Mitad del Mundo, Mindo, and more...

I couldn't come all the way to Ecuador and miss going to the spot that marks the line dividing the northern and southern hemispheres... thus, I made the short bus ride to Mitad del Mundo (the center of the world). There is a museum set up for visitors to explain many different aspects of the famous line.

According to the ancient civilization of the Incas the line dividing the two hemispheres is a very important and spiritual place. We learned how the ancient Incas lived, the rituals they practiced, and saw some of their inventions. The Incas believed this unique spot in Ecuador was situated perfectly in reference to the rotation of the Earth and positioning of the sun (although other spots around the world mark the equator). The intelligence of the Incas is transmitted through their inventions, while the evidence of their evolution is apparant in some of their barbaric activities (such as cutting off and shrinking the heads of their enemies).


In addition, the museum had many experiments to "prove" that certain phenomenon only exist at the equator, but upon further research I learned these experiments are solely to add to the mystique and are staged for tourists. Overall, the museum was very interesting and well worth the trip.


Over the weekend I traveled to Mindo, a small town located in the cloud forest and famous for it's numerous different bird species. Although I didn't participate in any birdwatching tours due to lack of money, it was the perfect spot to relax and breath the fresh air of the mountains. I went with my friend from the Czech Republic and we hiked to 6 different waterfalls, visited the butterfly museum, and enjoyed the break from the city. The highlight of the trip was meeting two amazing locals (Victor and Kerry) who own a coffee shop in town. They also own a small piece of land and practice organic and sustainable farming. We talked about farming, ate wonderful food, and even jammed on Victor's guitar.

Below are some pictures from the beautiful scenery in Mindo...




And finally... during class we periodically research and give a small presentation on local fruit or food. Today were some presentations about local foods of Ecuador followed by tastings. Below is a picture of the delectable items.