The "Real" Equator

Today we went to the real Equator as well as the "fake" Equator. We got to sleep in a lot more than normal because we didn't have to meet until 9:45. Today I got to take my first actual warm shower since I've been here. It was amazing. Anyways, we got on the bus across the street from the center and started a 35 minute ride to the Equator museums. The driving is much different here in Ecuador. It works your arms a lot because the drivers tend to put the brakes on as late as possible so you have to hold on or else you will go flying. So we had been in the bus for a while and we were all kinda anxious to get off because we were bored. So we finally reached our stop where a young boy greeted us and handed us some papers advertising his restaurant. We started to walk the wrong way then realized that it was the opposite direction. We started walking and ended up in the middle of the street. Some of our group didn't really listen because it was a really busy street and when we had to cross. It was kinda like snails, a little on the slow side. We got across the street and finally reached the indigenous (and correct) museum. We walked up some stairs and finally got to the start of the museum. We had a very nice tour guide and she seemed like she spoke very good English. Some of us got some drinks at the stand and then we started our tour. She showed a lot about how the Equator was found. We then got to the REAL Equator. It was a painted red line. We did many experiments on both the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. We did things like balancing an egg on a nail on the Equator...much harder than it looks but I did it! You would never know but walking on the Equator is really difficult because the pull is really strong and makes you fall. I know this off experience. We took many pictures and had a lot of fun. We then decided to go to the "fake" Equator museum, which was made by the Spanish. It was not as exciting because we didn't have a tour guide. We explored and went to some of the shops. We were going to try some food, but nothing really looked appetizing. Some of us went shopping and bought a few things. We then got on the bus and went to mall. We walked into the mall and went all the way up to the food court. We ended up getting fried chicken and french fries. It ended up being a really cool day. Can't wait for what tomorrow brings us.

--Claire Scannell