Thanksgiving is not really a holiday here so life goes on around us. Our friends Dan and Susan were in town so after the kids got out of school (half day) we all got together for some good ol’ touristy things.
First was Teleferiqo, a tram ride up to the top of a mountain about 4,000 meters high. The usual afternoon cloudiness threatened, but the Stupids pressed on. We got up to the top just as the clouds rolled in so we got a good view of the inside of a cloud, which is almost like the inside of your eyelids only a little lighter. We did get peeks of the city below through some breaks in the clouds. But we made the most of it and had a good time anyway.
Next it was off to the middle of the world, Mitad Del Mundo, the Equator. At the bottom of the mountain we asked about cabs to Mitad Del Mundo. The Teleferiqo people were very kind and offered to take all of us in one of their shuttle busses for $15. When we got to Mitad Del Mundo they offered to pick us up at 6 for another $15 and bring us home. Done deal.
There are two equators in Ecuador, both about 20 minutes north of the city. The big touristy monument is not really actually exactly technically ON the equator. They were a bit off when they measured in the 18th century. But the place is pretty cool even though we had little time and didn’t do the museums and such. There is a small village of souvenir and craft shops and restaurants.
Sidebar: When Karen and the Monmouth Worship Center team were in Ecuador in 2002, they went to this monument and Karen bought two ceramic bowls. When we moved to Ecuador four years later, one of the bowls broke in transit. Karen was able to find the very shop where she bought the two original bowls and was able to get a replacement.
On to the REAL Equator! Karen remembered that there was another Equator museum near the big monument. It took a bit of doing to find it: walk along the busy main highway and down a dirt road. But find it we did, and it’s worth the trek. This is where the real line is as proven by the fact that water runs straight down the drain. Even a few feet away the Coriolis effect is evident, with water swirling one way or another depending on which hemisphere you are in.
All in all it was a great day, but very un-traditional.
