On the way to Baños dont miss out on Radiator Springs.

I am trying to update my blog as much as I can.

Last week I went to pick up my son and wife from Ambato. They had gone there since my in-laws live in Ambato and wanted to spend some vacation time with their grandson.

I made my way to Ambato as per usual on Highway 35.

I usually take the old road to Ambato (not the new side pass) since I dont want all the towns on the way to Ambato from Quito (Lasso, Salcedo and Latacunga) to become like Radiator Springs in the CARS animated movie, desolate and depressing. Also there are fewer or no speed traps on the old road and you can make a stop in Salcedo for some Helados de Salcedo:

 ice cream in Salcedo is tasty.
my kid loves them he always gets one on the way. 

Also on the way is Latacunga which is a bigger city which even has an airport. Really the Quito Airport should have been built on top of the Latacunga airport and a super highway built to get there quickly. But ....

In Latacunga I usually stop to get some KFC or Gus Chicken, and the last time I headed to Ambato I decided to try Allullas. Allullas are pretty dry crumbly bisquits of sort which are not that tasty on their own but go great with the authentic and traditional string cheese served in an achira leave. Ive had the ones they serve in Cayambe plenty of times but they pale in comparison to the authentic Latacunga queso de hoja.You can also get a local dish called Chugchucaras. I havent tried those in a long long time, I should try them sometime. They seem to have fritada, harmony, pork rhins, potato patties, avocado slices, empanadas and some more stuff.

Allullas with queso de hoja 

Chugchucaras 

Another great stop on the way to Ambato is at La Avelina, they have some really tasty ice cream bars made with milk from the area.

And then we finally make it to Ambato. Be careful as you arrive to Ambato since they have some speed traps that lower the speed limit as you get closer to the city limits. Also inside Ambato there are very specific speed limits that will definitely catch you if you are not alert. Take it easy.

In Ambato I have two favorite spots:

El Ponche Suizo:

With its original 1952 recipe brought back from Switzerland, the Ponche Suizo has been operating in Ambato ( and now in Baños and Latacunga) for years now. The original recipe has not changed at all and its always a great treat to have when in Ambato and its surroundings.

and

La Choko Banana:

The Choko Banana Cafeteria is located close to the Miraflores neighburhood in Ambato and a couple of blocks from the city center. Its a local hotspot where you can purchase most tickets for shows, concerts and entertainment in Ambato. Inside the cafeteria they serve fast food and some ice cream, good stuff but their crown jewel is the Choco Banana. Its a banana at its perfect state (they must buy the best bananas in Ecuador so probably the best bananas in the world) and use Ecuadorian chocolate (also the best in the world) to cover the banana. Their chocolate recipe is perfect it never drips or cracks. Its just bliss. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

And the last spot on the way to Baños is Pelileo.
If you are short on clothes or jeans this is the place to stop. They have a wide variety of local made jeans and clothing that can easily replace a pair of jeans you tainted on your tour. In Pelileo if you make your way to the market there you will find some women selling tiny smoked tamales. They are pretty darn good, they have some fried pork bits inside. They are 3 for a dollar so a cheap and tasty snack on the way to Baños.

And finally we head to Baños .... to be continued ....