During our trip to the volcanoes in Ecuador, Elias (Our Swiss friend) had mentioned that it was possible to take a trip from Quito to the Equator line. He told us that although there were lots of agencies offering this as an excursion you could do it yourself for a fraction of the price. It was simple - all you has to do was catch the bus from the terminal at the end of the metro-bus line.
So on our return to Quito we took the metro bus to the terminal at the end of the line. We then spent the next ten minutes wandering around the concourse looking for a bus to Mitad del Mundo before it dawned on me that there might be more than one bus terminal and we had gone to the wrong one! Since it had taken about an hour and a half to get there we decided to cut our losses and head back to Quito.
The next day we awoke bright and early and headed off in the direction of the right bus terminal to try again. Unfortunately we had missed the direct bus. However one of the officials explained that we could get another bus and get off at the gates to the Mitad del Mundo. We agreed and she went off to talk to the bus driver to explain, we assumed, where we needed to get off. Things were looking good up - the bus driver came over and yabbered away to us and we got on the bus.
After about twenty minutes we approached a big car park that looked suspiciously like the sort that you would have at a major tourist attraction, so we got up headed to the front of the bus, only to be turned back by a gesticulating driver. OK we thought, the woman at the bus station has told him where we are going there must be another entrance, so we sat down and the bus carried on. Ten minutes later we had left all the buildings behind and were heading out into the countryside. The next stop was at a toll booth, here we decided to cut our losses and despite the protestations of the driver we forced our way off of the bus.
We were now by the side of the road in god knows where - there was no sign of another bus or any taxis so we stuck our thumbs out in the hope of a ride. Luckily after about ten minutes a guy in a pick up truck pulled over and signalled for us to get in the back. He then proceeded to drive as fast as possible, overtaking at least ten cars in a row with is hanging on for dear life in the truck bed!
So on our return to Quito we took the metro bus to the terminal at the end of the line. We then spent the next ten minutes wandering around the concourse looking for a bus to Mitad del Mundo before it dawned on me that there might be more than one bus terminal and we had gone to the wrong one! Since it had taken about an hour and a half to get there we decided to cut our losses and head back to Quito.
The next day we awoke bright and early and headed off in the direction of the right bus terminal to try again. Unfortunately we had missed the direct bus. However one of the officials explained that we could get another bus and get off at the gates to the Mitad del Mundo. We agreed and she went off to talk to the bus driver to explain, we assumed, where we needed to get off. Things were looking good up - the bus driver came over and yabbered away to us and we got on the bus.
After about twenty minutes we approached a big car park that looked suspiciously like the sort that you would have at a major tourist attraction, so we got up headed to the front of the bus, only to be turned back by a gesticulating driver. OK we thought, the woman at the bus station has told him where we are going there must be another entrance, so we sat down and the bus carried on. Ten minutes later we had left all the buildings behind and were heading out into the countryside. The next stop was at a toll booth, here we decided to cut our losses and despite the protestations of the driver we forced our way off of the bus.
We were now by the side of the road in god knows where - there was no sign of another bus or any taxis so we stuck our thumbs out in the hope of a ride. Luckily after about ten minutes a guy in a pick up truck pulled over and signalled for us to get in the back. He then proceeded to drive as fast as possible, overtaking at least ten cars in a row with is hanging on for dear life in the truck bed!
Having survived the journey we found ourselves back at the place we had first tried to get off of the bus. The Mitad del Mundo turned out to be a huge area laid out like a miniature theme park with a large statue in the centre build by the French designed to mark the centre of the earth.
The statue may look great but it has since transpired the French erected their monument in the wrong place! The actual centre is about 300 metres further north. Here they have built a museum where you can do a number of "experiments" on either side of the equator line. These are actually more interesting that they might seem. One involves moving a basin of water across the line and watching it spin clockwise and anti-clockwise as it drains on either side of the Equator. The only other experiment of note involves balancing an egg on the head of a nail for which I now have a certificate. If that wasn’t enough they also threw in a couple of skrunken heads!
That's it, you have convince me! My sense of direction is oof the scale (i.e below zero) so I would only contemplate going on escorted tours ... I know, I know... no sense of adventure, but I have less time on this planet to get lost and find the right way than you have!
ReplyDeleteI also cant spell... must be my left hand typing! It's not a well known fact, but your spelling skills are attached to your dominant hand... well that's my theory and I'm sticking to it.
ReplyDelete