Mar 05 - Easter Island Bound !
Early start today for our very exciting trip to Easter Island. In truth, we have noot researched this much so it is going to be a big surprise when we get there.
What we didn't know was that this island was going to hold a very big surprise for us.
Its a long trip, 5 hour (or 4800Km) flight as the island is half to New Zealand although still part of Chile. Next stop after here is Tahiti at 5900Km
Got to the airport to a very nice surprise that we were travelling Business Class ! We spent half an hour playing with our chairs and back massager and then Mandy the star went on a successful hunt for the champagne.
The flight needless to say passed very quickly !!
Flew over miles and miles of ocean, nothing but nothing apart from sea. 5000km of nothing to be precise !
First views of Easter Island from the air showed large breakers and a very green island. We landed the large dreamliner plane with little runway to spare. The runway is the full width of the island at that point !
We subsequently discovered that the reason the runway was so long and could take such a large plane was that it was one of the alternate recovery sites for the space shuttle and NASA had paid for the runway extension !
We got off the plane, entering the baggage hall to a wall of heat & humidity. The baggage hall was sweltering and we were all soon melting, especially Steve & Janette who had on their hiking boots & socks.
We were all carrying winter coats so looked very well prepared for the Easter Island
weather.
We came out of the airport to be met by our guide for the next couple of days who put flower garlands on us & off we went. Steve and Paul looked lovely....
Our hotel in Hanga Roa (the only town) was about 5 steps from the airport runway but not a concern as there is only 1 flight a day in the afternoon !! The hotel like all the building here is low rise and characteristically rustic but very nice with a little pool which the rooms sliding door open onto with a little terrace and shaded open air eating area.
Most important - good air conditioning !!
We dropped our cases at the hotel and went exploring, The street map was very advanced....three streets turn left and that's the main street. There isn't much more ! By the time we had walked 3 streets, we were melting in the humidity so we stopped at the little shop that sold nothing but ice cream and ice lollies. We had only managed to walk half a mile before we needed to re-hydrate
We carried on down to the harbour and the fishing boats, all large canoe type boats, had just brought in a huge swordfish which the locals were carving up and apportioning out.
All very community oriented and interesting.
First day in this really unusual but extremely humid place. Everything is pretty rustic but seems to kind of work, the people are fun & friendly, the atmosphere is very laid back. Certainly not advanced tourism but all the things you need are here in one form or another. The Supermercado wasn't super but did sell bottled water and every shop whatever its purpose sells carvings of the Maoi (the stone heads)
After a walk back and freshen up, we went back to the harbour area for a sunset drink and dinner.
We bagged a seat with a great sunset view and after a couple of pre dinner drinks watched the sun set over the surfers and some great cloud formations. For dinner, Mandy & Janette had some fantastic fresh huge tuna steaks, the local speciality.
Really looking forward to our first day exploring the island tomorrow with our guide.
It was becoming clearly obvious that Easter Island was not some remote rock with a few stone heads on but a "paradise" like island with a spirit and massive history as well as a fair tourist business....Moreover, the people were relaxed and fun.
Early start today for our very exciting trip to Easter Island. In truth, we have noot researched this much so it is going to be a big surprise when we get there.
What we didn't know was that this island was going to hold a very big surprise for us.
Its a long trip, 5 hour (or 4800Km) flight as the island is half to New Zealand although still part of Chile. Next stop after here is Tahiti at 5900Km
 |
| The loonies are on tour again. Pauls' hearing trumpet on display |
Got to the airport to a very nice surprise that we were travelling Business Class ! We spent half an hour playing with our chairs and back massager and then Mandy the star went on a successful hunt for the champagne.
The flight needless to say passed very quickly !!
First views of Easter Island from the air showed large breakers and a very green island. We landed the large dreamliner plane with little runway to spare. The runway is the full width of the island at that point !
 |
| Easter Island - a tiny dot in the ocean literally |
We subsequently discovered that the reason the runway was so long and could take such a large plane was that it was one of the alternate recovery sites for the space shuttle and NASA had paid for the runway extension !
We got off the plane, entering the baggage hall to a wall of heat & humidity. The baggage hall was sweltering and we were all soon melting, especially Steve & Janette who had on their hiking boots & socks.
We were all carrying winter coats so looked very well prepared for the Easter Island
weather.
We came out of the airport to be met by our guide for the next couple of days who put flower garlands on us & off we went. Steve and Paul looked lovely....
 |
| Don't we all look lovely !! |
Our hotel in Hanga Roa (the only town) was about 5 steps from the airport runway but not a concern as there is only 1 flight a day in the afternoon !! The hotel like all the building here is low rise and characteristically rustic but very nice with a little pool which the rooms sliding door open onto with a little terrace and shaded open air eating area.
Most important - good air conditioning !!
 |
| The local taxi company was a bit of a concern and its true to say that all of the taxis were like this but many a lot worse. |
We dropped our cases at the hotel and went exploring, The street map was very advanced....three streets turn left and that's the main street. There isn't much more ! By the time we had walked 3 streets, we were melting in the humidity so we stopped at the little shop that sold nothing but ice cream and ice lollies. We had only managed to walk half a mile before we needed to re-hydrate
 |
| Steve found the local camera shop as he was still looking for spares but to no avail |
 |
| A trio of Pratts |
We carried on down to the harbour and the fishing boats, all large canoe type boats, had just brought in a huge swordfish which the locals were carving up and apportioning out.
All very community oriented and interesting.
 |
| The only town and harbour |
 |
| All of the restaurant fish is straight off the boat |
First day in this really unusual but extremely humid place. Everything is pretty rustic but seems to kind of work, the people are fun & friendly, the atmosphere is very laid back. Certainly not advanced tourism but all the things you need are here in one form or another. The Supermercado wasn't super but did sell bottled water and every shop whatever its purpose sells carvings of the Maoi (the stone heads)
After a walk back and freshen up, we went back to the harbour area for a sunset drink and dinner.
We bagged a seat with a great sunset view and after a couple of pre dinner drinks watched the sun set over the surfers and some great cloud formations. For dinner, Mandy & Janette had some fantastic fresh huge tuna steaks, the local speciality.
Really looking forward to our first day exploring the island tomorrow with our guide.
It was becoming clearly obvious that Easter Island was not some remote rock with a few stone heads on but a "paradise" like island with a spirit and massive history as well as a fair tourist business....Moreover, the people were relaxed and fun.
