Wow! We mean WOW! 
We are staying in a delicous little cabin on the bay on the outskirts of the only town on the island (Hanga Roa). The town is pretty small, a few shops and cafes - mainly in shacks or small buildings. Food is very expensive as it all has to be imported. The weather has been quite changable, to say the least. One moment sunny, the next really stormy, the next hard rain. We have just been trying to plan our trips between storms! Works out most of the time .....!
But we have already been exploring over the last day and a half - to some of the moai (huge head statues on ceremonial platforms)- Ahu Akapu, Ahu Tahai and Ahu Tatutira, along the coastline, around the town, and to a cave with ancient rock paintings - Ana Kai Tangata (which means cave where men are eaten!). It's been great to see some real life moai standing proudly looking over the island. Some of them are huge and we haven't even seem the biggest ones yet! 
We are here on Easter Island (real name Rapa Nui). It is the remotest inhabited place on Earth. Over 5,000 miles to any other place. A little rock in the middle of a big ocean, as our host told us today. Even the animated map on the plane was basically just a picture of a plane on a blue background! After nearly 6 hours flying from Santiago (on a much nicer plane (LAN Air) than our American Airlines plane from Miami), we touched down on the island, and were met by our host's assistant with flower leis. Yes, we have gotten lei'd on Easter Island ... first time for both of us..... :).
We are staying in a delicous little cabin on the bay on the outskirts of the only town on the island (Hanga Roa). The town is pretty small, a few shops and cafes - mainly in shacks or small buildings. Food is very expensive as it all has to be imported. The weather has been quite changable, to say the least. One moment sunny, the next really stormy, the next hard rain. We have just been trying to plan our trips between storms! Works out most of the time .....!
But we have already been exploring over the last day and a half - to some of the moai (huge head statues on ceremonial platforms)- Ahu Akapu, Ahu Tahai and Ahu Tatutira, along the coastline, around the town, and to a cave with ancient rock paintings - Ana Kai Tangata (which means cave where men are eaten!). It's been great to see some real life moai standing proudly looking over the island. Some of them are huge and we haven't even seem the biggest ones yet!
We have been enjoying the local food too (found the coffee shop with murderously high-priced espressos (just the two each ...)), have eaten ceviche (raw fish marinated in lime juice) (really good), and Evan had his first drink of Pisco Sour (the local liquor). Have been befriended by several of the town's dogs, including our host's dog, Michigan, and apparently already seen as push-overs in the dog community with the cookie handouts starting today (well one dog walked with us all the way to the man eating cave, hung out in the cave while we took pictures, and then all the way back into town...).
The island is relatively deserted of tourists, and we have pretty much had the sights to ourselves. Tomorrow we are heading off on an island tour to see more of the sites, including the quarry where the statues were carved, and the stone that represents the center of the world. We are also enjoying the relaxed island vibe, palm trees, beaches and chilled out locals.
It feels really remote on the island, and you can get a taste of how isolated the original people were. In one sense, it is quite disturbing to think about, but in another way, is also quite peaceful. There is the sense that this is all there is. An island that is 11 miles by 4 miles in the middle of nowhere. Incredible really.
The island is relatively deserted of tourists, and we have pretty much had the sights to ourselves. Tomorrow we are heading off on an island tour to see more of the sites, including the quarry where the statues were carved, and the stone that represents the center of the world. We are also enjoying the relaxed island vibe, palm trees, beaches and chilled out locals.
It feels really remote on the island, and you can get a taste of how isolated the original people were. In one sense, it is quite disturbing to think about, but in another way, is also quite peaceful. There is the sense that this is all there is. An island that is 11 miles by 4 miles in the middle of nowhere. Incredible really.
I for one want to see the lei pics - not something we get to see often!! Your trip sounds wonderful (as they all do!) and of course I can't wait to see the pics. Have a wonderful time and keep blogging! Who would think they'd have internet in such an isolated place? We truely all connected now!
ReplyDelete