It is a beautiful warm spring morning here in Baños de Agua Santa. The city is getting ready for the big birthday party that starts on the 9th of December, when at 5 AM there will be an “Albazo” in the streets of Baños. There will be music moving along all the streets announcing the beginning of the fiesta. For the next eight days there will be fireworks off the San Francisco Bridge, coronation of the queen, all sorts of contests, dancing in the parks, great music and a whole lot more....so I am told. It all culminates on the night of the 16th with the “Notche de Luces” and a dance at the Palamino Florez Parrk,.in front of the city hall. I can’t think of a better time to visit Baños.
Friday, November 26, 2004
Thursday, November 18, 2004
It`s Hard To Teach An Old Dog New Tricks...
Photo by J. Walker
Although there are plubic facilities at different places around the city, there are still a few who can´t be bothered...and just take a "whiz" when ever nature calls. The local paper and a few property owners are trying to get those few to change their custom. This sign on a wall says it all. "The posts and walls are not urinals...so show your curlture."
Thursday, November 11, 2004
New Spa in Baños.
The New Life Natural Therapies Center, (Cemtro de Therapies Naturales Vida Nueva), opened last weekend on Oriente Street, just two and a half blocks from the basilica. The services include: steam boxes, as well as individual compartments for couples or families, three massage rooms, hot tub, mud baths, and a juice bar.
The steam bath is a multistage process, and cost $5.00 for the 45 minute session. Let`s tag along and watch the procedure.
Ready for the first session in the Steam Box. The complete process will consist of five, five to seven minute sessions in the box. After each stint you are sprayed, immersed and pumelled with cold water.
After five to seven minutes, the attendant, who is with you during the complete process, opens the box and sprays your complete body with cold water. After this awakening, the doors are closed and you and confined for the second session.
After the second period you are let from the box for a shocking sit in a cold water bath, while the attendant pours cold water over the part of the body that is not submerged. After two or three minutes you return to the box.
During the times in the box you are also given a liquid called "Boldo" which is full of minerals that replace those eliminated through the pores.
Following the third stint in the box you are led to the cold pool were you are again doused with cold water and remain there for one or two minutes. Then back to the box.
After the forth and final session in the box your body is subjected to a steady stream of cold water. From the top of your head to the soles of your feet.
After a relaxing steam box experience, it is time for a refreshing tonic at the juice bar.
If you want to continue you can complete the experience with a 45 minute, full body massage, ($10.00), or pamper yourself with a facial. There are many more services offered...You will have to visit to find out more.
The center is open from 7AM to 7PM Sunday thru Thursday. 7AM until 3PM on Friday. Closed on Saturday.
The steam bath is a multistage process, and cost $5.00 for the 45 minute session. Let`s tag along and watch the procedure.
Ready for the first session in the Steam Box. The complete process will consist of five, five to seven minute sessions in the box. After each stint you are sprayed, immersed and pumelled with cold water.
After five to seven minutes, the attendant, who is with you during the complete process, opens the box and sprays your complete body with cold water. After this awakening, the doors are closed and you and confined for the second session.
After the second period you are let from the box for a shocking sit in a cold water bath, while the attendant pours cold water over the part of the body that is not submerged. After two or three minutes you return to the box.
During the times in the box you are also given a liquid called "Boldo" which is full of minerals that replace those eliminated through the pores.
Following the third stint in the box you are led to the cold pool were you are again doused with cold water and remain there for one or two minutes. Then back to the box.
After the forth and final session in the box your body is subjected to a steady stream of cold water. From the top of your head to the soles of your feet.
After a relaxing steam box experience, it is time for a refreshing tonic at the juice bar.
If you want to continue you can complete the experience with a 45 minute, full body massage, ($10.00), or pamper yourself with a facial. There are many more services offered...You will have to visit to find out more.
The center is open from 7AM to 7PM Sunday thru Thursday. 7AM until 3PM on Friday. Closed on Saturday.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
New and Different Fruits....at least for me.
