Day 8 in Ecuador - I Needed This!

An optional activity is just what I need today!  The Papallacta Hot Springs is located two hours from Quito.  We leave the hustle and bustle and traffic of city life for the pristine natural beauty of the Andean highlands.  I write as we travel while admiring the mountains and scenery.  We are all hoping to see the elusive spectacle bear.

  

Juan talks about the oil industry which has resulted in 1,500 oil spills in the past ten years.  The largest one was about seven years ago where you could smell the petroleum on the water.  It took a year of “cleaning” to mitigate this disaster, and the president of Peru threatened to sue Ecuador for irresponsibility.  


Many of the indigenous people use the water straight from the rivers for their drinking water.  Juan said governmental agencies spoke to people in his community about boiling the water or using bleach to kill harmful organisms.  Juan’s mother held up a glass of water and said, “ I don’t see anything in this!” and has continued to use the water straight from the river.


There are lots of eucalyptus trees in Ecuador which were imported about ten years ago and have spread rapidly.


We pass the power plant which was built with a loan from China.  However, only 70% was working properly when new and much less now.  Millions of dollars ended up in governmental pockets.


We arrive and prepare for our scheduled treatments; I’ve booked a deep tissue massage.  Marta has either the strongest hands I’ve ever encountered, or she is taking her aggression out on my unsuspecting body.  She asks me, “How is the pressure?”, and I always reply,“Wonderful!”  


It was, but I was about to start Stage 1 of Lamaze breathing!  Ahee….Ahoooo!


Termas de Papallacta is a thermal hot springs with multiple pools at different temperatures of heat.  I melt into the first pool and sit with bubbling jets at my back.  The second pool is much hotter, and I enjoy relaxing under a cascading waterfall.

  
  

I alternate between the pools gazing at the mountains not wishing to finish and head for lunch.  Trout finished with chocolate cake lures me into the restaurant for another delicious meal.

  


We all leave the spa in much better condition than we arrived except I am sunburned.  Most of my time outside, I was submerged in the pools.  I didn’t want to use sunscreen to contaminate the water, but the 15-20 minutes I relaxed in a lounge chair resulted in my chest, upper back, and arms being a bright red.  I will definitely be remembering today for a while!


A final dinner in Quito since we fly to the Galápagos Islands in the morning.  Juan takes us to a small local family owned exquisite restaurant with an extensive menu of Ecuadorian food.  I treat Juan to dinner, and we both have green plantain stew with seafood and cassava chips.  This is after I have a Mango Rico, whatever that is, but it had rum in it and mango, and was tasty!

  

I was very tempted and almost ordered the “guy” or Guinea pig.  A whole, half, or quarter is offered, and one of my fellow travelers decided to try a quarter.  I had to take a picture! 


I’ve never seen an Ecuadorian restaurant in the states, and the food throughout our trip has been delicious!  I told both the cooks at the Yarina Lodge and the chef at the sun museum they should write cookbooks.  I would buy them both!


Tomorrow is a long awaited Bucket List day!  I cannot wait!






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