Rapa Nui 3 - Masonry

We were signed up for two trips today, the morning outing was to the quarry from which all the Moai came.  They were carved out of the Rock and then transported somehow across country to the platforms upon which they were to be stood.  Only the eyes and the headdresses were done at the final site. We walked along one of the 'roads' that the Moai were taken.  Along the way, you see abandoned and broken Moai - where something has happened during transportation and the monument is abandoned.  The quarry itself has any number of part carved and all but complete Moai both still in the rock face and down the slope from it.  When one looks at a 22m statue weighing about 80 tons, it makes you wonder how they were carved using basic chisels made of rock and how they were moved, let alone brought upright at the relevant site if they got there in one piece!  The quarry is on the outer wall of the second volcanic crater on the island.  We visited this after the quarry - it has its own ecology and a dose of wild horses!

Lunch was a barbecue/buffet near the coast, which was very good (and Pete was very popular because having disclosed no fish in advance, there was steak - something the guides more than anybody, probably even Pete, thoroughly appreciated!)

In the afternoon, we had signed up for a hike that was misleadingly called the hibiscus valley.  It was actually a trek up to the highest point on the island.  On this occasion, we were the laggards being at least double the age of any of the others on the walk.  With lungs complaining because it was somewhat humid this afternoon, we made it up to the top and were rewarded with views over the whole island - all three coasts.  The walk down was not overly exciting as the path was wide and the scenery was rolling countryside rather than anything of great interest. Having thought we were a bit slow - on the way up - our guide reported that we had done the excursion an hour quicker than anyone else in the past few weeks. Maybe we were not as slow as we thought but just run ragged by the youngsters!

Only one more full day to go here; we intend doing a longer walk tomorrow to cover off a number of the historic sites on the north coast.

Rapa Nui 2 - up a volcano

Today we were down for two walks - the first was called the Birdman walk; the second was called the fifteen.  We were only 6 in the morning - us, two youngsters (teenagers here with their Mum) and two Sri Lankans of indeterminable age.  The walk was some 9 km with a healthy 250m climb.  It is safe to say that the poor guide was spread thinly with the juniors able too keep ahead (in spite, in the case of the younger, of an arm in plaster) and the Sri Lankans lagging some way behind.  This is a double whammy because when the guide chooses to stop and tell the party something, we wait for the slow coaches, get spoken to and head off again; so no rest for those that, apparently need it the most!  At the end of the climb we were treated to a great view over a volcanic crater, filled with water and with an extra of the sea just over the rim.

We then walked round the crater rim to the Birdman site - not some prisoner in Alcatraz with a canary but a sadistic type of triathlon between the island's tribes!  It went along the lines of a 100m dash to the cliff top, a 300m descent of the cliffs, 1.5km swim to an island (see picture above and think big island, not stack), climb on to the island, find an egg from a visiting sooty tern and then do the reverse. Oh, and by the way, don't break the egg!! All to get your elder to be, effectively, PM for a year (perhaps the promise to the winning competitor of a white virgin swung it!). We lost the Sri Lankans on the way and they ended up being mini-bussed to the end of the route, but we were there with the youngsters.

The afternoon saw us sent out with the Sri Lankans again, a pair from Los Angeles who were accompanied by JR., their ventriloquists dummy, who was dressed in his best South Sea Island outfit (seriously) but had a change into Gaucho clothes just in case. The final couple were from Copenhagen - sane, but slow.  As a result, the walk, although interesting was shorter than it might have been and ponderous.  We have noted who to avoid when having tomorrow's activities allocated.  We ended up at the only beach on the island having seen, on the way, a site with 15 Moai, some basic observatories (a stone tower with no windows but a hole in the ceiling) and som chicken coops with secret doors. Strange but true.

Ccertainly got some exercise today, but not enough to dissuade us from two walks tomorrow.

Rapa Nui

Arrived safe on Easter Island after another airport blooper - we were sent off one way and, again after queuing for a while were told that we were in the wrong place! Another trek the length of an airport.....

Also found ourselves in the back row of the plane so were expecting a wait to get off (from row 45), but because the airport here is tiny (one plane at a time) and steps are used, we were able to disembark promptly - then wait for the cases to be pushed through the hole in the wall.

