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Probably the nicest town we have been to up to now!
We woke up on a Sunday morning and decided to have a lazy day the only thing we wanted to do was catch a glimpse of one of the most active volcanoes at the moment, Tungurahua which overlooked Banos.
We walked round Banos and it felt really eery, like a ghost town not many people on the streets and evacuation signs everywhere telling you which way to go WHEN the volcano erupts. Initially we thought it was a ghost town because the whole town had been evacuated the week before because of an eruption that covered Banos in ash, we didn’t find out till a couple of days in that Saturday was party night and it was a ghost town because everyone was hung-over.
We planned on spending 2-3 days in Banos but loved the place soo much we ended up staying 5 nights. The Hostel Chimenua where we stayed was lovely it had a rooftop kitchen and terrace that overlooked the Cabellero de la Virgen waterfall and was soo relaxing to hear while having a beer at night. But by far the best thing about this hostel was
the hot shower it was unbelievably good!
We didn’t really do much most days in Banos we would just walk around, chill out or catch a world cup game. Banos is the first place in Ecuador we felt 100% safe (apart from the active volcano that it)
Monday
We decided to try and find a waterfall Hollie had seen on the map. We thought we would go the scenic route crossing the main bridge in and out of Banos and following the river up to the waterfalls. After an hour of narrow paths, the path ended at the river with nowhere to pass because of the rapids. We tracked back 10 minutes and came to an Indiana Jones style bridge underneath the main bridge, what we did next was probably the stupidest thing we have done so far. We crossed it, underneath the bridge was a drop of about 70 foot into level 5 rapids and the bridge was wooden with a lot of floorboards missing, snapped or in half but we made it and were very proud of ourselves!!
It took about 50 minutes from the bridge to the zoo which was right
near the falls. We
decided to go in the reptile part "San Martin
Serpentario" it was only $1.50. There were alot of fish and birds and
even more snakes. It was sad to see the conditions some of the animals
were in and probably the first time I will ever feel sorry for a
spider but 5 tanks in a row had dead spiders in. We were quite glad at
the end of it that we hadn't paid to go in the main zoo wouldn't have
been nice seeing dead monkeys or bears.
We quickly exitted the reptile place and spent half an hour looking
for the falls which were never found. I decided I would rather get the
bus back to Banos which only cost a quarter each, bargain. We then
agreed we deserved a nice night after the mad couple of weeks, so we
bought stuff to make chilli (all fresh from the local outdoor Market)
and headed back to the hostel but spelt a pizzeria on the way back so
shared a pizza instead. We got back to the hostel got changed into our
swim gear and headed to De La Virgen hot springs (the best hot springs
in Banos).
It was $3 in and the first hot spring we got in was 48oC it was that
hot it hurt, we then moved upstairs where we did a continuous cycle of
jumping in the freezing cold water then into the 35oC pool it is meant
to be good for your circulation.
We finished at the springs went back to the hostel and played cards
and dominoes with a couple of beers.
Tuesday
We decided while in Banos do what Banos people do so this was either
absailing down waterfalls or White water rafting. The scariest and
therefore best of the 2 seemed like White water rafting so we signed up.
We were at the office of Geotours for 9am and soon on our way with
rafts on the roof. The week before 2 people had came off the road in a
buggy and fell 120ft into the river so our instructors had been
helping in the search for the bodies we dropped 1 of our instructors
off quite far up the river where it was high level in terms of rafting
in a canoe and he met us when we stopped further down.
We kitted on
our wetsuits and helmets and were given a 10 minute
safety briefing. To start the instructors asked if we would like to
jump off a 50ft bridge into the rapids and obviously I was up there in
a flash but to my surprise Hollie was right behind me. I jumped off
first out of our boat and my stomach went but I thoroughly enjoyed it
so I climbed up for seconds, where Hollie was still stood! I knew if
she hadn't done it by now she wouldn't do it so I jumped off again, as
I was getting out of the water I heard a splash Hollie had jumped I
couldn't believe it!
We headed down the river hitting every available rapid and I was the
first out of the boat, at first I was petrified but calmed down when I
remembered what to do so I laid flat with my paddle between my legs
and waited for the instructors to pass me his paddle, then got wedgied
into the boat! I felt alive blood was pumping through me like the
downhill biking this was another thing I definitely had to do again!
We were rafting for a good
2 and a half hours and definitely worth the
$30 we paid especially seen as though we got lunch on the way back. It
was only soup, then steak with potatoes, rice and veg but was pretty
good.
We got back to Banos chilled for abit, checked emails, sports news
etc. Then went upstairs to the terrace where we had tea (james'
marvellous chilli and rice) talked to an English couple (tickers and
jo) about travelling over a couple of beers. We then headed to bed as
the England game started at 9am.
Wednesday
Early start for the England game which we finally showed some form in
and won 1-0. Although as usual we done ourselves any favours as USA
topped the group which meant England were now in the hard side of the
draw.
Wednesday was another chill out day watched both games over a few
beers had the rest of our chilli then went for a walk and planned the
next week and what/where we would be going.
Hollies mam had emailed us a nice restaurant to eat in Banos so about
8pm we went there. It was called Posa de l'arte and you could
tell
straight away it had a western feel to it, nicely decorated, most
waitresses speaking English and a couple of American families dining.
I had tacos and Hollie had burritos but we stared, it was lovely good
pick Gill (Hollies mam). After dinner we went back to the hostel to
see if Tuckers and Jo fancied a couple of bars, but they had got an
early night.
Me and Hollie hit a couple of bars downing the odd Caiprinha and shot
of Jagermeister. Then at 12 all the police came in the bar, it was
curfew time luckily some Americans we had met at the hot springs knew
an after party so we headed there, the beer was only 50 cent more so I
wasn't complaining but after a couple of games of pool and getting
sick of listening to Americans we headed back to the hostel.
Thursday
We woke up hungover, packed, settled the bill which was considerably
cheaper than we thought only $ 75 for both of us for 5 nights and
headed to the bus station for our bus to Riobamba.
Goodbye Banos you will be missed
Muchos love
Brown
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