There is an abundance of fruits and vegetables in this area of Ecuador. Many common to most parts of the world but there are more than a few that are native to this part of the world. I will be updating this section with pictures as they are made available to me. Unlike many parts of the world where poor land management and over production has depleted the vitamin and mineral content of many vegetables, as far as I know now, the fruits and vegetables grown here are packed with both.
The Tree Tomato
The tree tomato, or tomate de arbol as it is known here in Ecuador is believed to be native to Peru, Chile and Ecuador. It is an egg shaped fruit (two to three inches long,) that is available all year in the local markets throughout the country. It has many vitamins and minerals and contains 1.5 percent protein. It is also high in vitamin c but most of that is lost when it is cooked. So it is best to eat raw. The pealing is not tasty so I found by cutting in half and scooping out the contents with a spoon, the easiest way to enjoy this tasty fruit. They are also great in a blended fruit drink. Cost $0.05-$0.10 each. If you want to know more about this exotic fruit click here. Everything from its history, how to grow, along with recipes and nutritional values.
The Tree Tomato
The tree tomato, or tomate de arbol as it is known here in Ecuador is believed to be native to Peru, Chile and Ecuador. It is an egg shaped fruit (two to three inches long,) that is available all year in the local markets throughout the country. It has many vitamins and minerals and contains 1.5 percent protein. It is also high in vitamin c but most of that is lost when it is cooked. So it is best to eat raw. The pealing is not tasty so I found by cutting in half and scooping out the contents with a spoon, the easiest way to enjoy this tasty fruit. They are also great in a blended fruit drink. Cost $0.05-$0.10 each. If you want to know more about this exotic fruit click here. Everything from its history, how to grow, along with recipes and nutritional values.
Monday, November 08, 2004
What´s new, or what was new in Baños.
It is hard to believe I have been here for more than six mounts. Time really flies when you are having fun.
After a month long fiesta followed by a five day weekend in honor of those who have departed, Baños is now back to its normal tranquil lifestyle. We also had an election on October 17 for mayor and other national positions. That date was also the anniversary of the evacuation in 1999. One of the nine candidates for mayor, was the mayor who gave the order to evacuate. He was trying to become mayor once more, but the townspeople have a long memory. He lost by a landslide. (This is a long story which you will learn about at a later date.)
The plants got watered late last night and I was soaking in the mineral baths at dawn. As I relaxed there in the hot pea-soup-green waters. Although there are three pools, cold, warm and hot, I prefer the hot. As I let my mind wander, sometimes thinking profoundly or maybe not at all, I am always amazed when I watch fellow bathers go from the hot pool and duck under the ice-cold water that is diverted directly from the waterfall. Everyone tells me this is good for you, but I cannot force myself to do the same. It makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it.
Watching the moon disappear into the brightening sky, I could not help but feel that I was lucky to be living in such a paradise. It is spring here, the days are warm, but the breeze in the afternoons is always cool, as it comes down from the mountains. Another interesting fact is that I have not received one mosquito bite since I have been here...I have seen a few but they are never a pest....maybe it is because of the amount of garlic that I take. Who knows.
After six months, I can speak with some degree of authority about the city. I have found that the business people here are less greedy then any place I have ever been. Most of the businesses are owned and operated by families who were born and raised in Baños. It makes for a healthy business climate even though the amount of money they take in each day small. The profits all stay in the community. The only noticeable exception is the Santa Maria Super Market. When it opened it took out more then a few small local merchants. Baños is a small town that survives on tourism but they do not try to hustle them. If you walk on the streets you will not be harassed by owners or employees to enter their shop. If you want to go in, that is up to you. You sometimes get the feeling that they don’t care if you do or not.
There are no Costco’s or Wal-Marts. No golf courses. No fancy restaurants. No high-rise resorts, nor will there likely be in the future. The closest thing to luxury is the Luna Runtun Spa up on the mountain. It has a beautiful view of Baños and a breathtaking view of the volcano, when the clouds permit. You don´t need a car...even if you need to go to the big city. People do not expect tips for doing their jobs.
