🇪🇨 Quito, Ecuador: The Capital on the Equator
Straddling the literal "beltline of Earth", Quito is the world’s second-highest capital (2,850m) and a UNESCO treasure chest of colonial grandeur. ⛪ Gothic Majesty: Basílica del Voto Nacional Largest church in South America, inspired by Notre-Dame. Climb its towers for drone-worthy views (but alas, no drone—sigh). 🌄 Panoramic Thrills El Panecillo: Virgin statue overlooks the "Andean Museum City"—a sea of terracotta roofs and Baroque spires. Golden hour magic: When rain clears, sunlight paints the old town holy. 🌍 Equator Experiments Mitad del Mundo: Balance eggs on nails at 0°0’0” latitude (no Coriolis force = wizardry!). Straddle hemispheres: Insta-brag for life. 🌿 Wild Encounters Amazon mornings: Misty jungle—don’t venture without guides (jaguars don’t do selfies). Grumpy capybaras: Scragglier than zoo ones, but same "I woke up like this" vibe. Condor Machay Falls: Hidden gem behind emerald vines. #Quito #EquatorAdventures #HiddenGems