city central... |
rendezvous |
Mapoche |
criss-cross |
neighbours |
sauntering... |
downtown |
a colonial relic on C. Santa Lucia |
cafe.. |
fairy princess |
don't walk on the grass...or... |
colour-coordinated at the ice cream parlour |
Easter Island, Isla de Pascua, Rapa Nui......at last |
Hanga Roa from the road to Orongo |
Hanga Roa from Tahai |
Atamu Tekena |
|
The ceremonial centre at Tahai...... |
the statue's eyes have been restored, like the originals, from white coral and obsidian |
old stones...recent bones |
toppled Moai at Ahu Akahanga..... |
a tumbled topknot at Ahu Akahanga |
further along the jagged east coast sits Ahu Tongariki..... |
...the platform with the longest lineup of stone images |
the quarry for many of the Moai...a volcanic crater.. |
...where wind, rain, and lichen ravaged faces stick out of the earth like a cluster of startled mushrooms..... |
...staring a bit forlornly across the centuries |
even with bodies partially buried the Moai are huge..... |
...and display a dignity befitting a clan icon |
you can take a steep path up to the top of the crater..... |
...where reeds grow in a rain-filled lake |
out for an early walk by the harbour in Hanga Roa..... |
...where the fishing fleet floats at anchor |
local children have the day off school..... |
...for a festival celebrating Rapa Nui culture |
the nearest internet cafe is still closed..... |
...but you can get supplies at the market..... |
...before visiting the extensive site at Orongo..... |
...which is located on the rim of Rano Kau..... |
...one of 3 volcanos that spewed up the lava from which the island is formed... |
stone houses used during the ancient Birdman festival..... |
...competitors swam across shark infested waters to gather seabird eggs from nearby islands..... |
...and artists carved out ceremonial images on the lava rocks..... |
some petroglyphs have clear Birdman figures..... |
...others are a little harder to identify |
at the north end of the island is the lovely Anakena Beach..... |
...which one morning became a set for a television crew |
NBC were broadcasting live from Isla de Pascua..... |
...highlighting traditional Rapa Nui culture..... |
...with help from some island residents |
they even put new eyes in the moai of Ahu Nau Nau |
all of this was for the program named..... |
...Where in the World Is Matt Lauer? |
November is springtime on Rapa Nui, and flowers bloomed everywhere..... |
...including this exuberant looking specimen..... |
banana trees poking out of Ipu Maengo cave..... |
the road on west and south, traversing a volcanic landscape, is quite rough..... |
...so when Hanga Roa finally hoves into view..... |
..it's time for a square meal |
...at a cafe in the centre of Hanga Roa, together with an old friend..... |
...who can pop up, clutching a Pisco Sour, just about anywhere |
Rapa Nui does feel like it's in the middle of nowhere..... |
...but over eight days it's a fascinating place to visit..... |
...especially if you remembered to pack your inflatable Stratocaster |
taking off from Mataveri airport for the trip back to mainland Chile |
...and passing briefly through Santiago, then south to..... |
...the town of Pucon, in the Lake District |
...also a region of volcanos, like the mighty Villarica |
an old steam engine |
Volcan Villarica...sleeping with the elephant |
shooting the rapids along the Rio Trancura |
Foto Flash |
the shady side of the street |
anarchy |
north of Los Angeles the Rio Laja drops over an escarpment..... |
...forming a waterfall known as Salto Del Laja |
a well stocked general store in Curanipe |
the huge mercado in Chillan |
for some Pichilemu is a surfing town..... |
...for others it's home, and a fishing town..... |
...and for others a place to collect seaweed from the rocks |
a brave little girl checks out the tourists..... |
...then the tourists check out a bakery |
alpaca meadow.. |
a stop in Isla Negra..... |
the tomb of the great poet Pablo Neruda..... |
...on a lovely Pacific beach |
at Neruda's tomb |