Banos & Otavalo

Banos - we were warned that it's a national holiday. Of course, we didn't listen. So we got on the bus hoping that there would still be some available hostels... all the locations were booked online. We spent half an hour in the heat, carrying our backpacks, and were about to accept any overpriced offer just because we didn't feel like walking around anymore. Thanks to Beth's insistence, we made our way to the hostel that felt the furthest away and got lucky. Three beds in a dorm at a cheap price and breakfast included. Since it was already afternoon, we quickly dropped off our laundry, grabbed a snack, and took the bus to Casa del Arbol. The bus was completely overloaded, struggling and clattering up the hill. I could already see the headline in my mind: Brakes fail in Ecuadorian bus - 42 dead, including 2 Germans. Alright, I have a tendency to think negatively and exaggerate...!? Yep. Once we reached the top, we had to wait in line. The place was really crowded, and so were its attractions. Swinging over the mountain slope was a lot of fun! For about 40 seconds, then it was someone else's turn to swing... Since Ecuador gets dark at 6 pm, we didn't have jackets with us and we wanted to catch the last bus, so we headed back. Who would have thought: the bus could still fit more people! So, we had to endure the bumpy ride downhill, standing and squished like sardines. And with a (tourist) couple kissing right next to me, well within my comfort zone. Including groping. The nausea wasn't only caused by the winding bus ride.

For the next day, we had signed up for canyoning. So we started early in the morning. We were a mixed group and after everyone had been fitted into an appropriate wetsuit, we received a safety briefing with a trial run. Me beforehand: 'Yeah, so for me, it's already the third time I'm doing something like this...' Me during: I fell flat on my face. Hubris comes before a fall - literally. At least, afterwards everyone knew how not to do it. The abseiling itself was great! In a real jungle atmosphere with water that wasn't even that icy! Unfortunately, it was over way too quickly after the initial overcoming! In the afternoon, we kept it free for wellness and (on Lyndal's recommendation) steaming boxes. Through her stories, we already had an idea of what to expect, but we still couldn't stop laughing! You sit in a wooden box in your bikini, get a small towel to seal around your neck, and then the lid is closed. In the end, only your red face peeks out. From the inside, you can control the steam and heat supply yourself. After about 10 minutes, the very sturdy, strong woman who put us in there came back and asked if everything was okay. We said yes and she was gone. The poor Sini, but it was so funny that I couldn't really shout, I needed the air to laugh! So the employee came back, helped her out, and started slapping her with a cold towel and then pouring water on her. By then, I was about to pee in my wooden box - her face was priceless! Well... at least until it dawned on me that the same fate awaited me. Karma is a Bitch. What I still wonder to this day is how the woman who 'treated' us didn't burst out laughing!?! The whole thing was repeated three times until we had to sit down in a sort of sitz bath, also ice cold and then sprayed with a strong water jet. Ice cold. It doesn't sound like it, I know, but it was actually relaxing. Okay, the 60-minute massage afterwards wasn't bad either.

The next morning, we went to the thermal baths with the hot springs. One of the reasons why we came to Banos. Because of the many tourists, we went there at half past seven (the plan was to go earlier... spontaneous going out the night before got in the way) Well, what can I say about the thermal springs... they were nice and hot. But there were also kids jumping into the pool. 110-year-olds who could barely walk alone and who probably had incontinence. And there were also hair and insects in the water. And that despite the mandatory swim caps! I really tried to relax! That already says it all, doesn't it... I 'tried' to relax! We could take it with humor. It wasn't what we expected, but it was actually very funny and definitely worth an experience! Since we had booked our Amazon tour and had an extra day, we said goodbye to Beth afterwards and went back to Quito to visit the Otavalo Saturday market the next day. I always love markets, but Sini of course wanted to buy a few souvenirs as well. We left early because it was a 2-hour bus ride. The market is located in a small square, but on Saturdays, the surrounding streets are also closed and filled with market stalls, making it quite big. They had everything from cheap junk to handicrafts. It was really tough that only Sini could shop as she pleased and I couldn't... but then I would have to carry the stuff afterwards too... It really took a lot of discipline not to be a consumer victim! So I only managed to get two alpaca items that I could bring home to Sini. It's a small consolation that most people in the hostel had the same problem. Besides, they say you can get the same stuff much cheaper in Peru and especially in Bolivia! Mennooo - Better get back to Quito quickly.

At least it means: On to the Amazon!