We head to the bus depot after our breakfast at our hotel. It is a few blocks and we are all loaded with our bags. We are aiming for the 9am bus to Banos. Just as we arrive there is a bus leaving in 3 minutes. Bonus. We are off at 8:30 for a 3 hour ride. This bus like the bus we road into Tena in has a loud cheesy movie, I think it is Jack and the Bean Stock. 🙂
We arrive but are not quite sure where our accommodation is. Greg flags down a cab. It is $2 to take us there. Excellent.
Not long after we arrive at Monte Carmelo our home for the next 3 nights. Greg booked this place and we knew 1 room had a balcony and would cost more. We would be happy with either. Our hostess did the checkin procedure, we paid, (both the same amount), she shows Greg and Leslie to a ground floor room and us up some stairs to the room with the balcony. This room is huge!!! Greg and Leslie have “a room”, we have the penthouse!
As Monte Carmela is just a but out of the town center, we wander into town to see what’s what and to have some lunch. There is a cafe named “Blah Blah Cafe” that has been recommended, or we just liked the name. We find it but……… it is obviously not open for lunch today.
Just around the corner we find this little Mexican restaurant. They only have a few tables, but the menu looks appetizing and as we walk in a woman sitting at another table tells us that it takes a while for the food, but it is really good. It turns out she is originally from Utah and has been living in Ecuador for a few years now. Last year she built a home here. She feels her Spanish skills were much improved during that experience.
We have a great lunch.
Wandering about town Stu takes a few more photos.
