These ain't hot springs

I thought Banos was Spanish for toilet, so I was like 'hmm doesn't sound like a nice place, why would you call a place Toilet?' (ha, says me who spent a year living in Inaloo).  So it turns out I was a little mistaken and Banos means bathroom not toilet and is named such because of the hot springs in the area.

I didn't spend much time in Banos, went for a wander about the town and visited one of the hot springs.  I'm always disappointed when I go to hot springs.  I'm all excited, then I get there and it's like 'oh, it's a heated pool'.  I don't care where the water's come from, it's still just a heated pool.  I imagine hot springs to be hot water bubbling up amongst rocky pools, or steaming lakes interspersed between mountainous regions.  Not, sitting in a small concrete pool with 100 Ecudorians who can't swim and are kicking water in your face as they dog paddle past in their blow-up swim rings.

Banos 'hot springs'

Around Banos there are a lot of cool things to do; hiking, mountain biking, canyoning, etc.  But I didn't have time for this stuff.  I misjudged how far it was from Quito to Lima so am on a bit of a mission to get there.  Pity, I wanted to do the fun stuff in Banos, check out Rio Bamba and the Devil's Nose train ride, and spend a few days in Cuenca.  Who would have thunk it, six whole months and I keep running out of time :(

Ok, so I was lacking imagation today and have no title for this post.  So comment with your ideas for a title and the winner will receive a free beverage of their choice next time I see them.  Wow, I can't wait to see the ideas rolling in!