The official trip with other families does not begin until tomorrow. We decided to fill the day with local activities. Laura arranged for a guide and off we went to the cable cars, an authentic Ecuadorian lunch, and the Museum on the Equator. Quito is at an elevation of 9,000 feet, but the mountains around it are even higher at 14,000 feet. The cable car ride was a lot of fun, but the day was overcast and visibility was low.
The next stop was for lunch. Our guide picked a small local restuarant that served us a traditional Ecuadorian meal. I remember the empanadas were fantastic and the main dish of pork was very similar to the Puerto Rican food German cooked me while living in DC.
Our last stop of the day was at the Equator Museum. Strange phenomenon are known to occur on the Equator and this museum allows you to experiment. We all watched the water go down a drain both on and off the Equator line. We also tried to balance a raw egg on the head of a nail. Melissa was by far the quickest; I was slow but determined; and poor Chris never quite got it. The museum also detailed tribal traditions such as creating shrunken heads and practicing with blow guns.
As a side note, we learned that guinea pigs are not pets in Ecuador, but considered a delicacy. I don’t think I will be trying that particular local treat.
