like stalls everywhere as well as food stalls and even barbeques full of whole guinea pigs. Once all of the local tourists left there were still stalls selling water toys and souvenirs, I didn't see any more barbequed guinea pigs, and there were less people.

Baños is known for its thermal pools, taffy and cheap massages. I never mede it to the thermal pools but the others enjoyed them. I did however go on a four hour horse trek towards the local volcano. I was a tad worried when we started off with the guide following me and encouraging my horse, Brutus, to walk by whacking his rump with a plastic pipe. Brutus had his moments and would at times decide he'd had enough a refuse to move. When the whacking didn't work the guide was forced to get of his horse an lead us for a bit, while cursing (I'm guessing as I didn't understand what he said) and threatening Brutus with the pipe. It added an extra something else to the trek.

Easter Weekend

After Easter Weekend

Church to the left, classy stalls to the right.

Taffy pulling.

When you walk past they pull off bits and hand out samples.

I wasn't sure about the no glove thing.

Barbequed guinea pig anyone?

An impressive shelf in the supermarket

My horse trekking guide with his dirt drawing he used to explain what happen when the volcano erupted.

The volcano is behind those clouds.

The flying chair we used to get across the stream to the bar.

Refreshments in the middle of nowhere.

The bar's pool and slide from a tree house.

The Sangre de Drago (blood of the dragon) tree

The sap turns white when it's rubbed on skin.

It's used to heal wound and has many other medicinal purposes.

Looking down on Baños

Next stop = bus to Riobamba and over night there to catch the early morning train through the Andes.