First little hassle of the trip occurred lately when all flights to and from Easter Island were cancelled due to bad weather. That meant two extra sunsets, more moais and lots of queueing and hanging around but it got sorted and I left Easter Island two days later than planned. There are definitely worse places to be stranded! We were well looked after so it was all fine.
Easter Island is a magical place, despite the lashings of rain we had the first day – check out the sexy gear, which was basically ripped to shreds by the end of the day.
The weather improved the next day but was extremely windy – we nearly got blown off the tops of a few mountains. Hence the flight delays.
The statues or moai were carved by the local people, the Rapa Nui, in honour of their ancestors, so definitely not deities, which I liked. They were honouring the talents of human beings and hoping that their life force or mana would protect the current generations. Also women were honoured with statues which I really liked, as it is unusual in ancient cultures, and modern ones too! The Rapa Nui were ahead of their time.
You’ll be glad to know our old friend Captain Cook landed here back in the day but he was sick at the time so didn’t really appreciate what his crew had found. Maybe it’s a good thing as the Brits would have been in like Flynn and might have totally wrecked the place. As it was Easter Island wasn’t colonised until 1888 when Chile took it and leased it out as a sheep farm. I kid you not. They, combined with spanish catholic missionaries and European diseases diminished the Rapa Nui population to 111 but it’s back up to a healthy 3,500 now. Their relationship with the Chilean state is a little strained as you can imagine.
Anyway had a fantastic few days. Really lucky to have visited such a special place. Met a lovely English woman called Caroline who livened up proceedings and had the grace to be ashamed about some of her ancestors had done. What you really want are photos so here goes.
This one is for you Mar – the arse of a moai. It’s the only one on the Island so very rare. It reminded me of the wombat! ( Sacriledge I know).
