Banos and Beyond

After leaving Riobamba, we went to Guano.  There's lots of cacti.

The center of town.

The church

Continuing, we encountered a very small town, whose park was filled with topiaries.

 

 

 

Mick, Larry, and Nikolas

In Banos, we stayed at the  Samari Resort and Spa .  We've stayed there before and found it to be really great.  The price is negotiable.  This is outside reception.

Mick and Nikolas

The grounds

 

 

The restaurant is quite good.  A steak that is cooked on lava rock is offered.

Nikolas

A tranquil area amidst bamboo

 

 

There are several peacocks that live on the grounds.

 

 

 Views on the road to Puyo.

 

 

 

This was a sheer drop off, guard rail.

 

 

 

Do you think it may be a copy?

 

This was at a gas station in Puyo.  Apparently different things are stolen there.

The lamp posts are painted like bamboo.

 

In a previous post, I mentioned bowls at Abraspungo.  We attempted to  find similar bowls. Repeatedly, we asked.  Finally we were directed to an artisan that had a type of bowl, but not what we wanted.  They were supposedly a type of ceramic, but the weight was more that of paper mache.  I called the hotel and spoke with someone else who then told me that someone from Puyo had come to the hotel selling them.  Oh well, we came home "bowless".

 

We had no idea that the Mickster had ice cream shops here.

 

Across from Mickos, some guys were hard at work.

The entrance to Shell, the town that was the center of Shell Oil.

 

The peacocks again.

 

 

A trip to the region of Riobamba-Banos is a good area to visit.  There are many "touristy" things to see.  Our plan was to take the nightly chiva trip to view Tungurahua; however, weather did not permit.  There's always next time.  The places we stayed, we also recommend.

 

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy