So, I heard about this place called “Mitad del Mundo” which literally means “Middle of the World.” Sounds cool, right? I got curious and decided to check it out.
First thing I did was look it up online. Turns out, it’s this place in Ecuador, right on the equator. They’ve got a big monument and everything. I figured, “Why not?” and booked a trip.
When I got there, I was pretty pumped. I mean, how often do you get to stand on the equator? I took a bus from Quito, the capital, which wasn’t too bad. It took about an hour, maybe a bit more with traffic.
Arriving at Mitad del Mundo was kind of surreal. There’s this huge, 30-meter tall monument marking the equatorial line. It’s got a globe on top, and there’s a thick yellow line painted on the ground, supposedly showing where the equator is.
- I walked around the monument, taking tons of pictures.
- I even stood with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. It felt kind of silly, but also pretty awesome.
Inside the monument, there’s a museum. I went in and checked out the exhibits. They had stuff about the indigenous cultures of Ecuador, which was interesting. It showed their history and some cool artifacts.
There’s also an observation deck at the top of the monument. I went up there, and the view was amazing. You could see the surrounding area, which is pretty mountainous and green.
Other attractions in the area
Besides the monument, there’s a whole complex around it. I noticed a bunch of shops, and it was clear that they were designed for tourists. They were selling souvenirs and handicrafts. There are also a few restaurants and a planetarium.
I spent a few hours exploring the whole place. I grabbed some food, bought a couple of souvenirs, and just soaked it all in. It was a bit touristy, sure, but still a fun experience.
Later, I found out that the actual equator is a bit off from where the monument is. Apparently, the original measurements were a little inaccurate. Modern GPS puts the real equator a couple hundred meters away. There’s another, smaller monument there called the Intiñan Solar Museum. I went there too, and it was actually kind of more interesting. They had these little experiments you could do, like balancing an egg on a nail (supposedly easier on the equator). I tried it, and it worked, or at least I believed it did! It could be a trick, or it could be because of some fancy physics. I’m not sure, but it was fun.
I also saw the shrunken heads in Intiñan Solar Museum. The museum guide said these heads were considered as trophies by the indigenous tribe who lived there.
So, yeah, that was my trip to Mitad del Mundo. It was a fun day out. I got to stand on the “equator,” learn a bit about Ecuadorian culture, and see some cool sights. If you’re ever in Ecuador, I’d say it’s worth a visit. Just remember that the real equator might be a bit off, but hey, it’s all part of the experience, right?
