Tungurahua...Ecuador`s Most Active Volcano

This past week the seismic activity at Tungurahua were at low levels. A few sporadic long-period earthquakes were related to small emissions from the volcano. There are tours every night that take you to a good vantage point to view the fiery displays. There is no guarantee that there will be an eruption or that if there is you will be able to see it. At this time of year there are generally clouds hovering above the crater witch makes viewing the emissions impossible. The tour is only $4.00 and if the clouds clear you can get beautiful pictures.

Travel Guide for Baños

Earlier this year the owners of Luna Runtun published their annual edition of the Baños Travel Guide. This 68 page booklet with 69 full color pictures of the volcanos, waterfalls, jungle, and the people, who have lived here forever, in this pristine verdant paradise. This guide is available in most of the tourist areas around town for $2.50. This is the best piece available on the area and if you are interested in having one, before you make the trip or would just like to see what paradise looks like, I will send one to you for $5.00 Certified Snail Mail. This price is valid to any country in the Americas. The mail from here takes two to three weeks but is very reliable. Just click on the "Buy Now" button and I will get it out to you.

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Enjoy Baños Slowly

I have found, in the three months that I have been here, that there are more things to do than most visitors ever consider, and a week may not be long enough see them all.

For example, you can take a taxi and race through the “Avenue of the Waterfalls” in two hours for $18, or take a bicycle and do it in a day. You can take an ATV and see it all in half a day, or you can pack a lunch and walk and visit one or two a day. You have options, but to really experience, and appreciate the beauty of this area, that changes constantly as the clouds pass overhead, takes time. You would never believe that there were so many shades of green.

Baños is not just a place for the river runner or backpacker looking for thrills and adventure, it is also a place for artists and photographers, nature lovers of all types and, an ideal place to seclude oneself to write a book.

I started out one Saturday morning and walked to the dam, it was mostly down hill and I knew that whenever I wanted to go back I could catch the urban bus for $0.21 cents and be back in town in 15 minutes. On the way I took a side trip to see three of the waterfalls that are a thirty-minute walk from the hiway. On the way, six horses and one 4-wheeler passed me. One girl on a bicycle turned around halfway up. The trail was a little to steep to ride so instead of pushing the bike she turned around. On the way back to the hiway I met a farmer going to town and he told me that of all the modes of transportation the tourist use to see these places the car is the worst.

Today in Baños

Rain last night and early this morning. Beautiful sunny day from 10 to 3. Rain and sun at the same time at 4 in the afternoon. That is the weather pattern here in Baños. It is never boring. What do the locals do when it rains? They do exactly the same things as when it doesn’t. One Friday afternoon a few weeks ago, there was a parade...all of the schools participated and it was quite good. There were dancing young people in all sorts of uniforms and some groups in Indian traditional dress doing folkloric dances. It rained off and on all day, but they never missed a beat, and as far as I could see no ones spirit was dapened..

This is the rainy season...from June through August I have been told. It is not a heavy rain. Sometimes just a drizzle. Never the gully washers that that I have experienced in desert areas. Coming from a place that rains twice a year it is taking a little getting used to. I still have not bought an umbrella...I dont know why. Maybe I am cheap....cost is $2.50 to $3.00 on the street. Or maybe I believe it will stop in a minute or two and then what am I going to do with an umbrella. I know I am not organized enough to take it with me each time I leave the house, especially if the sun is shining.

The tourist also seems to take it in stride. They may linger a little longer over breakfast but they all seem to enjoy whatever they are doing without complaining about something they can do nothing about.

When is the last time you just sat and watched the clouds. In Mexico, where I lived before I moved here, there were few clouds and fewer cloudy days. Here in Baños I have yet to see a day with out a constant parade drifting from the east to the northwest. Today I sat for an hour watching the ever changing shapes. Like silent slow motion explosions. You turn away for a minute and the whole scene changes. This could be a whole new activity...cloud watching.

I am still, after almost three months here, amazed at how green and beautiful it is. You can stand in the middle of the city, and any direction you look you see the greenest mountains you could ever imagine.

Mosquitoes are not a problem here, at least during May, June and July. I will let you know if there is a problem in other months.

During the past week, the volcanic and seismic activity at Tungurahua continued at moderate levels, including small explosions that resulted in light ash fall on many communities but nothing here in Baños. According to reports there were about 100 long-period earthquakes per day. Incandescence in the crater was observed at night on several occasions.

That is it for now.

More info from Baños

After two and a half months here in Baños, I am becoming the local gringo viejo who can be found most anywhere. I have met several Lonely Planet “posters” who have wandered in and out of town. I had the pleasure of meeting Latitude 26 when she was here in June. A lovely lady, and I hope she comes back soon.

My project with the big house has come to standstill. There are six owners of the property and the owners in Mexico and the United States can not agree with the owners here in Ecuador. I was in the middle. A very uncomfortable place to be. On the 3rd of July I stepped back a few meters and let them battle it out. I am still here and am finding it very hard to accept the idea of living. The area is a paradise and I am finding that a family could live very well here for $500.00 per month. At the present time I have moved into the Hostel Carolina, with a large room and a terrace overlooking the city with a kitchen available if needed. Also has private bath, hot water, flush toilet and cable TV. All of this for $75.00 per month.

I also found a restaurant next door that offers a very broad menu and Internet access. If you go there for breakfast you get 15 minutes of Internet free. For any other meal you can use the Internet at no cost while waiting for your meal to be served. The name is T. J.´s on 16 de Deciembre.

I am sorry that I have had to pass up some good discussions on this branch because I do not have direct Internet access. I hope to get settled into somewhere soon where I can have my on line and be a participant again.

Roberto.