Phrase of the day: Tu dijiste este "Mundo Medio"? No estamos viviendo en Lord of the Rings... Did you just call this "Middle Earth"? We're not living in Lord of the Rings!
Yeah, Ecuador's lucky it doesn't actually call it "Middle Earth"; that was just the person who was explaining it. It's really called "Mitad del Mundo"... Middle of the Earth. Much better.I'm still in Quito. I slept last night in Marlena's aunt's laundry room. That may normally sound odd, but that's more luxurious than I'm used to here. The laundry room had a bed, full bathroom, window, and the usual laundry machines. I told her I was happy sleeping on the couch or floor even, but she still made the bed for me anyway.
Today we went to the Middle of the Earth park a bit north of Quito. It was very touristy, but good to see once. It was full of craft carts, food stands, and random museums (Insect museum, planetarium, ...). We didn't imagine that they could be better than our Smithsonians backhome, so we stuck to the equatorial line, literally.
In other exciting news, I saw my first real-live Indians in months now! Naturally, I didn't say a word to them. But I definitely called it out from 50yards away ("Indians!").
Is this Middle Earth place different from the one outside Cayambe? I should probably take my Mom and brother there because they actually like cheesy tourist stuff... how did you get there?
ReplyDeleteit is indeed different! it's like 25minutes north of the center of quito. tecnically, i don't think it's the real equatorial line even, it's just where they had thought it was before better bath arose. (but they won't tell you that at the touristy place)
ReplyDeleteOkay... well if we want to be technical about it, the true equator is always changing slightly because it has to remain perpendicular to the earth's spin axis. So, really they shouldn't bother drawing a line on the ground somewhere, but maybe like an equatorial zone. Whoa, that was nerdy. I will be sure to tell them that when we go visit!
ReplyDelete"nerdy"... understatement!
ReplyDeletejust kidding. that's something my brother would have said probably too. be sure to inform them. maybe they can put up a sign about it even. peace corps goal #839: setting those crazy middle-earth people straight!
I am quite impressed by the science talk going on in this posting. Start writing that grant proposal for #839!
ReplyDeleteIn the words of DMX, "Talk is cheap!"[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZBGGGZc_Lw]
haha, i'm on it (as well)!
ReplyDeleteyoutube? where do you think i am!?! (just kidding. but really, i'll check it when i make it to bahia next!)