Day
1: Guayaquil
Day 2 - 4: Puerto Rico
La
Barquita
Isla de la Plata
Day 5: Middle of the Word
Day 6 - 11: Ibarra - Festival
Paz Y Cultura Para el Mundo
TV Day
The
Charm of Cotacachi People
Day 12: Quito
Day 13 - 16: Baños adventure
Jungle at its purest!
Hike to waterfalls
Dance
all night
Go jump off the bridge
06-28-2009 - Baños - Hike to
waterfalls
The murmur of falling
water flowed in through our hotel windows from the waterfall tumbling down
the hill outside, welcoming us to a wonderful new morning in Baños. It
was Sunday morning and bells ringing from the church in the center of town
invited all to come and celebrate mass. Mass was in Spanish, and while we
couldn't understand most what was said and sang in the olden church, we
could admire the architecture and detail of an age long past. After mass
we traversed the streets of the town and did a little shopping.Our
adventure began at one o’clock. The bus with no windows or doors (more
like a pickup with benches and a roof), drove us into the hills where
views of magical waterfalls and breathtaking scenery appeared before our
eyes. We stopped along the road for pictures and watched as cable cars
crossed over the valley on a metal rope. We kept driving until we got to a
bridge. There we watched as a few daredevils gathered their bravery and,
held by a rope, jumped off the bridge. Our tour guide Jose went to jump
off himself to show us how fun it is. Some of us wanted to go, but the
parents of course forbid it. As for being young and determined, the next
day of plans would expose what our desires would guide us to do…
Driving along the roads in the hills we stopped one of the cable cars. The
cable cars took us in small groups, quickly sweeping us on a fast trip
across the valley. The scenery below was so incredible that it was hard to
grasp with the bare eye. Everything was passing by so fast. We could look
down at the waterfall from every angle as the cable car rode to one side
and started off back again. Cold mist sprayed into our faces and camera
lenses as we tried to take pictures. Too soon we were on solid ground once
again.
Driving to lunch we had an unexpected incident, our bus broke down. Yet
with the energy and optimism of our group we danced the time away. Finally
a new bus came and in the trunk was a Border Collie wagging its tail and
barking to go to lunch. Our lunch spot was a quite exotic restaurant with
a garden that had growing bananas and a variety of other plants. In the
trees we met some talking parrots that said “hola” and “bonita” to
us.
After lunch we rode to the best attraction of the entire trip - the
biggest waterfall.
We had to hike downhill on a rocky footpath which weaved through beautiful
cloudy forests until we reached a suspended bridge. From the bridge you
could view the waterfall or for $1 pass through El Otro Lado restaurant
and walk on their private path until you reached the surprise on the other
end. Many of us entered. As we went further up the winding path, the trail
became tighter. Soon we were on our knees trying to get through the
cave-like passageway. Yet when we came out of the dark tunnels the view
was breathtaking. It was like in a movie. A strong, huge torrent of water
plummeted down the mountain at great speed right in front of our eyes. It
was called El Pailón del Diablo (the Devil's Cauldron) and our proximity
to the waterfall was such that we felt its thunderous descent and its mist
soaked us almost to the skin. The last few meters of the trail went up a
flight of steps that went right under the wall of water, where you could
stand and see the fall from behind. It was wet enough there to take a
shower.
After singing, dancing, and taking a lot of goofy pictures in the (near)
rain, we reluctantly had to march our soggy feet back. But first, we
walked a little farther down the cobblestone steps to a place where you
yelled down into the water to get a spray of mist in return. Soon after we
headed back and as we walked we took in our last sense of jungle and
forest Amazonian feel. Riding back in the “open” bus we felt the
breeze on our still wet bodies and watched the sun shade its tones of
colors while lowering itself behind the hills of Baños.
Aleksandra and Matthew Podowski
next
Dance All Night
