21 and 22 March 2017 – The Equator (Ecuador) and The Sanctuary at Ipiales and Popayan (Colombia)

The first stop of the day on the way to Popayan (Colombia) was at the equator. The name Ecuador comes from the Equator, which divides the country unequally putting most of it in the Southern Hemisphere. The historical or original monument was built between 1979 and 1982 by the Provincial Government replacing the original monument built by the Government of  Ecuador in 1936. The Mitad Del Mundo Park was to celebrate the fact of the Equator passing through Ecuador. When satellite navigation began it was found that the monument was 240 metres south of the correct position. A new private park, the Intinan Solar Museum was built at the proper position and the park includes some examples of indigenous life in the past. There were shrunken heads on display, said to be real.

The Historical (original) Equator.

   

Here there were traditional dresses and items on display with some being worn by guides on the site.


 

 

The Intinan Solar Museum, built on the correct line of the equator had a lot of indigenous artifacts in traditionally built huts and houses.

Me being silly at the proper equator

It took an hour and a quarter to cross the border at Rumicahaca, leaving Ecuador for Colombia. It only took another half hour to reach the Hotel Santa Isabel in Popayan, arriving there at 19.45 hours.
As there was no food available in the hotel I went out looking for a cafe to find only two casinos and one chicken take-away open. Not a good start to a visit to Popayan especially as it rained as I walked around and the place looked dark, dirty and possibly not worth a visit. How wrong I was as the following morning I found a lovely white city, called the second most beautiful city in Colombia after Cartagena.