From Quito I headed south and then east to the town of Baños, in the mountains where the tourists lurk. Despite my mild rant below picture #4, it’s actually a nice little place. I spent my birthday there, dontchaknow.
Nice wall art on the way out of somewhere. Ambato? I think Ambato.
Colourful buses on the edge of somewhere. Baños? I think Baños.
One of the many squares in Baños.
Let’s play tourist town bingo! Centre with random assortment of eastern-ish healing techniques? Check. Indian restaurant with a name something like Shanti Shanti? Check. Israeli place which serves falafel way worse than my great aunt’s? Check. Juice stand which sells oreo milkshakes for 4 times the price of dinner at a local restaurant? Check. Completely interchangeable collection of gift shops which could be anywhere in the fucking world? Check.
Bigger square in Baños.
A bit of spiritual guidance.
Narrow street.
Waterfall behind town.
Weather turning sour.
Misty.
But a sunny day hitching out.
And that’s all you’re getting.
Total distance hitchhiked: 62,909 km.
Total number of rides: 450.