One step back

This photo really epitomizes a greater part our trip, and the kinds of things which we saw and experienced. It's not an exaggeration to say that we saw a lot of waterfalls, and I mean......a lot! By this point, we had seen so many that I remember almost thinking to myself that I had seen enough waterfalls to fill a lifetime. Even still, you can't deny the beauty and grandeur in this photo, and it was just as spectacular to be there in person.

Since we're still in Ecuador on the blogging of our trip, I am going to take the time to post a few photo's that got missed in previous posts......so I hope you like them.


This photo of Michelle and a beautiful Quechua girl
was taken above the Quilatoa Crater during our time there in the Ecuadorian Highlands. The Quechua culture is rich in its language and traditional dress. Each area will typically have certain colors and/or patterns of fabric which the women share collectively. An area might be the size of a typical County in California for example. Once outside of that area, you would see different

Baños.........

February in Baños. Decadent.

We took a lovely hike alongside a canyon on a trail called "La Contrabandista." The main trail was one of many in a network of trails and caves in which the old-time bootleggers and moonshiners would move their wares and hide them when necessary. Today only small portions of the trail see much use from "los gringos" and we didn't see a soul.

At the end of the hike we found ourselves once again at the waterfall called "El Manto de la Novia" or Bridal Veil Falls (see 1-1-10 post). Near the top of the falls in the small community of Chinchin we met a family who was building a hotel with pristine views of the creek and, of course, we played with some puppies. We also relaxed in the courtyard of a lovely family who cooks up treats for the scattered people who ride the cable car over to the top of the falls.

It was a beautiful day and it was nice to reacquaint ourselves with some of the small communities around Baños.