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We arrived in Banos greeted by weather we hoped we had left behind in the UK. Highs of 15 degrees and rain, ooh nostalgia. But you don't go to Banos for good weather, it's all about the activities.
The journey there from Guayaquil was also pretty interesting with our drivers skills more at place on a rally track. Overtaking lorries blindly on hillside corners did little to calm our nerves.
Safely in Banos, we checked into Hostel D'Matteus near to the bus station. Taking our chances with the weather we decided on our first day to head to the casa del arbol or tree house, which has the famous swing on the end of the world. We were pre-warned that it's a bit naff and we got there just as a rainstorm started, perfect timing. It was definitely worth a visit, but because of the bad weather we went back later on in the week to try and get the famous photo.
An activity which we wanted to tick off was zip lining. After a few drinks the previous night and feeling a little sorry for ourselves we headed off hoping to blow away the cobwebs. I was feeling a little nervous with my fear of heights, only to be reassured by an American family with an 8 year old adrenaline junky. Time to step up and be a man. One of the highlights was going upside down on the zip wire in a sort of yoga pose. Okay so I didn't do it, I'm really not that flexible, but Alice did, which made for a funny video with a distant cry of oh my god half way across. The main draw was the 500m long wire across a valley in full superman pose. It started fine only for a deep valley to appear and with the gopro, I let out some expletives followed by a girly cheer. 100% real man.
We also did canyoning, which consisted of abseiling down waterfalls. Slightly different to Europe and jumping off cliffs. An American family on vacation from Utah were also in our group who were a lot of fun and even offered for us to stay with them on our American road trip. Hardy a hard offer to refuse and looking forward to sampling some of real America .
To finish off the day we took a trip higher up in the mountains to a supposed bigger swing which actually did swing over the mountain, unlike the casa del arbol. We headed with Kristina, an American girl from from the hostel. We got there and I took one look and thought no thanks. The girls did it somehow, which consisted of being harnessed in and led out to a trapdoor like step which collapsed and flung you out over the mountains edge.
A trip to Banos or bathroom in English (Baños de agua santa for its full name) wouldn't have been complete without a trip to the thermal springs. Heated by volcanic water, it was an interesting visit. We went on a Friday night to be joined by half of Ecuador. With our coloured swimming caps on (a required piece) we jumped into the 40 degree water and got a bit closer to ecuadorian culture with everyone squeezed in. Who needs personal space.
The most high octane activity in Banos we saved for last, the Bungee swing. I say we. I didn't even bother going. Alice however went with some people we had met earlier in the week. And.....didn't do it. I mean it involves jumping off a 120m high bridge over a river, so fair enough. And with that it's off to Cotopaxi for similar weather and a bit of hiking. Roll on the Caribbean coast.
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