The Equator : Quito, Ecuador 2004

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The Equator : Quito, Ecuador : Trip Report

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Journey to the Middle of the World

In Ecuador you see a lot of signs saying La Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) referring to the fact that Ecuador is best known for the Equator running right through it. Despite the fact that the Equator in fact runs through a LOT of countries I decided to do the ultimate tourist thing and go visit "The Equator".

Besides the similarity in the name, the other reason the landmark is located here is because a French expedition in 1736 led by Charles-Marie de La Comdamine did measurements at the spot marked by the landmark that it is in fact the location of the Equator. My guide Richard tells me that in fact they were off by about 250 meters but close enough.

While there I asked Richard to show me as many sites as possible in that area. That was complicated by the fact that the Miss Universe Pageant was to take place in a convention center near the landmark and that at some point the police were to close traffic in both directions for the remainder of the day. That wouldn't be a problem except there is only one paved road between there and Quito!

Pululahua Crater

Our first stop was actually an extinct volcano called Pulalahua. We visited there first to catch the good weather. We wanted to make sure we went there when it wasn't shrouded in clouds. Good choice because it got more cloudy as the day progressed.

The site is actually called Reserva Geobotánica Pulalahua and is officially a nature preserve. The views were spectacular and it was very nice and green. This volcano has been extinct for about 3500 years so it has since grown over nicely and is inhabited by a wide variety of wildlife and makes for great hiking. The bottom of the crater is actually farmed so you can see the fields from the top. There is also a nice restaurant overlooking the crater as well as a recently built art gallery.

The two domes in the distance are not the other side of the crater but actually the domes from the most recent eruption. The domes are in approximately the middle of the 5km across crater.

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The old looking but recently built art gallery with an Inca face painted on the wall.
Viewed: 119 times.
A local plant of some sort.
Viewed: 89 times.
Looking down into the crater.
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A pretty decent panoramic view from the lookout.
Viewed: 151 times.

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The old looking but recently built art gallery with an Inca face painted on the wall. Viewed: 119 times.	A local plant of some sort. Viewed: 89 times.	Looking down into the crater. Viewed: 149 times.
A pretty decent panoramic view from the lookout. Viewed: 151 times.

Museo Solar Inti Ñan

Our next stop was kind of a last minute addition. It's a cute (but slightly corny) museum near the Equator monument that has demonstrations of water flowing in opposite directions on either side of the Equator and other exhibits about the life of indigenous Ecuadorians, including my personal favorite, a real shrunken head!

The whole thing was kind of entertaining and only cost $2. One odd thing is that they claim they have the REAL Equator as measured by a GPS and I also noticed that theirs was off a little from the "official" monument.

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Richard said there is an old pre-Inca lunar observatory at the top of the large hill.
Viewed: 68 times.
I tried to zoom and crop and all I can see is some specs.
Viewed: 76 times.
My guide leads me to the draining water demonstration.
Viewed: 361 times.

This was a replica of a burial chamber.
Viewed: 145 times.
A totem pole? I don't remember what this meant.
Viewed: 121 times.
This sun dial has two sides, depending if the sun is to the north or south.
Viewed: 142 times.

Can I balance a raw egg on the head of a nail?
Viewed: 269 times.
With a little work! Supposedly it's easiest at the Equator.
Viewed: 286 times. $A look back at the \$
A look back at the "demonstration area".
Viewed: 158 times.

A traditional home of this region.
Viewed: 127 times.
Inside were cooking implements.
Viewed: 107 times.
Lunch?
Viewed: 169 times.

This is supposedly a picture of the original inhabitant.
Viewed: 95 times.
Another style of traditional house.
Viewed: 97 times.
Stuff inside. The painting is of the last pre-Inca chief.
Viewed: 92 times.

A display of preserved snakes, mostly from the nearby Amazon.
Viewed: 130 times.
This shrunken head of a child is about 150 years old.
Viewed: 314 times.
Step by step instructions to make your own shrunken head.
Viewed: 181 times.

Looks almost too easy!
Viewed: 128 times.
Can I blow a dart into a cactus leaf?
Viewed: 168 times.
He shoots. He scores!
Viewed: 103 times.

One cannot have an exhibit without Llamas.
Viewed: 111 times.
They look an awful lot like camels.
Viewed: 110 times.
Some local plant.
Viewed: 80 times.

