To the Middle of the Earth and Back

Over the last last week or so, I have been putting some major mileage on my new orthodics. There was so much I still wanted to see in Quito and I began to realize my time in this city I have called home for the past month was coming to an end. I brought out my Lonely Planet guide book and started circling the sights and restaurants I wanted to make sure to visit before I left. So every afternoon after the orphanage and Spanish class, I would walk...and walk...and walk. Time is not really a factor for me here. After 2pm, I had no where I needed to be and I have found a new love in wandering aimlessly. When I would begin to tire, I just kept reminding myself of all the pan (or bread) I was eating and figured it was a fair trade.

Stop #1 - Hotel Quito

Via the restaurant on the top floor, my guidebook says they have the best view of the city and so I began my trek to the east side of the Quito to visit Hotel Quito. The hotel itself is fairly shi-shi and quickly became a little embarrased of my attire - standard running shoes, jeans, and a t-shirt, never without my rain jacket in tow just in case. I passed on the $20 lunch (very expensive for Ecuador!) and headed straight to the bar. There I enjoyed a vodka and orange juice, some peanuts and took in the view. Not bad, but not the best in my opinion. The best is yet to come.


Stop #2 - Museo Guayasamin

No need to reiterate how fascinating I find Oswaldo Guayasamin´s art, but I couldn´t leave Quito without seeing some of his original artwork. Here is a picture of my favorite series/display - Hands of Opression. Specifically the bottom right - Hands of Protest. The picture doesn´t do it justice, the backgrounds are painted in a vibrant blue and the expressions on the individual faces cause me to only begin to imangine how intensely this man was able to feel.


Just in case you were wondering what he looked like :)

The museum is said to be at his place of residence when living in Quito. Not a bad view.

Stop #3 - Mitad Del Mundo

Ok, so I didn´t walk to the middle of the earth. Two buses and an hour or so later, we were at the Equater. Hundreds of years ago, the center of the earth was marked with a large monument.


It wasn´t until recently, with the help of GPS technology, they were able to locate the exact point of zero degrees latitude. They were a mere 250 meters off. Not bad!

At the equater, they have built a museum of sorts, demonstrating all the crazy effects this fine line will have on gravity. Here I am straddling the equater line - my left foot in the southern hemisphere, my right in the northern hemisphere. I am told I am approximately 2.2 lbs lighter on the equater line. I think it's totally noticable, don´t you?

Other than being a girl´s best friend, the middle of the earth will allow you to balance an egg on the head of a nail, cause you to lose your balance when walking a straight line, creates less resistance (for example, making it easier for someone to pull your hands apart), and when tested, the water drains straight down, but when moved 5 feet to the right, it swirls in one direction as it drains and then five feet to the left, it swirls in the other direction. It was all quite fascinating.

Stop #4 - Cafe Mosaico

In my mind, hands down, the best view. This little cafe was a trek to get to, but worth the sweat and frustration (I admit I took a few wrong turns). This darling cafe had some of the friendliest employees I have yet encountered and it would be on the top of my list for anyone visiting Quito.


Stop #5 - The Magic Bean

I have found my soulmate here in Quito and wish I could take him home with me. His name - The Magic Bean. For the past week and a half, we have been in an exclusive relationship and every morning, I arrive at the Magic Bean promptly at 7:00am for my favorite - Big Breakfast.

Scarred after my trip to the beach, I haven´t quite been able to stomach eggs again, so I have indulged my sweet tooth. I set my eyes on the various pancakes and french toast and have gone to town - strawberry, banana, chocolate chip, and finally I got smart - chocolate chip & banana combined. Each morning, I enjoy a coffee and a large glass of freshly squeezed juice of all flavors - carrot and apple, strawberry and banana, orange and pineapple. It isn´t the cheapest place in town, but not expensive by American standards, at a cost of $10. I told myself it would be my breakfast and lunch, but who are we kidding, I never was good at passing by a bakery without grabbing a treat or two.

What this picture doesn´t show you is that while grilling the pancake, they put freshly sliced fruit down inside the pancake, making for a soft, sweet, warm bit of yumminess with almost every bite. I seriously could talk about this place for days. I also found myself writing in my journal upon dining alone every morning, so not only is the Magic Bean my new, but temporary, boyfriend, he is my muse as well. Oh, how I only wish I would have found you sooner, dear Magic Bean.

I left Quito this morning and hopped on a flight to Loja, about an hour plane ride south of Quito. From Loja, I grabbed a 2 hour bus ride to Vilcabamba, where I will enjoy a long weekend. I already can't wait to fill you in on Vilcabamba! I return to Quito on Tuesday for a few short hours and then will take a red-eye flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina. In Argentina is where I will spend my two weeks of travel before returning home. Knowing my journey is coming to an end is bitter sweet, but knowing I will see my family and friends is definitely the sweetest part.

Much love from the Valley of Longevity,

Alison