Off to Banos!

Out of the jungle and back into the mountains, starting with the Tena bus station. I meet some Americans and Germans who were staying at LimonCocha who are taking the same bus.

The terrain allong the way became interesting after Shell (yes the oil Co.) as we start to ascend to Banos. This is the bike route you can take from Banos to Puyo, so I am watching closely.

 Very windy roads

 Big hydro dam

 Amazing how they cultivate on near-vertical slopes

The bus drops you and just start walking into town. I happen to run right into my Hostal, Erupción. Here is the view from my room out onto the main square.

Time for a city orienting walk with map in hand and an eye for lunch...

 The central market has great cheap local style food - $2.50

 Many streets are nicely adorned and the place is very tourist oriented, with tour companies on every block and every turn...

 This is the cascade above the Thermal Spa (Banos de Agua Santa)

 Colorful hotels

And the ugliest dog I have ever seen. Hairless and looks like a horse.

I run into Patrick, who was on the bus with me, at the brew pub and we agree to attempt the bike rental route of the cascades if the weather looks favorable. It has been raining here for a good part of the days of the last week.