Quito, Ecuador

I didn't arrive in Quito until just before midnight and by the time I got through immigration and customs, met my guide and driver, and got to the hotel, it was nearly 1:30am. After a fairly long day of traveling, I went to bed right away because I knew a busy day of sightseeing awaited!

I met my guide the following morning and we set off walking down the historical center of town. My hotel (unbeknownst to me) is very near the center of old town, so we didn't have far to walk before we were surrounded by old Spanish colonial buildings, churches, and some magnificent squares.

Quito was the first city to be named a UNESCO World Heritage site, due to its large concentration of Spanish colonial architecture. We visited churches, museums, catacombs, and squares. 

After spending time in the old town, we loaded up in the van and drove to the equator museum, where I stood astride the equator! It's a bizarre experience knowing that part of you is in the Northern Hemisphere and part of you is in the Southern Hemisphere! I also balanced an egg on the head of a nail, which I was told is much easier to do on the equator than off it due to the lack of external pressures and forces on the egg at the equator (Coriolis effects and whatnot).

After the Equator museum, we headed up to the rim of an inactive volcano for an extremely late lunch. After trying a local pork dish, we made our way back to the hotel where I had the remainder of the day free. I chose to relax since I had seen what I wanted to see in Quito, and know I have an early morning tomorrow.