A parasite growing on this type of cactus produces a red dye.
Viewed: 105 times.
When this white stuff was rubbed on my skin it turned it red.
Viewed: 137 times.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture
Richard said there is an old pre-Inca lunar observatory at the top of the large hill. Viewed: 68 times.	I tried to zoom and crop and all I can see is some specs. Viewed: 76 times.	My guide leads me to the draining water demonstration. Viewed: 361 times.
This was a replica of a burial chamber. Viewed: 145 times.	A totem pole? I don't remember what this meant. Viewed: 121 times.	This sun dial has two sides, depending if the sun is to the north or south. Viewed: 142 times.
Can I balance a raw egg on the head of a nail? Viewed: 269 times.	With a little work! Supposedly it's easiest at the Equator. Viewed: 286 times.	$A look back at the \$ A look back at the "demonstration area". Viewed: 158 times.
A traditional home of this region. Viewed: 127 times.	Inside were cooking implements. Viewed: 107 times.	Lunch? Viewed: 169 times.
This is supposedly a picture of the original inhabitant. Viewed: 95 times.	Another style of traditional house. Viewed: 97 times.	Stuff inside. The painting is of the last pre-Inca chief. Viewed: 92 times.
A display of preserved snakes, mostly from the nearby Amazon. Viewed: 130 times.	This shrunken head of a child is about 150 years old. Viewed: 314 times.	Step by step instructions to make your own shrunken head. Viewed: 181 times.
Looks almost too easy! Viewed: 128 times.	Can I blow a dart into a cactus leaf? Viewed: 168 times.	He shoots. He scores! Viewed: 103 times.
One cannot have an exhibit without Llamas. Viewed: 111 times.	They look an awful lot like camels. Viewed: 110 times.	Some local plant. Viewed: 80 times.
A parasite growing on this type of cactus produces a red dye. Viewed: 105 times.	When this white stuff was rubbed on my skin it turned it red. Viewed: 137 times.

La Mitad del Mundo

Finally we made it to the Middle of the World. The complex was dominated in the middle by a large 30m high monument topped by a bronze globe. We didn't have time so we didn't go to the top. I took my all too obvious picture standing on both the north and south hemispheres then walked through the little village they have there. There's places to get a bite to eat as well as shops with trinkets and other exhibits. We just grabbed some bottles of water and hit the road.

One thing I learned at this visit is the same expedition made measurements that led to the establishment of the Metric System. I didn't know that Ecuador had something to do with that.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture

The entrance to the park is lined with statues of members of the famous expedition.
Viewed: 130 times.
Zoomed in a little.
Viewed: 250 times.
There's the monument.
Viewed: 182 times.

And zoomed in a little on the globe and the viewing platform.
Viewed: 124 times.
That line is supposedly the Equator.
Viewed: 367 times.
Look ma, I can stand on two hemispheres at the same time.
Viewed: 374 times.

The ancients believed the Equator was really between those two hills.
Viewed: 177 times.
Pretty flowers.
Viewed: 85 times.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture
The entrance to the park is lined with statues of members of the famous expedition. Viewed: 130 times.	Zoomed in a little. Viewed: 250 times.	There's the monument. Viewed: 182 times.
And zoomed in a little on the globe and the viewing platform. Viewed: 124 times.	That line is supposedly the Equator. Viewed: 367 times.	Look ma, I can stand on two hemispheres at the same time. Viewed: 374 times.
The ancients believed the Equator was really between those two hills. Viewed: 177 times.	Pretty flowers. Viewed: 85 times.

The Ruins - Pucará de Rumicucho

I noticed in the guide book that there are some ruins near this area I'm already in. I asked the guide to show them to me. He warned that it's all dirt road to get there and they sure aren't Machu Pichu. I insisted that we have time to do the visit prior to all the streets being shut down so we went. Richard got lost only once. He admitted hardly anyone requests to go there and he hadn't been there himself in appox. 2 years.

Once Richard's SUV survived the trip and we paid the park entrance fee of $1 to some toothless old man in a booth we pulled up. We noticed that this site commands a wonderful view of the entire valley in several directions. We presumed that this "outpost" had been used as a sort of watch tower and/or for religious purposes.

As the site is over 2500 years old there really wasn't much left besides short walls built up. Obviously there used to be a lot more here but it's long gone now. Still, the views were spectacular and we couldn't help but to discuss what this area must have looked like when this site was being used.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture

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Nearly 360 degree panoramic shot from the top of the ruins.
Viewed: 143 times.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture
Viewed: 67 times.	Viewed: 63 times.	Viewed: 89 times.
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Miss Universe 2004

It just so happened that the Miss Universe pageant took place in Quito during my visit. The actual site of the final competition was a large convention center very close to Mitad del Mundo. We drove by to take a look but had to hurry back to Quito before they closed all the roads in the vicinity in the early afternoon.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture
Approaching the building where the finals were to be held. Viewed: 91 times.	Tons of security all over the place. Viewed: 115 times.

Comments From People Like You! The Equator : Quito, Ecuador 2004	add a comment
Rita 16-Jun-2007 08:35
We saw all these places except for the ruins when we were in Quito on a Mission Trip June 2nd-June 9th. I thought the people there were beautiful and the country was beautiful except for the poverty and the trash everywhere. If they could get a better trash orgnazation going,it would be just beautiful. I enjoyed my week there wittnessing ,having carnivals for the children,and going to churches (big and little) and eating at a TGI Fridays one night. We stayed in the dorms at the Nazarene Seminary there and they fed us.There were 26 people from our church that went this week and about 15 from another church. the other church had 20 ? the week before we got there! It was a wonderful trip and our interrurptors were really good and our bus drivers also!!!I hope to go again next year!

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