So Much More to See and Learn

We start our tour on Wednesday at Vinapu, which is very close to the airport.   The moai remain in their toppled state.  The ahu includes large blocks of stone which are perfectly cut, similar to what we saw at Machu Pichu.  It also faces the morning sun at the winter solstice.  The archeologist Heyerdahl used these and other factors in developing his theory that the Rapa Nui are descendants of Peru, although most other Archeologists remain convinced that they were Polynesians.

From Vinapu we go to the site we deferred yesterday due to rain.  It is a recreation of a Rapa Nui village.  Chris shows us how the huts are constructed with holes bore into the foundation stones to hold sticks which create the frame.  Reeds from one of the craters are placed on top of the frame to complete the hut.  We also check out a stone chicken coop and the way crops were planted within stone enclosures to protect them from the winds.

It's a drive uphill on the crater Rano Kau to Orongo Village.  At times the road is mostly mud and we appreciate why Chris drives a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  He tells us about working on Bora Bora for a time and learning how to drive the side of a mountain.  The village is located on the cliffs with small islands offshore.  In the 18th and early 19th century the tribes would come to this site for a race and ceremony.  The race was who would be the first person from the tribes to bring back an egg from the manatura bird which seasonally nested on the islands. It was very dangerous and participants often fell to their deaths on the cliffs.  The restored structures are largely flat stones piled upon one another with sod on their roofs.  It is believed that the structures were only used in ceremonial times, no one lived in them permanently.

Behind Orongo Village is the cauldra of Rano Kau.  Chris's wife's grandmother tells stories of the women coming from the village once a week to wash clothes in the fresh water.  The reeds of the cauldra are similar to those in Lake Titicaca, and are the same reeds as are used in the construction of huts.

With a light rain coming down Tahai Ceremonial Complex and lunch is our next stop.  There are three ahu's in the complex.  Ko Te Riku stares at us with it's restored eyes.  This is the only moai with eyes in place, a decision made by the archeologists to assist with tourism.  Nearby is Ahu Tahai, with a lone moai.  At the other end of the complex is Ahu Vai Ure with five moai restored to different degrees.  As we view the ahu one of the flights from Santiago comes in for a landing - such a dichotomy.  Lunch at a restaurant on the edge of the complex is very good and allows the rain to pass.

The afternoon takes us first to Ahu Akivi, the only inland ahu.  The seven moai look out to the sea, which is also unusual as the other ahu's have maoi with their backs to the sea.  Each is about 16 feet tall and weigh about 18 tons.  It is said that the moai look to the point where the sun sets during the equinox.  According to an oral tradition, Hotu Matu’s priest had a dream in which the King's soul flew across the ocean when the Rapa Nui island was seen by him. He then sent scouts navigating across the sea to locate the island and to find people to settle there. Seven of these scouts stayed back on the island waiting for the king to arrive. These seven are represented by the seven stone statues erected in their honor.

Puna Pau is the quarry which provides the scoria red rock used to carve the topknots and eyes.  We meander around the quarry looking at the topknots before heading into town to buy some Polynesian music cd's and then say goodby to Chris.

One of our favorite movies is Joe Versus the Volcano.  In it they travel to a south sea island called Waponi Woo where everyone on the island drinks orange soda.  Since we have been here we have noticed a lot amount of orange soda being consumed.  Before dinner Anne can't help herself - she has an orange soda with the replica moai out by the pool.  William uses the time to photograph the flowers.

This evening we have dinner at Te Moana and after dinner sit in the nearby park to watch the sun go down.  Beautiful!