Off for a bath!

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We stayed an extra night in Quilotoa and spent the evening (whilst being entertained with some .....interesting....local dancing) trying to find out when the bus to Latacunga came. The general answer was´maybe 3...or 4 ... or even 5, 5.30 or 6.00am! Well after that we had no idea how to get anywhere so decided to believe it would leave at 4.00am. This involved getting everyone out of their warm beds at 3.00am (no mean feat I assure you) and into the freezing cold (the fire had gone out by then). Matt went to wait on the road whilst Sophie and Lou huddled with a blanket outside the cabin and the rest of us went back to bed fully clothed. Matt had to stop every bus that passed to ask where it went, and then in a truly bizarre scenario, had to whistle to us whereupon we had to dash back inside, grab bags, get Bel out of bed as she had gone back and then run down the pot-holed road in the pitch black to get to the bus. Turned out there wasn't much point in the end as we were the only passengers and the driver was perfectly happy to wait. Still, got some early morning exercises in!

Gorgeous views from the bus of the sunrise although I think we were all agreed (those of us that were still awake!) that two sunrises in as many days was a bit too much!

Arrived at Latacunga bus terminal and managed to get on a bus that was leaving pretty much straight away for Ambato so no waiting around. At Ambato we changed for Banos and finally arrived around half ten. We followed the ever useful Lonely Planet to a hostal called 'Plantas y Blanco'. No idea why anyone would call their hostal Plants and White but no matter. Had to love the signs up everywhere that said 'We only speak Spanish, if you don't understand it is time to improve your Spanish!' Fair enough really. Being Semana Santa weekend the hostal was of course full so the owner took us down the road to his brand new hostal (he now owns three in Banos) which was still being built. Really nice though and, more importantly, had a constant supply of hot water so we could have our first hot showers of the week!

Went up to the rooftop terrace which overlooked the waterfalls and had an amazing breakfast of eggs, bread, fresh fruit juice and huge fruit salads. Breakfast had become my favourite meal here - it's always so relaxed and sociable.

Afterwards we headed back to our rooms to collapse and shower before heading out. We went to a tour operator so five of us could organise bike riding and me and Bel could book horse riding and then headed out for shopping and lunch.

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Comments

[jeannie]

OK so where's the photos for this place?
Now come on. We've waited all day checking the email and no photos yet!! (By the way loved the sunset and rainbow in Cuenca) Hope your Spanish was good enough in Banos? I liked the message. They must get too many foreign tourists. People in Europe should do the smae. That would get the British to finally have a go at speaking another language. Love the sound of a lazy breakfast. Wish me luck tomorrow. I'm back to my jungle. Those children will have grown in two weeks so I better start my vitamins or something.