Our most vivid memory of Banos, and even of Otavalo, is rain, drizzle, downpours, the lot... and all that because i mentioned to someone that we had been so lucky so far with lots of sunshine and perfect temperatures. serves me right.
anyhow, being a half brit, water did not stop me from dragging squealing senor Yardini out on several occasions, one of which consisted in a bike ride down the valley from Banos (which means toilets, which might explain the meterological pattern?) to Rio Verde, via a variety of water falls. All the more impressive because of the amount of water around, and all good until half the bank detached and plunged towards me and my puny little mountain bike. Senor Yardini yelled to turn back. I tried to get myself round but found myself stuck, going neither forwards nor backwards. Thankfully the mud and rocks stopped before crashing into me. I tell you, we cannot even ride bikes without something happening! (by the way, i don't think i told the world that even in Galapagos, on day one, our motorboat - used to get to land from the other big boat - got crushed by another vessel, all whilst we were having lunch.)
Another highlight was our walk from Lake San Pablo back to Otavalo which was lovely until it started to bounce down. We walked past lots of groups in traditional dress - gorgeous long black wraps over white skirs, lacy shirts that only the italians would approve of, strings of gold beads round their necks - men wore white short trousers and espadrilles, black felt hats and sometimes ponchos. My favorite was a dog that was also wearing gold beads! No pictures though, sorry.
Guess what? are now off for lunch. who knows what speciality we might get today!! (cheating here as we are now in the Mariscal area of Quito which is primarily where the foreigners congregate in an attempt to reduce the impression that they are going to get mugged, and which is also full of non-exotic restaurants (HURRAY!!!!)
The latest cheap hostal for budget traveller.
Nice catus tree everywere.