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Another day in Baños

It was good to get a bit of time to myself. Writing some cards to y’all at the Mexican restaurant. Actually, I traded 2 Starroot cards for Ecuador cards ‘cause I didn’t have any more cash on me and wanted to keep writing. Bartering is alive and well here. I watched “Like Water For Chocolate” at the Casa Hood. good movie, reminds me a little bit of the 100 Years of Solitude way of life in a film… I guess Marquez was onto something when he started to write in his style that captured all the folk beliefs. LWFC captured the superstitious/surreal/traditional life very well. Yay, Casa Hood.

One more night in the Little Room that was too expensive. Chill breakfast on Tuesday AM (pancake covered with fresh fruit and yoghurt, i came back for more from the previous day) and I’m off to the Hostal Princesa Maria to see if I can find a room. As I go to ask the hostess lady is there, explaining a hike that I was thinking of doing to these two German guys, Falk and Marius. I show interest. Talk to them for a second, go back to grab my stuff from the old room and we’re off into the hills :)

Before I even pull out my camera we talk photography and Marius asks me what kind of camera I’m carrying, might it be a Nikon. Sure enough. He just bought his new Nikon digital camera right before leaving on his trip but didn’t bring along the software to upload to the computers. I didn’t bring the cable but I did have the forethought to pull the new Nikon software and burn it onto a Cd to bring along before leaving home. Sweet. A match.

We talk photography for a good while, I’m learning and relearning how to talk about photography in German, grr, and here I’m supposed to be learning Spanis. So it goes, at least I’m learning something.

Three hours and 4 snack stands later we came to the top of the hill south of Baños and had some Humitas con Cafe for lunch at the next snack stand. Down down down, having a great time, killing out 26 and 27 year olds’ knees by running down the path and goofing off and shooting movies of our jumps on the digital cameras. Along the way when we passed houses along the path we could see all the kids scramble along the path as fast as they could to get out and see us, I even has a pen for the kid who asked for a pen. Cool Deal.

Into the valley down down down, some photos with the burro and we end up catching a ride back into Baños with a pickup truck full of locals.

The mentality is interesting. How we Gringos are perceived. I was asked how much my camera cost, how much flights cost. They asked Falk if he owns his own airplane. From having $800 for a flight to having your own airplace. I guess, once you get past a certain threshold it doesn’t matter. For some of us it’s wow, win the lottery, a million dollars. I can do ANYTHING. For the local campesinos it’s wow, you have $1000, you can do ANYTHING. No Limits. We’re all lottery winners in their eyes. Interesting. Interesting. In a way I envy their lifestyle, what they do and don’t know, the simplicity. Am I corrupting it by walking past their house and telling them about a bigger world?

This AM we met at 5am to head the the Hot Springs, the joint was even crowded at 5am. Not as bad as Carneval time. Breakfast and a 4 hour nap ensued.

Maybe tomorrow we’ll rent some bikes and do the ride down the river to Puyo, there are lots of waterfalls along the way. I hope the weather holds.

$2 an hour internet keeping my mind from rambling without end. All is well. Great new place to stay. More quality people. I’m hungry. Peace.

Posted by volker at February 25, 2004 12:57 PM