Ecuador - June 9, 2023

 Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the Earth)

After taking a full 24 hours to lounge around and rest after our adventures in Mindo, we headed out for a morning outing to Mitad del Mundo also known as Middle of the Earth City here in Ecuador. It is just outside of Quito and was about a 35-40 minute Uber ride. After being here for the last two weeks I have learned that an Uber within city limits ranges from $2-$5 and outside the city is $8-$12 depending on what level of car you select. This makes it super easy to get anywhere for a quick trip!


This place is so much more than just seeing the line of the equator! With our admission ($5/adult, $2.50/kids and David was free!) we could tour all of the attractions, ride the train, and walk up to the top of the monument. It was very family-friendly and we enjoyed every aspect. We began with walking through models of traditional indigenous homes in Ecuador from the Amazon to the coast. The whole exhibit was a celebration of the diverse cultures found in this country. 


We then followed the yellow equator line to the central monument. This was such a highlight for the kids (and myself). We walked all the way up to the top of the monument!






As you walk through the village, several signs mark the distance to major cities worldwide. David was excited to spot Miami! We also rode the train and spent quite a bit of time at the playground. 


After tiring out the kids at the playground we sat down for lunch. One of the things the boys have really enjoyed here in Ecuador is trying the different fruits and fresh fruit juices. David ordered jugo de mora (mora juice) and Rick ordered jugo de maracuyá (passion fruit juice). Rick had the shrimp for our main dish, and David and I split the grilled chicken. Rick and I both loved adding the aji (spicy salsa) to our dishes while David stuck to ketchup!




We headed back to our apartment after a full three hours of exploring! This is definitely a place I can see us returning to as there is so much to see and I know Richard will want to go to once he is done with his climbing expedition.

Cayambe

So what is Richard up to while David, Rick, and I are exploring Quito? He actually reached the summit of his first volcano, Cayambe, early this morning! I look forward to hearing more details as he returns to Quito for a rest day tomorrow (Saturday) before heading out for the second summit, Antisana. He sent me this picture of the view of Cayambe from the refugio:


And here he is on the summit of Cayambe with his rope team (Charles and Christian). He said the weather was pretty bad so this was the only photo that he got!

I cannot wait to hear more details once he is back in the city!



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