Easter Island - 1999

Chance Meeting in Chile, Argentina and Easter Island

You can read a little about my trip to Easter Island in April of 1999 as follows:

As we got off the plane we were received with leis and were picked up and driven to the hotel where we had a drink on the veranda at the Okai Hotel which is about two blocks from the beach and the great restaurants. So we started our vacation on a high note with expectations on seeing the famous statues on the island. Easter Island

Our hotel is situated in Hanga Roa which is the only town on Easter Island. Most of the 2,000 Rapanui people that live on the island reside here. The only port on the island is situated here, as is Cook's Bay, where Captain Cook anchored his boat just offshore in 1722.

Situated near the town of Hanga Roa, the ahu at Tahai sits near a canoe ramp made of rounded beach stones, and was restored by the American archaeologist William Mulloy. Tahai is thought to be among the earliest ahu structures on the island, dating back to AD 690. This statue is the only one that has had the coral eyes put back into the sockets that were carved for them. Also, please check out the map of Easter Island to view the locations of the sites and review the history of the island.

Easter Island has long been the subject of curiosity and speculation. How and why did its inhabitants carve and transport the massive statues which surround the island? What remains of this culture today, and what lessons can we learn from their legacy? This island is also known as "Rapa Nui" and "Isla de Pascua".

Easter Island is over 2,000 miles from the nearest population center, (Tahiti and Chile), making it one of the most isolated places on Earth. A triangle of volcanic rock in the South Pacific - it is best known for the giant stone monoliths, known as Moai, that dot the coastline. The early settlers called the island "Te Pito O Te Henua" (Navel of The World). Admiral Roggeveen, who came upon the island on Easter Day in 1722, named it Easter Island. Today, the land, people and language are all referred to locally as Rapa Nui.

Letter to Patricia

Here is a letter I wrote to Patricia on July 9th, 2018, letting her know I was coming to Scotland in May of 2019, hopefully to meet her again after 20 years!

Dear Patricia,

Virginia, my traveling companion and I have as you have read in my Christmas cards, been to many places over the last five years. First in 2014 to Ireland, then for my 75th birthday Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Islands in 2015. I did go to Portugal alone for my 76th birthday and then later that year, to Cuba for a tour of the western side of the country.

For my 77th birthday, we spent it in Indonesia and Singapore and a day in Tokyo! We visited Hearst Castle down the peninsula for a week, then for my 78th birthday, to Rome, Sicily, Sardinia, Algeria and Valencia Spain. We also went to Filoli Estates and Gardens about 30 miles south of the City, a hundred-year-old mansion with 70 rooms and a 30 acre garden with 60 gardeners. The end of July we will go for a week about 200 miles north of the City to Mendocino County and the city of Point Arena to see the local sights and of course the wineries!

The first of November of this year, we will fly to Basel Switzerland for a few days, the take a Viking River Cruise along Germany and the castles and end up in Amsterdam! I don't know if we will do anything for my 79th birthday.

My traveling companionVirginia has a niece, Shara Armstrong who live in Glasgow! She had a guest house and has asked Virginia and me to visit her family for two weeks starting May 1st, 2019. So after almost 20 years, we may get to meet again if you aren't on another fabulous trip! So this is a heads up just in case you are available! I always wonder if you have ever checked out the website of my life and world travels? Lots to read about.

www.charlesbuntjer.com

Hope to see you again next year!

Letter From Patricia

Easter Island

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