My main reason for visiting Quito was to get to the Galápagos Islands so I only had one full day here between flying in and flying out. This was enough time to do the one thing I wanted to do: go to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) and stand on both sides of the equator.
Ok so I did find out later that old mate Charles Marie de la Condamine was wrong in 1736 when he made the measurements and that the actual 0"00 latitude lies 300km north of Quito. But I still loved checking out the monument and taking 100 selfies standing on both sides of the yellow line. And besides, even if the centre was touristy and slightly tacky, the two hour journey each way in public transport was definitely as authentic as you could get. I was the only tourist on the bus as before heading to the expensive Galápagos I couldn't justify a $40 cab ride when public transport cost me $1.70.
In the afternoon I wandered around amongst the Sunday crowds of Old Town, deciding that Quito didn't really give me that same feeling that the other big cities had. It was pretty and I was surprised at its beauty but I was more than happy to leave the hoards of people in the streets and go hang at my hostel. Bring on the Galápagos (and the 4am start the next morning!)
In the afternoon I wandered around amongst the Sunday crowds of Old Town, deciding that Quito didn't really give me that same feeling that the other big cities had. It was pretty and I was surprised at its beauty but I was more than happy to leave the hoards of people in the streets and go hang at my hostel. Bring on the Galápagos (and the 4am start the next morning!)