At the Equator

Intinan Solar Museum equator quito ecuador

Supposedly this is the true middle of the world, as opposed to Mitad del Mundo next door. Then again some say this isn’t it either… I didn’t look much into it, so I have no clue. But since you’re already in this landmark area outside Quito, you might as well kill two birds with one stone, to be on the safe side 🙂 Intinan Solar Museum is down a narrow dirt road next to it’s more high-profile neighbour. And what a weird mashup it is. A kind of a cultural heritage museum with huts, gardens, sculptures, animals and souvenir shops. And on the other hand a centre marking the Equator, and displaying the effects of being at the zero line, with different experiments to show how the forces work. Like balancing a raw egg on a nail head. Apparently that is easier to do at the Equator. Sorry, I really don’t have the patient for making that happen 🙂 A couple of people were able to do it. Another thing was how water going down a drain will swirl to the left on one side of the equatorial line, to the right on the other side, and straight through on top of the line. The effects on a sundial instrument. How it is harder to walk on a straight line, and how your muscles are weaker. Fact or fiction? There are plenty of opinions out there 🙂 I thought some of it was enjoyable, and some I had a hard time seeing. And as many places in Ecuador and Peru, you can get your passport stamped – I’ve been here!

This was part of a road trip from Quito. The owner of the hostel I stayed at didn’t find anyone who was doing a tour of the things I wanted to see and at the time I was able to go, so she took me herself. Bless her! We had a lot of fun considering she didn’t speak much English, and I don’t speak much Spanish 🙂

Website: museointinan.com.ec

12 thoughts on “At the Equator

  1. How fantastic to stand at the Equator – there is something compelling me to want to do that. I’d have to try to do the egg balancing! #Wkendtravelinspiration

    1. Not my main draw for Ecuador, that was the Galapagos, but a fun thing to include. Now I have been to both the Equator and the Arctic Circle. Only one left is Antarctic Circle ;D

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