So, we went to visit the well-known North-South separation spot with a so nice Swiss couple met previously in the Galápagos islands.
Here we are at the Latitude 0° 0' 0", which also hosts a small museum on original indigenes living in the Amazonian jungle.
Most interestingly are cut real human heads whose size is reduced by using a special technique. Local indigenes were wearing these heads around the neck as a war trophee.
Francois saying hello to a 1:1 reproduction of an Anaconda
As you can see, indigenes were holding their penis with a string at the waist so no insect / larves could come in while fishing in the river, cute isn'it?
Anecdote: the French calculated in 1736 (so without GPS) where should be the separation point and built a monument like a tower to locate the place. However they go the place wrong by a few hundred meters; still quite well done Frenchies ;-)
Below is monument that French had build, believing it was where the Equator line was standing.
Some funy exercices were given by the guide, for example trying to balance an egg on the head of a screw, just on the separation line.
Francois tried as well to balance te egg but was less sucessful as Weronika who took far less time.
The guide even gave a "egg-standing" certificate, OMG it is so freaky !
Gravity is slightly different on the Equator. Indeed you weight less on the separation line. According to newtons law since the earth is flatten in the poles the distance to the center of the earth is bigger in the equator and therefore its gravity is stronger there.
Therefore it is much easier to push down straight arms of your buddy who tries to resists (demonstration above with Stef).
Down town in Quito where we enjoyed hanging out with Steffen and Meiling, our Swiss-German couple, who we shared some nice coffees and dive stories with.
