This past weekend, to get a change of scenery, I visited Baños. This touristy town is about three hours south from Tena. We took a bus for $5 (would recommend over Greyhound, they played movies and everything) and got in Thursday night. I was with three other interns, and we all stayed in a room at this hostel in town. Arriving in Baños and being tourists for the weekend was weird- I immediately started feeling a push and pull of my American tendencies and my new desires and thoughts in Ecuador. I felt immediate comfort hearing other Americans' accents in the hostel, and was so excited to feel the cold air outside versus the more humid and warm Tena climate. But with each of these thoughts, I also started feeling waves of guilt. I was thinking about my host family a lot, and was wondering what they were up to while I was using all of these amenities. While I am here to travel and experience all different parts of Ecuador, I also want to immerse myself with my family. I've found this balance to be difficult so far, as there are so many things I want to see and do in such a short time, but I also love being with my host family. Nevertheless, the weekend was really enjoyable and beautiful. Baños is one of my favorite places that I've ever visited. We couldn't see it when we arrived at night, but the next morning, we looked out from our hostel's wide windows to see the entire city surrounded by mountains. The view was incredible, and it felt oddly calming to be hugged by the tall, green scenery. The first day, we went to Casa del Arbol, which took an hour to get to by bus. For $1, we inched up the mountain to the park of swings for what felt like forever- shifting gears uphill on a bus with 40 people all holding their breath was slightly unnerving. But the tense trip up was worth it. The views from the top of the mountain were so beautiful, and riding on one of their swings felt like you were flying into the mountains. I didn't think my stomach would flip as much as it did! After spending a short time at the park, we decided to walk back down the hill for about an hour to take a stop at this upscale spa/hotel, called Luna Volcán. For $20, we were given robes and towels, and access to the pools overlooking the city of Baños. The experience was relaxing, sipping drinks with the other interns and watching the clouds glide through the tips of the mountains. We did all look at each other at one point and admit that it all felt a little unsettling, though. The vibe of the hotel was very upper class tourist. After living in an indigenous community, this spa felt different to me than it would have a month ago. Though, I did still appreciate my first hot shower in a couple of weeks. The next day, we ate breakfast in Mercado Central, where tons of individual booths sell essentially the same meals at the same price. This is a very common practice here, that seems almost un-American to me- place the competition right on top of each other. But they don't seem to mind, and the food was delicious. I also bought little things at the outdoor market next door. Something I didn't prepare for was the amount of money I was going to be spending while traveling. While still cheaper than traveling in the States, prices were hiked up for eating and shopping in Baños, because of the high number of visiting foreigners. The next day, we visited Pailon del Diablo, which has a large waterfall that you can hike up to see, and even stand under it if you want to get soaked! It also only cost few a dollars to enter, and had great markets near the front where you could buy local jewelry or bags. Leaving at the end of the weekend was difficult. I don't think I am particularly good at transitions between environments. Leaving the odd comfort of other foreigners, combined with excitement to see my host family, made me feel a little bit of guilt. I know my thoughts were valid and made sense, but part of me wished I could more easily adapt to hopping around this country. The weekend flew by, and I spent too much money, but the trip was definitely worth it. I think I'll stay in my community and travel a little less for the next few weeks, though- it may be easier on my body and mind. Plus, I missed my host siblings and parents (and parrot!) too much!
1 Comment
Mariam
2/20/2019 01:25:38 pm
You, more than anyone I know, know how to keep balance! I know you're going to learn from every experience you have and do what's right for you :)
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AuthorI'm a 21 year old university student, studying geography and food security, and spending a semester in Ecuador interning with Amazon Learning. ArchivesCategories |