Easter Island

Rapa Nui, Isla de Pascua, and Easter Island are all names for a tiny, remote, and barren island in the South Pacific, home to less than five thousand permanent residents.  However, it receives more than fifteen times that in tourists every year.  Why? The "navel of the world" has a sort of magical mystery to it, and I had the opportunity to experience that firsthand.  

Here are the highlights from my trip. 

Arriving at the airport was definitely the first of many unforgettable experiences.  The island seems to come out of nowhere.  The runway spans the width of the entire island, flanked by volcanoes on both sides.  The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was bigger than the airport itself, which is just two rooms. 

After our arrival, we were greeted with leis , and then boarded the buses that would take us all over the island in the week to come.

Repping Nease Interact Club with the first Moai that we saw.

There are hundreds of horses all over the island, they say more than there are people.  Most of them are pretty friendly, like this one.

First time seeing the Pacific Ocean! Here I am with a bunch of other Americans. 

Easter Island only has one sandy beach.  The "tropical paradise" is really just a rock in the middle of the ocean, which leaves lots of cliffs to explore.

The Moai are literally everywhere.  There are literally hundreds strewn across the island, though unfortunately many are no longer standing.  These that you see in the ground are actually much bigger than they appear, with their bodies buried below.

Talca Squad with the big 15, the longest platform of Moai restored on the Island.