Baños - 27-30 Mar 2014

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Thursday 27^th March (Odyssey Day 139)







Leaving the Galapagos Islands was simple enough to do in theory, though we were all reluctant to end our little holiday. We had had such a great time and now it would be back to the real world. Okay, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration, the fact we are still travelling and will soon be back in Peru is certainly enough incentive to return to Quito without complaint.







As we could not check in for our flight until 1130, we relaxed in the terminal to wait. I read a book for a while and when we eventually checked our luggage in, I took the opportunity to browse through the souvenir shops at the airport. Certainly the most expensive place we have visited so far, but also some of the most beautiful pieces. We all managed a bite to eat in the food court there and finally boarded our flight. The flight was a good one and we arrived in good time. There is a one hour time difference and so after changing our watches, we split into taxis and headed back to the hotel in the city for only $25, arriving at 1800.







We all met in the hotel lobby at 2000 to go out for dinner at the Magic Bean, a nearby hostel/restaurant. The food was good, I tried the pork here and it was excellent. Not quite up to the standard of the food aboard the ‘Darwin’, but still good none the less.







After dinner, a few of us headed out to a bar for a few drinks and some shisha. The cocktails here were cheap, and the night was long. By the time we all headed back to the hotel, I’m surprised any of us were still walking upright, let alone all of us. It was a good night though and a chance to let loose for a bit.











Friday 28^th March (Odyssey Day 140)







After our oh-so-sensible night last night, Hannah and I both elected to skip the sightseeing for the day. No idea how the rest got on, but apparently two of the guys who took a bus out to see the museum at the Equator had their wallets stolen. Of course, one of them was Mike… who had also had his stolen way back in Lima in February. On that note, Wayne wasn’t a happy camper either, as he had had his really good camera stolen on a bus while returning from sightseeing around the Quito area while the rest of us were at the Galapagos. So all in all, Quito will not be remembered as anyone’s favourite city after that.







This was also where we said goodbye to Eamon, who was departing from the group here to head back home, having decided he had been away from Ireland for far too long.











Saturday 29^th March (Odyssey Day 141)







Our departure this morning was at 0930, and we were a little bit late leaving. We said our last goodbyes to Eamon and headed off toward the town of Baños. We made it to the campsite just out of town in good time. We are staying at Pequeño Paraiso Hostel and Camping where the owners, Marc and Sue, used to run overlanding tours and were full of information for us. The local volcano is still active, so we stayed just out of town – just to be on the safe side.







Joanna had departed Quito a few days ago to do a cycle tour between Quito and Baños, and would meet us here tomorrow afternoon. The rest of the girls decided to sleep in the dorm that was available while here, so we wouldn’t have to set up our tents on the wet grass. It seems like we haven’t actually camped in quite a while. Mike decided to join us as he deemed it far too much work to camp on his 50^th birthday.







The owners put on a barbeque dinner for us which was delicious and saved us having to cook ourselves. And we brought out a cake for Mike, of course. Amusingly, his friends had sent him a gift (when they send him a replacement bank card after Lima, of which he now needs another) – an inflatable zimmer frame, which everyone found rather amusing.











Sunday 30^th March (Odyssey Day 142)







There are a few things to do around Baños, and most of the group decided to walk down to the waterfalls or the trout farm. However Simon, Mike, Steve, Toby, Kelly, and I spent the morning canyoning from 0900. After spending ages getting outfitted for the trip, we jumped on the back of a ute with our two guides and headed off. It was a great way to spend a few hours and we all had an amazing time.







After jumping, climbing, sliding, abseiling, and zip-lining down waterfalls along the river that wound through the canyon, we finished around 1230 or thereabouts and all of us were disappointed that it was over. Even Mike’s zimmer frame got to come…







After a rather active morning, the afternoon was spent relaxing at the camp. Joanna joined us, having had a great time on her 4-day trip and we swapped stories about our week apart.

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Photos

Quito
Johnny falls asleep in the taxi, and Ellie laughs

Quito
AJ and Hannah drink far too many cocktails

Quito
The group enjoys a night out - AJ, Emma, Simon, Hannah, Johnny & Andrew

Travel Day
Scenic lunch stop

Travel Day
First view of the volcano towering over Baños

Baños
The waterfalls

Baños Campsite
After stalking this rather large dragonfly for ages, I still couldn't manage to get a proper picture

Baños
The canyoning group - Guide, Kelly, Simon, Mike with his zimmer frame, Steve, AJ, Toby & Guide

Baños
The first waterfall - Kelly, Steve, AJ, Simon, Mike & Toby

Baños
AJ abseiling down a waterfall

Baños
Some spots are deeper than others - Simon, Mike, Toby, Steve & AJ

Baños
A much taller waterfall - Mike, Toby, Simon, Steve, AJ & Kelly

Baños
Clambering over the rocks - Simon, Mike, Toby, Steve & AJ

Baños
Its deeper than it looked - AJ & Steve