August 11, 2006 – Running with the Bulls, Or Not?
The day starts out overcast in the city of Mom’s birth, Ambato. We have breakfast at the Hotel Ambato, similar to other hotel breakfasts we’ve had, though this one also includes a couple slices of bacon. One of the main things Mom wants to see in Ambato is La Casa de Montalvo, the home of famed Ecuadorian writer Juan Montalvo. Unfortunately it is closed today due to Independence Day that was yesterday, but apparently results in some places being closed today also. We’ll have to try to catch it tomorrow.
A view of Ambato from the hotel
So our main planned event today is the running of the bulls/bullfights in Pillaro, which Walter was told start shortly after noon. So we spend some time driving around Ambato and Mom and John buy a couple of travel bags at a shop in Ambato to use in travel back to the States next week. We also stop by the local market for fruits, flowers, etc.
The Ambato market
We then head up to Pillaro late in the morning. We arrive in town and apart from a soccer match taking place in the local stadium, there doesn’t seem to be much going on. Walter asks one of the locals and it turns out the bull-related activities were cancelled this year, as the two mayors of Pillaro (yes, two mayors) are feuding, with one wanting to hold the running of the bulls/bullfights and the other not wanting to, so they didn’t end up being held. So far we’re just not doing well in keeping our itinerary! We stop by a small café where we have a few snacks. We discuss what to do, as we still have the majority of the day ahead of us. We decide to visit Banos, a town a bit to the south and west at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano. Banos is actually not that far from Shell Mera, where we’ll be heading next week, but We take the road from Pillaro to Banos, which turns out to be more of the Incan cobblestone roads that are interesting from a historical sense, but not real fun to ride over. We stop at the Rio Patate and take a few pictures. We’re actually not that far from where we had our previous driving adventures going to Hacienda Leito. We’re certainly glad when we get back on the main Banos – Ambato road. The main roads in Ecuador between the bigger cities are actually really quite good (at least the ones we’ve seen so far), though they do have speed bumps every once in awhile, particularly in towns, and they are big speed bumps that could do something nasty to your undercarriage if you weren’t paying attention.
John on the bridge across the Rio Patate
We arrive in Banos and Walter drives us to the Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Agua Santa, a well-known Catholic church in Banos. The central feature is a virgin who is reputed to have been involved in many miracles locally. We take a tour of the church. It has a number of rooms where a wide variety of items are contained that are donations from people who ascribe healings, etc. to the virgin. Mom said earlier on the trip that Walter wants to convert us to Catholicism, and it does seem that way a bit. At one point we’re in an area with many candles that have been lit for various purposes according to Catholic tradition and also a water outlet that is reputed to have healing properties. Walter goes and gets a couple of candles and lights one to help Mom with her bad knee and other ailments and another one for John and I for I guess whatever ails us. Then he take a little bit of water from the outlet and flicks a bit on each of us, I guess to go along with the candle lighting. Walter’s a devout Catholic, so we go along with it for courtesy’s sake and all even though it isn’t according to our beliefs.
Banos
The courtyard at the Basilica at Banos
The Basilica in Banos
Mom and John in Banos
Banos is a nice, if a bit touristy town, located on the Rio Pastaza, which eventually flows into the Amazon River to the east. After the church tour, we drive across one of the bridges on the river and take some pictures as well as watch a small tram car that runs people across the river. It’s so small it’s like you’re in a small box being hauled across the river hundreds of feet in the air.
The Rio Pastaza looking east
The Rio Pastaza
We’re all a bit tired by now and I’m feeling just a tad under the weather, so we’re all glad to head back to Ambato now. We rest for a bit and then have dinner at the restaurant in Hotel Ambato. Time to get some rest and get ready to head back to Quito tomorrow.
A view of Ambato from the hotel
So our main planned event today is the running of the bulls/bullfights in Pillaro, which Walter was told start shortly after noon. So we spend some time driving around Ambato and Mom and John buy a couple of travel bags at a shop in Ambato to use in travel back to the States next week. We also stop by the local market for fruits, flowers, etc.
The Ambato market
We then head up to Pillaro late in the morning. We arrive in town and apart from a soccer match taking place in the local stadium, there doesn’t seem to be much going on. Walter asks one of the locals and it turns out the bull-related activities were cancelled this year, as the two mayors of Pillaro (yes, two mayors) are feuding, with one wanting to hold the running of the bulls/bullfights and the other not wanting to, so they didn’t end up being held. So far we’re just not doing well in keeping our itinerary! We stop by a small café where we have a few snacks. We discuss what to do, as we still have the majority of the day ahead of us. We decide to visit Banos, a town a bit to the south and west at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano. Banos is actually not that far from Shell Mera, where we’ll be heading next week, but We take the road from Pillaro to Banos, which turns out to be more of the Incan cobblestone roads that are interesting from a historical sense, but not real fun to ride over. We stop at the Rio Patate and take a few pictures. We’re actually not that far from where we had our previous driving adventures going to Hacienda Leito. We’re certainly glad when we get back on the main Banos – Ambato road. The main roads in Ecuador between the bigger cities are actually really quite good (at least the ones we’ve seen so far), though they do have speed bumps every once in awhile, particularly in towns, and they are big speed bumps that could do something nasty to your undercarriage if you weren’t paying attention.
John on the bridge across the Rio Patate
We arrive in Banos and Walter drives us to the Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Agua Santa, a well-known Catholic church in Banos. The central feature is a virgin who is reputed to have been involved in many miracles locally. We take a tour of the church. It has a number of rooms where a wide variety of items are contained that are donations from people who ascribe healings, etc. to the virgin. Mom said earlier on the trip that Walter wants to convert us to Catholicism, and it does seem that way a bit. At one point we’re in an area with many candles that have been lit for various purposes according to Catholic tradition and also a water outlet that is reputed to have healing properties. Walter goes and gets a couple of candles and lights one to help Mom with her bad knee and other ailments and another one for John and I for I guess whatever ails us. Then he take a little bit of water from the outlet and flicks a bit on each of us, I guess to go along with the candle lighting. Walter’s a devout Catholic, so we go along with it for courtesy’s sake and all even though it isn’t according to our beliefs.
Banos
The courtyard at the Basilica at Banos
The Basilica in Banos
Mom and John in Banos
Banos is a nice, if a bit touristy town, located on the Rio Pastaza, which eventually flows into the Amazon River to the east. After the church tour, we drive across one of the bridges on the river and take some pictures as well as watch a small tram car that runs people across the river. It’s so small it’s like you’re in a small box being hauled across the river hundreds of feet in the air.
The Rio Pastaza looking east
The Rio Pastaza
We’re all a bit tired by now and I’m feeling just a tad under the weather, so we’re all glad to head back to Ambato now. We rest for a bit and then have dinner at the restaurant in Hotel Ambato. Time to get some rest and get ready to head back to Quito tomorrow.
posted by Bob at 7:55 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home