How did Ecuador Get Its Name? A Visit to the Equator
Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
Ecuador-Galápagos 2018
26 February 2018
Introduction
Ecuador was named because the equator runs straight through it. You can't have an equator line without silly tourist attractions, so I proudly put on my new Galápagos 'I love boobies' tank top and put my camera around my neck to be the ultimate tourist on my last day.
There are two equator attractions right by each other. One is owned by the government and has a mini city set up around a giant monument. It is also noticeably off from the actual equator line. If you go to the museum nearby, it is more accurate.
Booking the Journey
On my first full day in Quito about three weeks prior, I went on a free walking tour of the Old Town part of the city. This was through Community Adventures. I remember them offering a Middle of the World Tour as well and since my cab driver went to a completely incorrect Wyndham hotel and the cab arrangements at the hotel wanted to escort me around the city all day for the price of one arm and two legs, I looked for other options. I opted for a simple one-way cab ride into Old Town from the airport area for $30, which is the median cost of Quito << >> Airport transportation.
On the way into town, I was able to book the Middle of the World trip online, costing me $10.00. It provided transportation to both equator attractions and back. I would be paying my entrance fees.
Community Adventures: Middle of the World
I enjoyed Quito in the morning and arrived at 14:30 for the quick trip. There were only four of us going so we could comfortably spread out in the van. It was about a 45 minute drive.
On the way into town, I was able to book the Middle of the World trip online, costing me $10.00. It provided transportation to both equator attractions and back. I would be paying my entrance fees.
Community Adventures: Middle of the World
I enjoyed Quito in the morning and arrived at 14:30 for the quick trip. There were only four of us going so we could comfortably spread out in the van. It was about a 45 minute drive.
Museo Solar Inti-Nan
The "real" equator line.
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The "unofficial-official" equator line.
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While the government built a massive monument a little too far from the equator, someone else built this museum on a supposedly more accurately calculated line.
The charge for this museum with a 30-minute interactive tour was $4.00. Nothing crazy.
The tour starts with some exhibits on the native tribes in Ecuador - Shuar, Woaranis, Tsachilá, etc. They have life sized human and animal replicas as well as of typical housing units.
There was a shrunken head exhibit. The pictures of the exhibit below show the process from death to having a shrunken head on a stick. In the display case is an actual shrunken head. On top of the display case is a fake one...so they say! She did ask if there were any volunteers for an exhibit demonstration.....
And then I finally get to straddle the line that separates the Northern and Southern hemispheres. I got to do a similar thing in Kenya about ten years ago, but with a new continent it's just as exciting.
Now it's time for the interactive activities! The first one is watching which direction water drains due to the Coriolis Effect. This one is a bit of a gimmick. They already have water in the tub when we arrive sitting nice in still on the equator line. It empties straight down. Then she moves the tub about 2 meters to the South and then the North to repeat. However it really is how the water is poured in that demonstrates the direction of the water flow. Someone else decided to write more details about it, and you can read them here. Supposedly since Ecuador is right the equator, it doesn't get hurricanes or other spinning storms. They spin different ways depending on the hemisphere.
Next - balancing an egg on a nail directly on the equator line. There were two stations set up. You put one foot on N and the other on S, splitting the line. An egg is sitting next to a nail, and then goal is to get the egg to balance on the nailhead. Out of the nine people in the group, only four could do it - myself included! Is there any difference doing this at the equator than anywhere else? Is there any difference doing this sober and then drunk?
After all the silly games, we went into another example of an early Ecuadorian residence. They had live guinea pigs in the corner. Which one is dinner?
At the end of the tour, I received a certificate for balancing the egg on the nail. How official! It will have to go with my certificate from the place in Kenya if I can find it.
They also stamped my passport. It's the final stamp on this passport as it expires in October and will be renewing in the next week or so.
I took a picture with the girl in the Community Adventures group who also became an Egg Master. We had both just gotten back from the Galápagos (different tours) if you can't tell by the dark, glowing skin.
Mitad del Mundo
After the tour we got back in the van and traveled about 2 minutes to Ciudad Mitad del Mundo - the government's little city complex with the massive monument.
Based on the signs outside of the attraction:
- The Middle of the World City belongs to the Pichincha provincial government. With the intent of promoting Ecuador's identify and paying homage to the Geodesic Missions, Prefect Dr. Patricio Romero Barberis made the order to build this attraction in 1979.
- The equinoctial line is a 5km wide strip in which the 0"0'0" GPS position constantly moves. This is due to the Earth's changing physical forces of rotation, translation, and nutation.
- During the equinoxes - March 21 and September 21 - the sun's rays fall perpendicularly to the Earth causing shadows to disappear at midday.
- One of the results of the First Geodesic Mission was the use of the meter to standardize longitude measurements.
Entry costs $5.00, which seems a little steep. We were allotted twenty minutes, which I think should have been at least thirty, to go inside. The price may have been more with it with more time for the planetarium and the other stuff going on.
It was beautiful to see all of the mountains in the background.
Ecuador likes it's big letter signs.
At the location where you can take your own pictures for free, we waited a minimum of 5 minutes for this very rude family to take a whole series of terrible photos. I was bored enough that I even took a picture of them. The quality of each photo kept decreasing, and this one was taken in their first 2 minutes. When told about the line behind them, they just started laughing and then had to take individual pictures. Then the little boy didn't want to leave when they were finally done so they took more pictures of him to make him stop whining. I was thinking about framing this photo and hanging it up in my house.
I took my 1 minute tops to take my photos.
After we took ours, we popped into a gift shop so I could get a sticker for my beer fridge and then got back to the van to go back to Old Town.
Ecuador has a rich history, and there is story behind its name. Thus, many people like me feel curious to visit the place and experience its wonderful ambience. They must read Ecuador Travel Guide before planning the trip.
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