After class on my final day at the Academia de Espanol, Quito, Sila and I caught buses to La Mitad del Mundo, the museum on the Equator.  I had always wanted to be able to say I have stood on both sides of the equator at the same time.  I know, that is not a goal of everyone!

We had to change buses on the way to the museum. It was a pleasant ride. It gave me a chance to see more of Quito and the surrounding area.  The bus drops you off just a block from the entrance. 

Mitad del mundo

at the Mitad del Mundo museum-outside of Quito, Ecuador

Mitad del Mundo, I am standing on the Equator

the line of the equator at the Mitad del Mundo outside of Quito, Ecuador

There are actually two museums, each claiming to be the exact spot of the equator.  One is more modern, but the people of Ecuador seem to lean towards the one called Museo Solar Inti Nan that supposedly is right on the exact spot of the equator.  It has a lot of very interesting exhibits.

The museum was great.  There was a guide that met us and showed us around, often times stopping and explaining how things work on both sides of the equator. They actually let you observe some experiments.  Some of it may have been more myth than truth, but you could have fooled me!  It was very educational and well worth the trip.  They even have an exhibit on how some of the ancient tribes shrunk heads. 

The guide asks you walk on the line designated as the equator.  Shouldn’t be too hard, right?  Not so, I could not keep my balance.  I felt like I was taking a sobriety test—and flunking!!

some of the specimans collected from the Equator at the Mitad del Mundo museum outisde of Quito, Ecuador

a real shrunken head on display at the Mitad del Mundo Museum on the equator outside of Quito, Ecuador

All in all, if you go to Quito, this is an attraction not to be missed!

 Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net

to read about my other travels click here