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Published: August 19th 2013
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The Capital of Ecuador.
There are two well known areas in Quito, the Old town, and go figure the New town! We chose to stay in the New Town. Its filled with bars, restaurants and American tourists. And a lot of locals.
Fun fact about Ecuador, they use American Currency. The difference is they have coins instead of notes for $1, and they also have one coin for themselves which is 50cents. But apart from that, all American cash – strange!
At the moment as some of you will know, the qualifying matches are being played for the World Cup. The main square near where we are staying has been soccer madness. Yesterday Ecuador was playing Argentina for a spot to Qualify, beers where being consumed (3 for $4) being 10am, and the main square full before kick off at 4pm. (apparently no-one has to work on soccer days?) Each bar has about 3 or more plasmas and those not wanting to spend the cash to sit and drink for 90 minutes crowd the streets trying to get a look in. We sat at a bar and had 6 beers for $12 (more expensive but
I do not like soccer enough to stand on the street and watch – my style is definitely more seated and drinking). Outcome of the game: draw, they need to win soon and about 4 blood noses and Jerry Springer style break outs in the street – typical soccer Wednesday I believe!
Around Quito, you have the Andes Mountain range. In 2009 they added a ‘Teleferico’ to one of them, to form one of the worlds highest cable cars (it takes you 4000 odd above sea level from 2800 or so). It costs 8.50 per person, and was worth doing for amazing views of the city – its huge! We took it one step further and hiked a Volcano behind where it takes you to, all up it took 6 hours and was streep, FREEZING, inclusive of some scrambling but the 360 veiws at the top can not be faulted it was worth the climb and the photos (which I only could just take with the last bit of movement I had left in my hands!) The morning before leaving, I grabbed my gloves and said nah, I don’t need them. Well yes, yes I did. Regret.
Quito is also a place you can go to the Equator line, and stand one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one foot in the Southern. Cool. There is a huge monument built and a park you can visit, but this was built many years ago and based on the knowledge of the sun and theories about being the centre of the earth, the ACTUAL line is GPS calculated and about 5 minute walk down the road where they have built a small park and set up ‘experiments’ you can do, and that only possible in this location. It was actually really interesting, the experiments where:
Water
On the Equator line, in a small tub they fill then take the plug out, water does not spin at all. If they moved it only 1 meter into the southern hemisphere, the water would spin one way and then a meter into the northern, the water would spin the other.
Balance
It was like walking on a tightrope, with your eyes closed and attempting to do the traditional ‘Sobriety test’, something to do with your inner balance and not being able to balance without something
or something (I clearly didn’t get that part)
Egg Balancing
Apparently you cant balance an egg on top of a nail anywhere else, because of gravity pull the heaviest part of the egg (the yolk) will always either lay to the left or right dependent of the hemisphere you are in. Brenden managed to get it to balance on the nail, I failed due to lack of concentration and patience (shock to you all I can imagine).
Resistance
They get you to try and push up your arms, with your two hands grasped out in front and they push down trying to fight your resistance pushing up. In the southern hemisphere, he used two hands and there was quite a struggle then stepped 1 meter forward to the Equator line, and tried the same thing and he only used 2 fingers this time and was able to apply the same pressure. I again, didn’t understand this part – you might have to ask Brenden as I think this possibly may hve been close to the time he pointed out the cage of Guinea Pigs with baby ones and well I am only human.
Overall it is worth the long trip out there! (1.5 hours roughly).
Travel Points
*You can taxi everywhere, but also the bus system is very straight forward and you can get around anywhere for 25cents.
*We are staying at Backpackers Inn – by far the cheapest double rooms ($17.00 instead of the $35 compared to on the same street!) and its great, $7.00 for a dorm and kitchens complete with only short walk to the bars and supermarket! Recommend!
*The Mariscal (the market in the centre of the New Town – is cheaper than the craft market in the Park up the road from it. But on Saturday (traditional market day) head to the park to see the local art flow onto the sidewalk – very impressive!
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