Easter Island (Rapa Nui) - how lucky are we?

How many people can say that they have been there? Not many as the island has not been very visited in the past and only in a last couple of years is receiving a few dozen thousand tourist per year. But the lure is not in just a fact of the remoteness. The island is just magical. It feels like one is a part of a magic story. Huge moais are scattered on the entire island reminding one of the mystical cultures once present here. To this day no one knows how this statues were moved around and stood up on their pedestals (ahus). Most of them weigh tonnes and are carved in rocks miles away from the final erected statues... It is just unbelievable. And all the moas that were carved and never made it to their point of destination - there is literally hundreds of these magical giants all over the island with most right at the quarry abandoned due to any imperfection during carving or accident during moving... absolutely breathtaking.

We got to learn about the culture, legends and theories from a great Aussie guy who came to the island to make the Costner movie... and never left...Married a local, studied the island even more, and now shares it with tourists lucky to pick his agency... There was more luck on the island to be found. On the 3rd morning we met a Polish couple: Justyna and Wojtek. I was thrilled! The night before I was just telling James how awkward it has been to be almost deprived from Polish language during our trip... So not only did Justyna and Wojtek let me speak a bit in Polish but also turned out to be wonderful travel companions to both of us for the next 3 days! They were awesome travelers (yes kids were left at home) - curious and adventurous .. to James' content also spoke great English. Together with them we experienced some of the most memorable moments on the island: - the most gorgeous sunset by the moai just outside of town - sipping on some fine Chilean wine staring in an amazement as the sky turned different shades of red, orange and purple creating only a fair background for the unreal set of moas set right by the magnificent ocean... "zyc nie umierac" - as Polish would say

- the most unbelievable beach setting - no it was not your typical blue water tropical beach - tit was much more. A small white sand beach tucked away on a remote part of the island with a full row of moas among palm trees guarding all the sunbathers and a hill to climb right on the side for those not so keen on water and moas... yes there are some weird people out there. we were just stunned by the entire setting - no wonder why we kept on revisiting.... Justyna and Wojek, James and I - each time we drove back to the is spot we stood there awed.

- and a bull fight... no not the type that you would think of in Spain. I am talking an actual, muscle-full, sand kicked, steamy breath, horns pointed and dug in skin - real fight between two bulls. That is what stopped us ine day from driving on a road for about a tense and very interesting twenty minutes... lucky that we had a car and Wojtek (driver) with guts. Otherwise we might have been there for way, way longer...

What else about the island. Wild horses. Everywhere... This year they have estimated that there were more horses on the island than inhabitants (over 3400). While they look wild - pretty much hanging out everywhere - in fact they all have their owners - as a closer look on their skin ca show. Sadly their marks are quite large... Another favorite thing about the island - sea turtles..Almost domesticated :) it seems that people treat them well here as they are friendly enough to come right to the shore and even swim around you. James and I loved our snorkeling afternoon with them. I think it was even better than an organized scuba dives we took there... Although these were quite nice too. Only was that sunken moai real? I also finally found a place that served curanto (a stew of fish, pork, chicken and vegetables all cooked together .... Here it is called uru and besides served in expensive restaurants to tourists (like us) is only eaten on special occasions by the locals. I bet the "real thing" tastes better - the one we got was not bad, but not all that impressive - at least we had great company! The food to brag about really were teh tuna steak empanadas - they were the delicious staple of our diet there. Oh we also saw a local dance show. Wow!These people are just gorgeous! All single friends - head to Easter Island - probably the best looking people in the world! Gorgeous girls and super nicely built men... Really! And they really like interacting with foreigners - something about a small gene pool on the island at this time... more of our pictures on snapfish (see the link on the left) for more facts and info on the island you can check out: http://www.polynesia.com/rapa-nui/introduction.html or just start saving money - you have to go there in your lifetime!