Bonito Banos

Wet and Happy

Ready for the synchronized part of the program

I'm from Canada and gonna make all da rules!

Ahhhhh, today we finally go to the waterfalls, finally! Taxi! This way we won't miss it! Kinda funny as there was no signage for the falls, so it wasn't just our lack of trying! Nice little hike down into the gorge through a very lush wet area with rock and concrete steps leading to a suspension bridge. The crossing led to the lookout area with a great view of the casada Del Diablo waterfalls! Worthy trip, bueno! Had our taxi driver waiting so next stop, one of the local hot springs. The Banos El Salado is reputed to be the finest in the area! After putting on our bathing suits and mandatory rental bathing caps we relaxed and enjoyed the hang time in the various pools. Some luke warm to super caliente then a plunge into a few choices cold and colder! Again, we are sooo white here! We have seen many people from South America traveling but hard to tell if they are Ecuadorian or other parts of Latin America! All speaking Spanish. And us getting by with our menu style spanish and charades!
Went out for dinner with Cody and Lindsay as we are heading in different directions in the morning! Them to the jungle and us back to the city to make reports on the now infamous "dune buggy incident"! After dinner a walk about in Banos, such a sweet little spot in the Andes. In one of the parks there were many locals and kids playing basketball. Steve joined in and played for a good hour while I sat, watched, and had fun with kids and dogs. They picked teams and made Steve and one of the taller boys captains with first and second pick. Just like the old school days, glad I wasn't playing as I would have been picked last. LOL! One short and robust lady was quite the sharp shooter while others also had some skills too. The fun finally ended after 11:00 with the locals asking Steve if he could come out tomorrow night.
Cody bought us a stuffed monkey we've named Roberto and he will be joining us for some future adventures starting with a bus trip back to Quito to take care of some old Banos business! We scooped the front seats and really enjoyed the driver's view! Climbing away from Banos you see rivers, ravines, mountains, and plantations! Plenty of rice fields, fat cows, and goats. Yummy!  Easy to recognize the indigenous folks with their unique style and features! We eventually see snowy Cotopaxi Volcano partially exposing her top side through the surrounding clouds. Back in Quito and back to the Hotel Inca Imperial!