The hotel is very nice; views over the South coast.

Our first afternoon hike was a reasonably gentle affair called caves and cliffs.  We started by going to one of the Moai sites - the seven explorers - which is the only site which faces the sea.  These monuments face due west so they are aligned with the sun on the equinox.  We then walked over a lava field toward the sea.  The lava field is one that has 'tubes' that run beneath it - where molten lava ran below the top surface.  This is what creates the caves - entrances are where the crust has collapsed.  These areas provide shelter and effective 'greenhouses' for crops.  We walked through one of these tubes for about 200m emerging down the slope and through a self seeded fig tree! At the coast, we re-entered one of the tubes which vented in two places through the cliff face. Then we moved on along the cliff top with views over the South Pacific.  Next we went to another Moai site - this one has the only monument with eyes and headress in place. The eyes are white coral and obsidian.  A sundowner looking over the main village on the island set the seal on a good first expedition.

Santiago 1

We touched down earlier than scheduled this morning after the long flight from Madrid but waiting for a stand eat into part of that and then getting through immigration and customs saw to the rest.  Part of which was our fault as we had not filled in the customs form that was needed and were told so when we got to the front of the queue. The solution - go back, fill out the form and start queuing again! We were delivered to our hotel, which seems to be a pleasant small affair in a quiet district; the only iffy thing is that we have been given Room 13 (no time to be superstitious).  We freshened up and then set out on a wander round Santiago.  Some bits we remembered from our previous visit; others we did not.  The cathedral is buried under scaffolding and plastics as it is undergoing renovation; the main museum is closed for January!  We did go to the central market where there was a lot of fish and to the government area which has plenty of civic buildings in a 'colonial' style.  There are plenty of French influences and the train termini have a European look to them.  The central area is well flagged - loads on flagpoles and draped on buildings.  What we think is the former parliament building is well guarded by the army (and a cavalry regiment with boots and spurs) and has an array of flag poles on either side and on the main road near it is a flag of humungous proportions!  The change of temperature from home took its toll - it hit 35 degrees this afternoon.  So we strolled back along the river to the hotel for a breather before we look to go out for dinner.  A 6 a.m. pick up tomorrow is looming - but that should not be too bad on our first morning here.

We found a local wine bar/restaurant (eventually) this evening called Bocanariz.  Had an excellent Malbec (no, a Chilean one, not Argentinian) and a T-bone steak.  Perfect end to the day really.  The wine waiter used some gadget to get oxygen through the wine - made pouring it an art form!

Waiting to Fly

The taxi was early picking us up so we were at Heathrow with what, at best, could be described as plenty of time.  We are waiting for the clock to tick by toward boarding time.  Little choice but to nurse a glass of wine - and there is a nice single vineyard Pinot Noir from Chile to practice in advance of the local vino over the next weeks!  Ingrid is playing on her iPad with a glass of fizz within reach - all in all not too much of a hardship!

Golfing and Lounging

On each of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, we have played golf. Days 1 and 3 on the same course, Golf du Soleil; Day 2 on a next door course, Golf les Dunes.  The latter course is not as good.  The weather on the first two days was very warm - about 36 degrees in the shade.  The first afternoon, we lounged by the pool afterwards - reading and rehydrating!  None of us drank enough on the first round - it seems that you need to take on board nearly 2 litres to stay in reasonable shape.  Today, Wednesday, it a little cooler and the beginnings of a sand storm is blowing in.  Fortunately, this started after we finished golf.  Yesterday afternoon, we did a short tour of the City - the marina, the port, the kasbah and the souk - so we have been away from the hotel and golf course cocoon.  All in all, the hotel is good with a decent variety of food and the Moroccan wine is perfectly drinkable - perhaps too much so!

Arrival in Agadir

After an interesting ride from Marrakech through the countryside and some of the smaller foothills of the Atlas range, we arrived in Agadir.  The hotel does not look much from the front but the room is fine and the facilities will be perfectly okay for us.  We had a quick drink and then a walk along the beach.  It is mid 20's centigrade so plenty warm enough.  The hotel has three restaurants - we were in the main, buffet style offering today.  A good selection washed down with local wine. Altogether a good start to our break. Golf in the morning will test whether all of the facilities are up to scratch!