I did find that a few of the hotels raised their rates during this past week because of the holidays. The place was full and it was their chance to make a few extra bucks. I learned that this is the normal practice. I have only had one experience where I was charged more because I was a gringo. I got a haircut a few days ago and the barber charged me double. He was a friendly guy and we talked a lot. I paid the fare, but what he doesn’t know is that I will not be back.
I have been accepted here by all of the people that I have gotten to know and so far have not made any enemies with those that I don’t. I do try to accept the little things that I would rather see changed but it will be many years before I would feel comfortable in trying to effect change. There is a small American community here that I learned recently, hang out at one restaurant. I had been to that restaurant once and now I know why I did not feel comfortable. In my opinion when we go to another country we need to become part of the community and be assimilated by it, not set up our own little colony.
I am in negotiation once more with the Ecuadorian owners of the property, that brought me here six months ago.
I have offered to lease the property with an option to buy in five years or less. I have the support of the those owners who live in Mexico and those in the United States, but it is hard to read those in Ambato and Quito. My latest idea is to turn the property into a cultural center. I have the support of a few locals, and have been posting some of my thoughts on some senior web sites, and have a host of potential volunteers to help get it started. The three bedroom house in the rear will be used for lodging the volunteers. I should have an answer in a week.
If this works, it just may be a place for some of you, to come and spend the winter. A little work, and a little play, makes for a long life.
Here in Baños the church is probably the biggest business. It draws hundreds every weekend form Ambato and Quito. Approximately three months ago a new prior arrived to replace the old. Remember the old saw...”A new broom sweeps clean”....well its true. The inside has been cleaned and painted and even the garden looks fresh. He even tried to get rid of the eight metal stands where venders sell religious trinkets as well as toys to the tourists. However this space belongs to the city and the metal cubicles have been there for 10 years or more, and as long as they pay their rent which is almost nothing they can stay. They really take away from the beauty of the Basilica and I can see why the church wants them to move. They are also competition to the store inside the church. The only way to move them, in my opinion, would be to buy them out. A friend of mine said they could not move them because they were poor. My comment was that I did not believe they were poor. The rent is low and it you watched their sales for a few hours you could deduce that they were probably doing pretty well.
Well that is my Baños up-date. I hope you find it of interest.
After a month long fiesta followed by a five day weekend in honor of those who have departed, Baños is now back to its normal tranquil lifestyle. We also had an election on October 17 for mayor and other national positions. That date was also the anniversary of the evacuation in 1999. One of the nine candidates for mayor, was the mayor who gave the order to evacuate. He was trying to become mayor once more, but the townspeople have a long memory. He lost by a landslide. (This is a long story which you will learn about at a later date.)
The plants got watered late last night and I was soaking in the mineral baths at dawn. As I relaxed there in the hot pea-soup-green waters. Although there are three pools, cold, warm and hot, I prefer the hot. As I let my mind wander, sometimes thinking profoundly or maybe not at all, I am always amazed when I watch fellow bathers go from the hot pool and duck under the ice-cold water that is diverted directly from the waterfall. Everyone tells me this is good for you, but I cannot force myself to do the same. It makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it.
Watching the moon disappear into the brightening sky, I could not help but feel that I was lucky to be living in such a paradise. It is spring here, the days are warm, but the breeze in the afternoons is always cool, as it comes down from the mountains. Another interesting fact is that I have not received one mosquito bite since I have been here...I have seen a few but they are never a pest....maybe it is because of the amount of garlic that I take. Who knows.
After six months, I can speak with some degree of authority about the city. I have found that the business people here are less greedy then any place I have ever been. Most of the businesses are owned and operated by families who were born and raised in Baños. It makes for a healthy business climate even though the amount of money they take in each day small. The profits all stay in the community. The only noticeable exception is the Santa Maria Super Market. When it opened it took out more then a few small local merchants. Baños is a small town that survives on tourism but they do not try to hustle them. If you walk on the streets you will not be harassed by owners or employees to enter their shop. If you want to go in, that is up to you. You sometimes get the feeling that they don’t care if you do or not.
