Feb 8th 2009 - Journey to the centre of the world

Today we went to the Equator! In fact we went to the fake equator and the real equator – with the fake one having a monument and the real one having a beautiful outdoor museum, surrounded by cacti and other exotic plants in the baking sunshine. We learnt about head tribesmen (who would be buried with their favourite wife) and how shaman used guinea pigs as medicine. We also got to do some experiments such as draining water either side of the equator and on the line itself and balancing an egg on a nail.

The blip could be nothing else – and it gives me an opportunity to introduce the group who I would spend the next two months with. Back row (l-r) Mia, Joana, Katja, Sally, Me, Josefine, Tara, Sophie, Soren (once again hiding slightly), Louise Sk, Helle, Camilla. Front row (l-r) Louise St, Maïté, Christine and Sara.

In the afternoon we played some EcuaVolley in a park which drew a crowd full of locals who laughed and clapped along at our poor attempts of a game. Then we had Salsa again, where I was partnered with Maïté which made things easier for me as she was so good. Italian for tea (crepe a la marinera), cheesecake and wedding crashers followed back at the hostel.