View of the Baslica and the main plaza from my terrace. 

The building at the right is the Hostal Carolina. My room is at the top and opens onto the terrace. A great view and value at $75.00 per month. 

Weather Report

It has now been four months since I first arrived in Baños and I think now that I am beginning to know and feel the city. The last three days have been unforgettable and I think that the rainy season is making its departure, little by little. Saturday dawned without a cloud in the sky. You can’t imagine the beauty of the green mountains and the blue sky you see at any direction of the compass. I went to the bridge on Bascun Creek to sit and look at Tungurahua. As I neared the creek I got my first view of the snow capped peak of the volcano and was amazed at how low was the level of the snow. The clouds came and went as usual. One minute the peak was clear and the next I could see nothing but clouds. They pass quickly however, and the scene was replayed many times. There has not been much activity for the last two or three weeks and I am sure that is why the snow level is so low.

In the afternoon the clouds again covered the city. In the early hours on Sunday it was raining again. Just a gentle rain that continued on and off until afternoon, when again the clouds cleared. It was the same on Monday and as the clouds cleared in the afternoon, I walked the city. Although it rains a lot there is never any water in the streets- The water is drained through underground pipes and create waterfalls that drop into the Pastaza River on the north side of the city.

In the evening I walked out on my terrace where I have a 270 degree view of the city. From the mountains to the north, across the Pastaza to the almost vertical verdant cliffs on the south is not more than a mile and a half in distance and from the pass on the East to the pass on the West is no more than two. The sun had just set over the western mountains but the sky was cloudless and bright. Each direction I turned I could see the green mountains in the twilight- I wished for a camera but I knew that no picture would be able to capture the beauty nor the emotions of the moment. To the east was the waterfall “Manta de la Virgen” and the lighted cross at Bellevista high above. Below and to the north was the Basilica in front of the main plaza with jewel like lights. The half moon directly overhead, and the lights, like giant stars,on the side of the mountain across the Pastaza, added to the magical scene..

This beautiful city, sitting on this ledge at the foot of the giant Tungurahua Volcano takes time to know and more time to feel a part of.

Robeto

Chicken to go.

Another favorite food is rosted chicken. There are many of these types of restaurans here and a typical meal of soup, chicken, rice, vegetable and a drink would be $1.50. 

The clock tower of the City Hall.  

In front of the City Hall is the Palomino Flores Park. Always clean and a great place to sit in the sun and read, doze or just relax. 

This picture of the main plaza was taken just in front of the Basilica. In the background you can see another view of the waterfall. 

The stretching process takes quite a while and many will offer a free sample as you watch the process. 

One of the local industries here is "melcolcha", taffey. You will see in streached in the doorways of dozens of shops. It is packaged and sold as you see here.  

Basilica of Baños of the Holy Waters. In the center of town with the main plaza directly in front. There is a museum on the second floor. Tha admission is $0.50.  

Waterfall of the Virgin. At the bottom of these falls are the hot water pools of the Holy Water. To the left at the bottom of the picture is the Sangay Hotel which is across the street form the pools. 

Visa Requirements for Ecuador.

TOURIST VISAS

There are no visa requirements for citizens of most countries to visit Ecuador. When you first enter the country as a tourist tell the immigration officer how long you would like to stay...up to 90 days. If you would like to stay longer, (up to 180 days in any calendar year), you must go to the Jefatura Provincial de Migracion, in one of the following locations that is most convenient. In Quito, Isla Seymour 44-174 and Rio Coca. Telephone 224-47510. In Guayaquil, Av. Rio Daule by the bus terminal. Telephone 229-7004. In Cuenca, Luis Cordero 662, between Presidente Cordova and Juan Jarmillo. Telephone 831020.

RESIDENT/IMMIGRANT VISAS
Foreign nationals may apply to settle in Ecuador and obtain resident status. Resident visas are approved by the Immigration Board in Ecuador. The documentation process takes at least 4 to 8 weeks.
There are a number of different resident visa categories, including:

10­I Retired persons who receive pensions from their native countries (pension from a stable source, at least USD 8,000 per year).

10­II Real estate and securities investors who are willing to invest in Ecuador the equivalent of at least 350 minimum monthly general salaries (S.M.V.G.), plus 100 SMVG per dependant, or amount specified by Consular Officer (in the U.S. at least USD 15,000).

10­III Investors in industry who wish to export agricultural products, livestock, or minerals, provided they bring capital the equivalent of at least 600 minimum monthly general salaries to Ecuador, or amount specified by Consular Officer (in the U.S. at least USD 25,000).

10­IV Companies with foreign local agents who possess unlimited power of attorney to represent the company in Ecuador, provided that 80% of the company's local personnel are Ecuadorian.

10­IV Technicians or technical experts under contract with a company established in Ecuador.

10­V Professionals with university degrees recognized by a national university, who wish to practice their profession in Ecuador. Should the applicant's profession not exist in Ecuador, the degree must be locally certified. The applicant must also fulfill the requirements for such practice (e.g. bar).

10­VI Individuals economically dependent on spouses or on a blood­related family member (family).

Look to your books for the light of tomorrow.

Life here in Baños is still wonderful. We had an earthquake the other night that woke most everyone. No damage and it only lasted for a few seconds. I thought it was Tungurahua acting up but as far as I have been able to tell that was not the case. Just an earthquake nothing more. One of the natives here explained to me that it was just anouncing the change in weather. Now that is pretty scientific. The last two days have been beautiful with the rain coming mostly at night and the early morning.

After three months here the things that I miss most are my books. I had to leave most of them behind in Mexico because of the weight. That reminded me of all of the yard sales in the USA where you could buy books of all descriptions for as little as $025, I got a little homesick. There are no bookstores here, however several of the restaurants that cater to the visitors have used books for trade or rent. The Restaurant Good allows you to read while you dine. It is a great way to get you to come back until you finish the book. I have found on several occasions I have got two-thirds through a book and then rented it for $1.75 so that I could take it out and finish it.

There is a very small public library here that I visited two days ago. I had passed it many times and finally stopped in. I found to my surprise that they did have a few books in English and if I left my identification I could take one home. The number of books that they have in all languages is small however, so I decided to do a little anonymous volunteer work. If any of you out there believe, as I do, that books are the key to knowledge, and would like to donate a book, in any language, send it to: Municipio de Baños de Agua Santa Biblioteca, Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua, Ecuador.
Baños Library. The librarian has been here for 16 years.