There are no Costco’s or Wal-Marts. No golf courses. No fancy restaurants. No high-rise resorts, nor will there likely be in the future. The closest thing to luxury is the Luna Runtun Spa up on the mountain. It has a beautiful view of Baños and a breathtaking view of the volcano, when the clouds permit. You don´t need a car...even if you need to go to the big city. People do not expect tips for doing their jobs.
I did find that a few of the hotels raised their rates during this past week because of the holidays. The place was full and it was their chance to make a few extra bucks. I learned that this is the normal practice. I have only had one experience where I was charged more because I was a gringo. I got a haircut a few days ago and the barber charged me double. He was a friendly guy and we talked a lot. I paid the fare, but what he doesn’t know is that I will not be back.
I have been accepted here by all of the people that I have gotten to know and so far have not made any enemies with those that I don’t. I do try to accept the little things that I would rather see changed but it will be many years before I would feel comfortable in trying to effect change. There is a small American community here that I learned recently, hang out at one restaurant. I had been to that restaurant once and now I know why I did not feel comfortable. In my opinion when we go to another country we need to become part of the community and be assimilated by it, not set up our own little colony.
I am in negotiation once more with the Ecuadorian owners of the property, that brought me here six months ago.
I have offered to lease the property with an option to buy in five years or less. I have the support of the those owners who live in Mexico and those in the United States, but it is hard to read those in Ambato and Quito. My latest idea is to turn the property into a cultural center. I have the support of a few locals, and have been posting some of my thoughts on some senior web sites, and have a host of potential volunteers to help get it started. The three bedroom house in the rear will be used for lodging the volunteers. I should have an answer in a week.
If this works, it just may be a place for some of you, to come and spend the winter. A little work, and a little play, makes for a long life.
Here in Baños the church is probably the biggest business. It draws hundreds every weekend form Ambato and Quito. Approximately three months ago a new prior arrived to replace the old. Remember the old saw...”A new broom sweeps clean”....well its true. The inside has been cleaned and painted and even the garden looks fresh. He even tried to get rid of the eight metal stands where venders sell religious trinkets as well as toys to the tourists. However this space belongs to the city and the metal cubicles have been there for 10 years or more, and as long as they pay their rent which is almost nothing they can stay. They really take away from the beauty of the Basilica and I can see why the church wants them to move. They are also competition to the store inside the church. The only way to move them, in my opinion, would be to buy them out. A friend of mine said they could not move them because they were poor. My comment was that I did not believe they were poor. The rent is low and it you watched their sales for a few hours you could deduce that they were probably doing pretty well.
Well that is my Baños up-date. I hope you find it of interest.
Monday, November 01, 2004
One Fiesta Ends and Another Begins.
The month long celebration of the Virgin of the Holy Waters ended yesterday with a parade to the stadium where the priests gave mass. One of the larger statues dressed in all of her finery traveled by a hand-pulled trailer behind a 20 piece band and followed by the towns people carrying flowers. After the mass she was paraded back to the Basilica and entered under a shower of rose pedals, where she will remain until the next holy event. Why not plan to be in Baños next October and join in the festivities.
Today is the 1st of November and the start of a three day holiday in honor of the dead. Wednesday is the independence day of Cuenca, which is a holiday in that city, and since it follows the two day holiday for the Day of the Dead, the President declared the holiday for the whole country. Therefore this provided a five day weekend to most Ecuadorians. Needless to say Baños is bursting at the seams. Most people come without reservations and walk the streets looking for a room. There were no rooms for many, and many of the hostels raised their rates a few dollars to take advantage of the unexpected windfall.
Today is the 1st of November and the start of a three day holiday in honor of the dead. Wednesday is the independence day of Cuenca, which is a holiday in that city, and since it follows the two day holiday for the Day of the Dead, the President declared the holiday for the whole country. Therefore this provided a five day weekend to most Ecuadorians. Needless to say Baños is bursting at the seams. Most people come without reservations and walk the streets looking for a room. There were no rooms for many, and many of the hostels raised their rates a few dollars to take advantage of the unexpected windfall.
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