Here's our home-away-from-home for the week at Hostal Transilvania. Sorry, no vampires here. It's a true backpackers' hostel environment; which at our age, we're feeling a little out of place; however, the $8/night/pp rate (for off-season; or $14/pp/high season) for a basic clean twin room, private bath with a hot shower, towels, and breakfast is a STEAL. We will tolerate the late night riff-raff, paper-thin walls, and pounding disco music from the streets. Earplugs are always an option. It's like camping! We do like the owners, Janet and her husband. They are fluent in English, very in-charge, kind, and goes WAY out of their way to get everyone set up with their desired outdoor adventures for the day. 
Baños Agua Santa is a backpackers' haven with options to participate in all kinds of extreme, outdoor, mountainous adventures. As a result, we haven't seen too many 'older' backpackers our age in this town...ha, ha; but Baños is an excellent destination to just chill and enjoy the mineral hot spring baths, like we are. We do plan on doing some activities such as hiking, going on a waterfalls tour, a night tour of Volcano Tungurahua, and maybe some zip lining (or canopy - as they call it) through the jungles. (here's the view from our room.)
We have a few choices for breakfast at the hostel - huevos (eggs) y pan (bread), pancakes, or yogurt with granola and fruit. Mike was happy with his pancakes. Akiko decided on the local yogurt - a strategy for any traveler to keep their GI system healthy...which can be a challenge. One week in South America and we are still getting used to our new reality. They say...
-Don't ingest the tap water, including the ice (although we've read that most places buy their ice purified). I did have a Cuba Libre with ice. We'll see.
-Drink only bottled water, including brushing your teeth with bottled water.
-Eat street food at your own peril, which we will risk for sure. Can't pass up good street food, people! That's why they invented Imodium and Prilosec.
-Avoid fresh fruit and vegetables, since they've been washed in tap water, but fruit with skin that has been peeled is a-okay...sure, sure. There is no way in the next 2 months that I am NOT eating a fresh salad!
-Don't flush toilet paper in the toilet...which is a very hard habit to break.
-Bring your own toilet paper to public restrooms...you'll only need to be reminded once. Also, no paper towels to wipe your hands off with after washing, just like Japan. My Japanese handkerchief continues to come in handy!
