My favorite place: Baños, Ecuador

I've been to a lot of wonderful places in my life, but the one that takes the cake is a small town in Ecuador called Baños de Agua Santo ("Baths of Holy Water" in English), commonly known as just Baños. Baños is a popular getaway destination, known for its beauty, its proximity to the Tungurahau volcano, and its offerings of extreme sports.

One of my favorite spots in the town was La Casa del Arbol, a swing on the peak of a mountain. In English, it's called "the swing at the end of the world" because it truly looks like you are flying over the edge of the Earth. (Please note: I am not a flat-earther.) The hike to the swing was well worth the beautiful view.

(Image information: Personal photo of someone on La Casa del Arbol, or "the swing at the end of the world," in Baños, Ecuador, in February 2018.)

I studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador, in spring 2019. Did you know that Ecuador is the only country in the world where nature has constitutional rights? That's part of why the whole country -- from the Galápagos islands, to the beaches, to the rainforest -- is revered for its beauty. Pictured below is El Pailón del Diablo, a beautiful waterfall in the mountains of Baños.

(Image information: Personal photo of me posing in front of El Pailón del Diablo, or "the Devil's
Waterfall," in February 2018.)

I went to Baños with two friends from my host university during Carnival weekend. One "extreme sport" we did was canyoning, or rappelling down waterfalls. It was difficult, but so much fun.

(Image information: Personal photo of me canyoning in February 2019.)

(Image information: Personal photo of me (far right) and two friends after rappelling down a particularly large waterfall in February 2019.)

I'm so happy I was able to go to Ecuador and significantly improve my Spanish. I hope to go back one day and explore all the places I wasn't able to go!