Easter Island, Chile

Easter Island is the most isolated inhabited island in the world. Located 2,400 miles off the west coast of Chile, the island is famous for its more that 600 giant moai statues. It is thought that the statues represented important personalities who were deified after death. Many of these were deliberately destroyed centuries ago and archeologists have been working on the island for 40 years restoring them. We were fortunate to have three of these archeologists guide us over the island, and it was a thrill to see the collection of fifteen moai they had restored lined up on their ahu (platforms) facing inward from the sea.

We were treated to a barbecue on the beach before the afternoon’s activities, and mid way through the meal, while we were being entertained by local musicians, down came a torrential downpour. It only served to add another item of interest to the day.

This afternoon some of us went horseback riding along the coast. The rain had stopped and it was a beautiful way to spend the afternoon. Horses are a major part of life on the Island and we encountered them everywhere we went, even climbing around the moai statues .

Our two days spent on Easter Island were enlightening. The island is small and far away from anywhere, but the people who live there are delightful, entertaining, beautiful and very friendly.