FUN:travel – Easter Island, Chile – Day 2
March 3, 2013 by Susan Clarke
The ABC’s of Chile
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Birdman Village
- 8:15 – wake up to decent hot coffee
- breakfast buffet is typical – nice fresh fruit platter, meat, cheese, tomatoes, breads, yogurt, cereal, cooked eggs too
- A – 10:00 – 1st half day tour w/Kia-Koe
- 10:15 – tour bus arrives – clearly on island time
- 1st stop – 10:40 – Orongo – most religious, sacred site – Birdman village – homes built w/rocks in the side of the mountain w/very small opening as door – used only for sleeping – very small & very short – see extensive collection of petroglyphs
Petroglyph
- 2nd stop – Rano Kau Volcano – rain water collected there – fruits & vegetables planted on the hill inside
- 3rd stop – Ahu Vinapu – sacred burial grounds
- A – 3:15 – 2nd half day tour w/Kia-Koe
- 1st stop – Puna Pau – red stone quarry used to carve the hair top knots for statues
- 2nd stop – Ahu Akivi – highlight is 7 stone statues representing explorers
- 3rd stop – Te Pahu – lava tunnels that formed caves
Rano Kau Volcano
- A – 7:45 – dinner Kotaro Japanese restaurant just 3 blks from hotel – chef/owner Francisco trained in Japan – only 18 seats – no sushi menu, he makes what he has
- A – appetizer of raw fish salad, cucumber, carrot, sweet vinegar dressing – miso soup – huge plate of sushi & another smaller w/sashimi – Montes wine by the glass – all for only $53 – VG!
- A – grocery store just across street – buy drinks & chips @ over half the mini bar price
- C – We found 2 pearls! – Kotaro & the store
FF – (FUN-fact) – Dutch explorers landed here on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1722, and named it Easter Island.
More FF – The Easter Island park entrance fee is $50 at the airport and $60 if you buy it on sight, cash only.
Ahu Akivi