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Easter Island
Easter Island
Bec2004-09-17 16:02:11
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Hanga Roa
There were only a few tourists getting off at the Mataveri Airport this winter because of the sharp reduction in air travel following the September 11th event. After going through customs we were outnumbered by a hotel representatives and taxi drivers offering to help us find accommodations in the nearby capital, Hanga Roa (Hanga means bay)
Times were hard for the island's only revenues come from tourism and salaries paid to employees of the Chilean government
The island is rather bare but it does have some great views along the shoreline. The green roofed pavilions on the left are part of the fancy Hanga Roa Hotel and the red roofed buildings house the Coast Guard Headquarters.
The island was once covered with great forests of "toromiro" trees that were cut down by the Rapa Nui to make the scaffolding and rollers they needed to move their moai at the peak of their building frenzy in the early 17th century.
The Hanga Roa Hotel was too expensive so I settled for the Ana Rapu Inn where I rented the unit on the left for 14 $US.
The Ana Rapu was OK but it was somewhat isolated so I moved to the Tekena guesthouse right in the center of Hanga Roa (11 $US). It was run by a friendly Rapa Nui family who lived on the right and rented the units on the left.
Hanga Roa is a quiet little town where most of the Islanders live. The building with the Chilean flag is the seat of the regional government.
The prevailing religion is Catholic and this is the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
The three holy platforms or "Ahus", Ahu Taha, Ahu Vai Uri and Ahu Kote Riku of the Tahai site have been extensively restored to show what their moai must have looked like before their destruction more than two centuries ago.
Ahu Akivi
The archeological site Ahu Akivi, in the center of the island, was restored
...
See photographs from:
Chile Gallery
