7/25/2019 A lovely vacation spent at Easter Island
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Statues of Rapa Nui:
The monolithic statues of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) called moai
are
sublimely beautiful works of art. Tall figures carved out of
volcanic rock
between the 11th and 14th centuries by Polynesian settlers, they
have
long, unsmiling faces, elegant, hawk-like noses and brooding
brows.
They can seem alienating or enthralling, depending on the angle,
the
light, your mood and the weather.
A lovely vacation spent at Easter Island
7/25/2019 A lovely vacation spent at Easter Island
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Important places to visit:
If you only have a couple of days, a handful of essential sights
shouldnt be
missed. The most important will be the ahu, the ceremonial
platforms onwhich stand the moai. The figures originally had eyes
of coral and obsidian; on
the beach at Ahu Tahai near Hanga Roa, you will see how they
looked thanks
to a reconstruction when you book foreaster island vacation
package.
The Ahu Tongariki:
The most photographed site is Ahu Tongariki, where 15 moai stand
looking
towards the hills moai face inland as they were guardians of the
scattered
groups that dwelt on Rapa Nui. Go at dawn or dusk for the best
views and
photographs.
Beaches:
Several moai stands above beaches which is also included in
Easter island
vacation packages. Anakena, on the north coast, has a platform
on which stand
five more or less complete moai on dunes above the beach. There
is also a
single, rather wide-bodied figure in a loftier position.
Market places you can visit:
Hanga Roa, the spread-out capital, is the only sizeable
settlement and is where
most of the hotels are found. Named after a German missionary,
the small
Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum (museorapanui.cl)
has
infographics and a small collection of moai fragments, stone
tools, and a tablet
showing the (still undeciphered) Rapa Nui written language.
There are coffee
shops, bars and restaurants around town. Prices for everything
are inflated
because of Rapa Nuis isolation and scant natural resources.
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