This was a VERY long day in the bus. We were going to do the teleferiqo, but dedcided that we waited to long to get up that day, since we really wanted to hike the top of the volcano that same day, so instead we decided to hit up the middle of the earth. I mean how hard could it be to get there since it is world famous? You would think everyone knows about how to get there...right?
WRONG!
We jumpped on the trolly line to head toward the bus station, we knew we had to get to the bus station, and it was at the end of the line. Guess what, we made it there in flying colors, only about 45 minutes later. I was thinking something was wrong because the book (which was back at the hostel - good place for it right? Back safe in the hostel room while I wonder around Quito, Ecuador´s capital city! Brilliant Mandi, just brilliant!) Anyway, I decided to start asking locals where I needed to go so that we could make it to the center of the earth. Everyone was pointing to this one bus, that didn´t have the right sign on it, but I decided to trust them anway. We got on the bus, and luckily we didn´t have to pay because it was a bus transfer. However, it did take me to another place where I had no idea where I was. Great, in the barrio of Quito somewhere far far away from where I think I need to be. How the heck do I get to where I need to go??
Finally, I found someone that said he knew that we were in the wrong place, and we needed to leave this terminal and walk about 4 blocks to the blue bus (great, there are only about 100000 blue buses in the area, so honestly which one! I guess I was that much closer to being there, so I decided to trust him. Plus I had my bodyguard, Chris, with me, so I was fine!). We get to the blue station (not blue bus, it was quite obvious when we got there), and took that to the end. Then a nice lady showed us the correct bus to get on to get there.
In a matter of hours, quite litterally hours, we finally made it to the center of the earth! I was expecting something grandios, and knock my socks off beautiful...however, you should honestly imagine a desserted Disney Land. I think Chris and I were the only people there, I thought this was supposed to be some sort of attraction, guess not! We did a few silly photos, and then looked around at the abandoned shops that probably were cool at one point. (Yeah, come to find out there was a cool thing next door to the place that we were at. See shouldn´t have left that stupid book behind! I suppose it´s my travel guide! Stupid me, you would think after 10 months of traveling I would have known better!).
Anyway, we saw it, enjoyed it, and left all in 1 hour time. The journey there was more spectacular than the actual sight! And by the way, I think that myth busters needs to do a show on the whole toliet flushing thing. I don´t think it´s true. I have not noticed any toliets flushing in the opposite direction here as they do in the US!
We jumped a bus to go back, of course not knowing what one to take, because really I don´t think we were ever on the right one! So we got on one that said ¨CENTRAL¨ hmm... where could that take me? Well guess what, 20 miutes later we were about 5 blocks walking distance from our hostel. Amazing. Next time, I think I´ll just guess and take random buses rather than think I know the way! It was better that way, and who knows we probably would have been less lost the first time had we done that.
So that is my story of discovering the center of the earth!
