Around the World III

Day 19 - Fri 20 Apr 07 - Easter Island

I had breakfast on my veranda overlooking the ocean, and got picked up at 09:30 for my tour of the island, there's about 20 of us by the time everyone has been collected from the various hotels and guesthouses. A few Brits, some French, Dutch and Americans. Even a Russian couple. We head off up the coast and stop at an Ahu with some ancient, but broken moai. Not really that exciting, but at least the weather is SO much better than it was yesterday. I hear that a couple of days ago the rain was coming down in sheets.

Back on the bus, and off to another sight, this one has broken Moai as well. There are about three other tours that are going on at the same sort of time, and we keep catching up with them. Onward to the Nursery where the Moai were carved out of the sheer rock. Very impressive. There are loads of Moai, some still in the hillside, others scattered down the hill. There's no doubt there was a production line here.

Lunch is a BBQ, I went for the Tuna and Rice. Then it was off again, but to a Ahu which has the Moai standing. Very impressive, and many photos taken. The final stop of the tour was an one of the few beaches on the island, which has another Ahu with some standing Moai. More good photos!

While walking back to my guesthouse last night I saw the Irish guy in the "Belgium Ladies" restaurant, and I bumped into him on the tour today, he said that the food was good so I decided to try it out tonight. The bad news is that she doesn't take credit cards. So I walked further down to where I ate last night, who do. More bad news they are shut. So scrape together some US$ and all of the local cash on me to get a main course and a coke.

An American family walk in, sit down, and then walk out as there is no red meat on the menu. Next comes a British couple who want nothing on the menu and spend about a half hour negotiating. They'll have the shrimp, but with the pasta, not the rice. They want to share, but the portions seem small.. I eat quicky and depart as a cover version of Country Road appears on the CD.