On our last afternoon in Ecuador, we stopped at Mitad del Mundo monument to the equator.

We learned from our guide Lelis that Quito was the site of an experiment by French and local scientists in 1736 to determine whether the earth was flattened at the poles or compressed along the equator. Successive towers were built on the location to commemorate the experiment, the current one being 30 meters high with a museum of science and Ecuadorian regional cultures inside.

The Mitad del Mundo monument tower with the Andes in the background

Kannan with an unidentified hummingbird

Ann with the unidentified bird

Mary, along the plaza leading to the monument

Informational signs along the plaza: we learned we weighed less at the equator.

Some of the grounds around the monument

Steve with the monument in the background

Most of our group on the equator at Mitad del Mundo, Quito, Ecuador

Some of us climbed to the top of the tower to catch the view
while others stayed on the ground below: Jerry, David, Pete, Margo and Carolyn

Bill, Mary and Cindy enjoy the view from the monument steps

Mary, at the base, photographed by me from the top of the monument

Looking 'este' along the equator from the top of the monument,
'norte' to the left, 'sur' to the right.

Looking to 'del sur' from the top of the tower

Looking 'norte' from the top of the Mitad del Mundo monument

Looking 'oeste' from the top of the monument

Back to the east, David, Jerry, Carolyn and Ann are on the equator

To the southeast, on the grounds of the monument, can be seen the modern headquarters of Unasur, the organization of South American states.

There is a huge traffic circle to the east.

Inside the monument, Linda and Del check Kannan's weight at the equator.

Each floor of the monument held exhibits of culture and commerce in different regions of Ecuador.

Example of fiber art with photos

Musical heritage

There is an exhibit showing the chronology of construction
of monuments on the site of Mitad del Mundo.

Chronology, part 2

Chronology, part 3

Fiber art, artists and consumers

Traditional regional apparel

Examples of Ecuadorian hats

One of the traditionally attired hostesses at one of the science exhibits

Heading back to the bus, Mary stops by another unidentified hummingbird.

Another hummer

Woman in traditional attire with an infant

Local entrepreneurs selling confections outside the monument

Last look back, as clouds roll in

"Ecuador loves life"

We waved 'good-bye' to Mitad del Mundo
and to Nestor Kirchner, first president of
Unasur, the organization of South American states.

We rode on into Quito
where we saw street art declaring
"This is...

...Ecuador"

Our Ecuador birding group final meal together
at the Swissotel in downtown Quito.

Our dinner table was set with red and white roses.
We learned from Lelis that roses are the fourth biggest export of Ecuador
behind oil, bananas and shrimp.

A beautiful finale for a beautiful trip