Equador - April-May 2009
Crossing the Ecuator
On May 3, 2009, during our passage from Panama to Ecuador, we crossed the equator. We celebrated with trident "tattoos", brownies and rum.
GPS reading at Ecuator
We had our camera poised to get the photo of 0 00 000 at the Equator but it flicked from 001 North to 001 South in a flash.
Ecuador
Sloth came to visit
Ecuador
Sloth just hanging around.
Ecuador
Bahia de Caraquez - Dream Caper is moored in the background on the far left. The boats in the foreground are taxis that regularly ferry people across the mouth of the river.
Ecuador
Canoa Beach - Steve walking this popular surfing beach.
Ecuador
The lush green mountains on the way to Quito.
Ecuador
Plaza in Quito near our hostal.
Ecuador - Quito
Downtown Quito.
Ecuador - Quito
The statue at the top is on the hill above this plaza. It is huge.
Ecuador - Quito
Plaza Grande
Ecuador - Quito
Plaza Grande - President's Palace on Independence Day
Ecuador - Quito
Plaza Grande - Independence Day celebrations.
Ecuador - Quito
Plaza Grande - President's Palace
Ecuador - Quito
Plaza Grande - The President of Ecuador is the handsome man on the left, looking our way.
Ecuador - Quito
Inside the Golden Church.
Ecudor - Quito
At 14,000 feet overlooking the city of Quito.
Ecuador - Quito
Enjoying the sunshine at 14,000'.
Equador - Quito
This is the "periferico" (tram) from the city to the top of the mountain. 10,000' to 14,000 in just 15 minutes!
Ecuador - Quito
Plaza Grande - Labor demonstration.
Ecuador - Quito
Steve enjoying lunch at an outdoor cafe in Quito.
Ecuador - Quito
Entrance to La Basilica.
Ecuador - Quito
Night view of downtown Quito from the deck of a lovely restaurant.
Ecuador - Mitad del Mundo
Mitad del Mundo (Center of the Earth) The monument in the background marks the official equator.
Ecuador- Mitad del Mundo
School children on the equator.
Ecuador - Mitad del Mundo
Steve pointing to 0 00 000 for the latitude.
Ecuador - Mitad del Mundo
Portia balancing on the equator!
Ecuador - Mitad del Mundo
This is the shrunken head of a human being. It is about the size of a bocce ball. Luckily, they no longer do this in Ecuador.
Ecuador - Mitad del Mundo
GPS found this location to be the true equator. The official monument is about 300 yards off.
Ecuador
An egg can balance on a nail at the equator!
Ecuador - Mitad del Mundo
Steve trying to make the egg balance on the nail.
Ecuador - Mitad del Mundo
The sign for the museum where the true equator is located.
Ecuador to USA
We were happily upgraded to Business Class for the trip home which made it more bearable when we made a medical emergency landing (for another passenger) in the middle of Mexico. Because we made this landing after midnight, it took 3 hours to get authorization to take off again from the Mexican government.
Chapala, Mexico
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IMG_2685.JPG 2009-02-02