The Big Tour (Part 2)

After the quarry we made our way to the 15 moai.  Which we learned our guide, as an 8 year old was sent underneath to check out what was under there, since the grown men were all too big.  It was an eye opening experience for this boy who discovered the remains of so many he couldn't count.  Can you imagine?  Our guide was born and raised on the island, and certainly knew his stuff (I would say it was pretty hands-on as far as discovering things went for him as a kid).

 Notice of the 15 only one has a topknot on it?  So there were topknots but no one knows which moai they belong to or even if they belong to this group or another group of moai.  So those doing the restoration opted to leave them off and to the side, however a group of locals who were helping out had  the great idea of waiting until the scientists went home and then using the crane to put a topknot on one of these guys (the guide took a guess that perhaps these particular people may have had a little too much to drink).  And so only one of these guys wears a topknot!

 Top knots.

 This kid is such a clown!  

Then on to a moai that stands in a spot that on the winter solstice receives a stream of sun directly on it for 45 minutes.

Lunch was fantastic, as we went to have a home cooked meal of soup, chicken and rice, veggies, and what else but very fresh fruit for dessert.  And as our kids ran around the yard and played in the hammock, the owner a beautiful woman who started the company over 40 years ago, showed Mark and I all her mango, banana, coconut, and avocado trees.  We were able to ask her about the island and her perspective on all the changes that had occurred since she had started the company.

After lunch we made our way to "Ahu Te Pito Kura" which has a moai which has come down in the years and a rock that has it's own magnetic force.  A compass goes crazy on it.  And legend has it that if 4 people sit around the rock and lay their hands on it, one of the four will have their wish come true.

Our final destination was what kept Easton going.  The beach and more moai on the beach.  It was picture perfect.  Sunny, clear water, and moai in the background.  We really enjoyed our time on the beach!

 Just so you know, topknots are not hats, but are the moai's hair…picture a man with a bun high on his head.  The kids liked learning this fact.

We then spent time playing in the ocean.  Enjoying the beautiful day, the sunshine, and the views of the sea and the moai.

After the beach we cleaned ourselves up and walked by the coast,the moais, and the cemetery to enjoy some pizza.  And also the dark.  Half way through dinner as it got dark, the electricity went out and stayed out for several hours.  Not sure why, but all the locals didn't seem fazed by it at all.  Just a normal night.