Well, today
was a HUGE disappointment. Easter Island is a tender port which means that the
ship can’t dock for various reasons such as the water is too shallow or there
isn’t a dock large enough for the ship. We were to use the ship’s life boats to
tender all passengers ashore, but the Captain didn’t feel it was safe to tender
due to rough waters around the island. The water was fine around the ship, but
you could see the waves crashing on shore. So, instead of our tour of the
island, we sailed around it and were able to see the Moai at the landing site
and we could see the row of 15 Moai from a distance with their backs to us. We
also saw a whole bunch of them, some lying down and others upright. It appeared
to us that it might have been the quarry site.
We started
the day with a beautiful sunrise over the island and ended the day with a
fantastic sunset. Deep blue waters….just amazing!
Here is a
bit of background on Easter Island:
The monoliths of Easter Island have fascinated and
puzzled Westerners since the Dutch seaman Roggeven made landfall there on
Easter Sunday, 1722. The mystery of Easter Island's first settlers remains just
that - a mystery. Today, most anthropologists believe the island was settled as
part of the great wave of Polynesian emigration. (The oldest of the Moai, as
the great monoliths are called, date to 700 A.D.) The society that produced the
Moai flourished during the 16th and 17th centuries, but population growth,
deforestation and food shortages led to its collapse. Today some 3,400 souls
inhabit this 64-square-mile island, which lies some 2,200 miles equidistant
from Tahiti and South America.
Here is what we were supposed
to do:
“We have a private tour with Paul of Tekarera's
Private Tours of Rapa Nui. The tour is based on your interests and knowledge of
Easter Island. From those who only know the island as "The Island with
those Big Statues - Moai" to fellow archeologists Paul Pownall has always
been able to give his guests a unique and personalized tour of Easter Island.
With Paul's work starting in 1968 as the youngest member of an
archeological expedition restoring Tahai and starting an island wide
archeological survey, to his building of their new tour facilities in Tekarera,
Paul has always been interested in sharing all aspects of this mysterious,
special place and people”.
Paul came highly recommended on Cruise Critic and TripAdvisor. My
tour filled up quickly and Paul said he would find guides for a second or third
van.
On our tour we will visit the restored Ahu complex of Tahai, which Paul
helped restore in 1968 as a 16 year old field hand with Dr. Mulloy; from there
to Rano Kao volcano with its giant crater and on to Orongo village where the
bird man contest was held, then down to Ahu Vanuatu, then over to Rano Raraku
the Moai quarry that shows status in all stages of being carved, then to Ahu
Tongariki with its 15 Moai, around to Te Pito Te Kura and Anakena beach and Ahu
Nau Nau.
Joining
us today are Rick & Janie and Steve & Karen. Paul will be our guide.
Marianne
volunteered to lead the second van with Lorraine & Charles and Lois &
David. Peter will be their guide.
Tom &
Ken volunteered to lead the third van with Sue & Andrew and Dale &
Janet. Patricio will be their guide.
Of all
the tours I set up this one was the most trying. It’s a small island miles and
miles from anywhere and of course internet/phone service is spotty. Add to
that, the limited resources (vehicles,
guides/drivers etc.) on the island. I originally had set up 3 vans of 8, but
that became problematic and someone else on the CC boards set up a tour with
another company. A week before the cruise was to start they had to cancel due to
illness and Jeff & Julie on their tour stepped up to lead it and take on
the people I had left over from my tours. This one was a real group effort and
I really appreciate Jeff & Julie taking on the challenge.
The
ship’s tours also filled up and they were trying to find additional vehicles
and guides, but again there are only so many on this island.
So,
despite our efforts, Mother Nature had other ideas and we had another sea day.
It was a shame we couldn’t tender as the day was beautiful. 80* and about 5
mile an hour winds. There were lots of disappointed people that we weren’t able
to tour the island. It is the most remote populated island and very unique with
its’ huge Moai statues and is on many people’s bucket lists. Hopefully, we will
be able to return some day to see the island.
After we
were about finished viewing the island from our balcony we went in for lunch
and then exercised and sun bathed for a while.
Had a
nice dinner and the show was Tony Pace who did a completely different show for
us tonight. Another enjoyable show. (unlike the comedian last night that got
very mixed reviews.)
So, now we have 5 more sea days until Papeete,
Tahiti. We do have a day of scenic cruising of Pitcairn Island in a couple of
days and if the conditions are good many of the islanders will come aboard for
us.
We also
gain an extra hour tonight. Whoo Hoo. I think we will gain time for a few days
now.
I wanted
to post pictures tonight, but the internet is a bit slow, so will try tomorrow.
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