November 30: Banos

(1) A man makes Melcocha in the doorway. This is a common sight in Banos, as the toffee-like goo is sold in shops all over town. Quite frankly, it tastes horrible. After wandering arond town, hitting up the supermarket and finding other ways to waste time, the group decided to hire some horses and a guide for the day.

(2) Helen, Dutch Liesbeth, and Francesca doing whatever it is girls do before they go horseback riding. Notice how calm Francesca looks - it didn't last very long. Once we began our little excursion, it became painfully clear that this girl did not enjoy being on a saddle.

(3) Upon one of our less than sure footed horses, (French Canadian) Alexander rides in the direction of Volcan Tunurahua. The horses were far from healthy, and we felt bad even patronizing the tour company. However, our day-long ride was a great way to see the beauty of Banos and the surrounding area. An amusing moment, for me anyway, was watching Francesca's horse plow right into some guy's car, taking out his side-view mirror like it was a twig. I did feel bad for the man, but to see Francesca's face was priceless - she was already scared stiff from the horses.

(4) High in the mountains, by the Buena Vista Cafe, we dismounted our steeds for a much needed break. At one point, a man yelled, "Volcan! Volcan! Volcan!" At that moment, the clouds parted just long enough for us to get a good glimpse of Volcan Tunurahua belching ash into the sky. In this photo, far below our model UN, you can get a nice view of Banos. Nations represented, from left to right: Germany, England, Netherlands, Germany, United States, and Canada. Later that evening, after soaking in the hot, mirky thermal baths at Piscinas de la Virgen, we treated our guide to some drinking out on the town. I also had the opportunity to try a shot of Chicha, a sweet Ecuadorian fermented corn spirit that was served in the Sierra style (canelazo) - with sugar and cinnamon.

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