I don´t know where I´m a gonna go when the volcano blows

I have arrived in Banos today after spending yesterday in Quito. My original plan was to go yesterday, but my body told me otherwise. I think after 4.5 weeks of going non-stop my body finally just crashed.

My first day in Quito I walked around and became acclimated to the city and somehow ended up going out with a bunch of kids on a Canadian abroad volunteer program. It was fun, but I had to wake up early the next morning for a tour to Cotopaxi, which included biking down the volcano. My ass already being sore from the ¨Death Ride¨in Bolivia I was a little worried about the bike ride. It ended up being great. We had a perfect view of Cotopaxi the whole day and the biking was fun. Cotopaxi is a massive snow capped volcano and views all around were excellent. I also met a couple of Israeli girls from Haifa who had just arrived in South America. It was interesting talking with them about the recent conflict. Of course they are concerned, and one of their friends was injured in the attacks on Haifa, although only minor injuries. It was interesting because one girl was so impressed I was travelling on my own, yet she had served in the army in the Gaza Strip, which seems much more scary and impressive to me. Cotopaxi was a fun time.

Yesterday I took it easy and did some walking around the old town in Quito. I like Quito; it is picturesque and colorful.

Today I took the bus ride from Quito to Banos. Public buses are always interesting in South America. When the bus started some drunk guy began talking to me (9 AM). I was thinking ¨Shit, this guy isn´t going to leave me alone the whole ride¨. I couldn´t understand most of what he was saying, but I think it was more because he wasn´t making any sense than my lack of Spanish. He did tell me he loved me, which was odd. Luckily he got off about 30 minutes later on the outskirts of Quito, and when he got off he patted my head and said ¨Gringo¨. We kept stopping to pick up passengers along the way and at every stop people jump on trying to sell you a range of items, from cds, to empanadas, to ice cream. The guy I sat next to for most of the way was Ecuadorian and we spoke some. He said I would find many ¨Gringos¨in Banos. With all the people going on and off the bus, I was the only ¨Gringo¨the entire time, which I quite liked. My bus to Banos stopped in Ambato, which meant me and the other person going to Banos had to rush to pick up another bus. I actually really enjoyed the journey, just people watching the entire time.

So far in Banos I have not seen the volcano, it is covered in clouds, though I have seen an army truck unloading supplies for refugees from other towns. Banos is tucked in the mountains and I am staying in a great place with a view of a waterfall from my window and hot springs not too far by. Hopefully tomorrow I will get to see some explosions!