Overnight Trip to Baῇos.

I’m back.

On  Friday, Sept. 27th, we decided to drive about 3 hours from Quito to a resort town called Baῇos located high on the mountains. We planned to stay there one night. Once more, the drive itself was spectacular and thrilling. The roads are brand new and provides one with a nice smooth ride. Florida highways have nothing on these roads, except that in Florida they are 3 or 4 lanes. Here we’re talking one lane in each direction.

We continuously  went up and down mountains, a few thousand feet each time. Never a dull moment, never get tired of just looking at the scenery. It’s like being in a picture post card, you just happen to be driving in it. Beautiful high, rolling, lush green tapestry mountains to the left and right. Majestic snow capped mountains right in front of you. It’s like what one sees in Colorado or Montana or Nevada or Switzerland except the mountain tops are not jagged but round.

We arrived in Baῆos a bit late, drove through the town which was bustling with shops and people, then we went to our resort spa called Samari.

It is beautiful, private, first class resort, in the style of a stone chateau or chalet mostly one story in high. Everywhere, you see antique decorations and beautiful works of art, even in the outdoor hallways, beautiful art. 

The compound is surrounded by trees, lush green gardens, beautifully kept grounds and even peacocks. It was paradise.

The next morning, Saturday, Willie, Nelly and Billie went for their beauty treatments of baths, massages, facials, saunas, oils and so on. They looked and felt like a million bucks. I decided to stay in my room and rest. About 2 pm, we drove back to Quito. We were all exhausted. Sunday, they went to old, Colonial Quito to visit seven churches. Again, I stayed home to rest.

Monday morning we are saying goodbye to Quito and fly to Cuenca.

The city of Cuenca is always in the top 5 cities to retire, in the world, often taking the number one spot. Roughly 25,000 Americans have moved there. Next report will be from Cuenca. It is the region where I spent the first six years of my life.