March 15 The last full day in this paradise.

Today we travel to one of the most interesting sites on the island, but that will be this afternoon, and you have to work for it.  First, in the morning we left for the north shore of the island.  The first stopping point is Papa Vaka where there were many petroglyphs telling the story of fishing and perhaps, the history of how the ancestors came to this island.  Here is a picture of a Tuna, which was revered by the natives.  Also carved into the stone or pictures of fish hooks used to catch the Tuna as well as a crab or octopus.  You can also see the picture of a catamaran canoe.

We then made our way to Te Pito Kura, the site of “The Last Moai”. 

• 

• 

• 

This is Paro, the biggest moai ever moved and successfully erected on an ahu.  It is almost 10 meters tall and weighs around 80 tons.  Tradition is that this moai was ordered by a widow in memory of her late husband.  It was one of the last statues knocked down from its ahu some time after 1838, hence the name “The Last Moai”.

Then on to the beach at Anakena.  Tradition considers this the birthplace of Rapa Nui culture.  Here is where the first king landed, and his wife gave birth to the first Rapa Nui born on the island.

• 

• 

The beach here is beautiful.  There is an ahu with seven moai along with a separate moai nearby.  You can see the generational differences in the style and detail.  Also note the carvings on the back of the moai, representing the tattoos that they had.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

A sad note on the beach is the micro plastics that you see in the sand.  This is the result of the many tons of plastic trash that ends up in the oceans and is beaten by wave action into tiny particles that end up on the beaches and in the fish that eat them thinking them food.  Of course, for me, the only upside to this is another reason not to eat fish. Another aspect of life on Rapa Nui is the dogs. The strays are everywhere. This one is for Ron, Hoy, Judy and Mazie.

• 

• 

After a refreshing swim it is back to the hotel for lunch and then off again to the quarry where the moai were carved.  The van let us off on the road and we trekked through the brush for about an hour up to where there was a parking lot and a restaurant.  You can imagine what my preference would have been.  This is where we actually enter the park and climb to see the unfinished moai, or moai waiting to be chosen to be moved to an ahu.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Then back to the hotel to pack and get ready to board our cruise ship tomorrow.

March 16 – leaving Rapa Nui

This part of our adventure is behind us.  We were totally awestruck by what we saw and believed privileged to have seen in person what many only see pictures of.  There is really no substitute for up close and personal.

In the morning we went to the local archaeological museum where they are placing any new pieces that are found and trying to reclaim those that have been taken over the years by adventurers and explorers of old.   

Then we boarded a van to take us to the landing site for the ship.  The port, in town, was closed because of the rough sea and high swells, so the ship moved to the north shore, where we were yesterday, by the beach in Anakena.  Here we boarded Zodiac boats to take us to the ship.

• 

• 

• 

The next two days, the 17^th and 18^th we will be at sea heading to the Pitcairn Island chain.  Our first stop is Ducie Island from where I will make our next post.