The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world. They form a continuous 4,300 mile long, highland along the western edge of South America with an average height of about 13,000 feet. Pictured above is Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest mountain at 20,548 feet, whose peak is farther from the Earth’s center than any other location on the Earth’s surface, due to the equatorial bulge resulting from the Earth’s rotation. Pictured below is Tungurahua (“Throat of Fire”), an active volcano which most recently erupted in 2016.

We drove past both of these mountains on our way first to Riobamba, where we stopped to visit the only structure to survive the 1797 earthquake which leveled the entire city. It was transported stone by stone to the city’s new location some 20km to the north.

Baños de Agua Santa (Spanish for Baths of Holy Water) often simply called Baños, is named after the hot springs located around the city which have a reputation of having healing properties due to their content of various minerals. It was our next stop and destination for the evening. After a tour of the beautiful Basílica de la Virgen del Rosario de Agua Santa and the bizarre museum (featuring a shrunken head from the Amazon, pickled snakes in jars, badly stuffed Ecuadorian wildlife, and a myriad of religious artifacts)  located on its second floor we got down to the business of celebrating Maya’s 18th birthday.  First she was treated to a lengthy massage (her first ever) and then to the thermal baths of Piscinas El Salado. I have never seen her so relaxed or so radiant.