Love to Travel Chile

In 1772 a ship, headed a captain Roggoven, came at Chilean port of Puanta-Arenas. Restocking there water and meal, after the enough long swimming the expedition barged into an uncharted island, and as it happened to Easter, an island was so named.

First, members of command were seen ashore, which my ancestor, Ivan D'yakov was among, it was enormous stone statues, standings the back to the ocean. The island was inhabited... It was inhabited by black-skinned, redskins and even white. And even people were with long ears. Exactly they worshiped long-eared stone idols.

Europeans were shocked measuring and massiveness of statues, and made an effort find out at local people, how they were made and set, but found out that "moai" (statues were so named) moved by themselves. Well, why they were set, unknown till now.

By the way, if you are going to visit this republic that to you it is necessary to familiarise with the information about Chile Customs. But and if after arrival in Chile you had any questions or problems to you it is necessary to address in Chile Embassy.

I knew everything from a diary my heroic ancestor, the large amateur to trips, traveling Africa and Latin America. An island didn't go away from my head, beckoned by its remoteness and by inscrutability. It was abstrusely, for example, how did the first settlers reache there, and in general, who they are.

Easter Island is forgotten in the ocean in the distance of three thousand kilometres from Chile and more than four with a half thousand kilometres from Tahiti. The nearest island to Easter Island is Pitkern atoll in 2000 kilometres to west with a population of 54 persons. Who was able to overcome such water spaces in V century A.D., and, mainly, on what? Legend says: about 1500 years ago some leader Khotu Matua ("Great dad") landed on the island with his wife and other relatives.

As turned out, these questions had occupied by many people. A theory was pulled out, that these were Polynesians, experimental navigators. They managed through stone instruments to build fully reliable ships, such double canoes. On such "catamarans" brave islanders could travel by weeks, stars and the Sun served them by a compass.

That to prove the Polynesian origin of population of the island, in 1960 the group of enthusiasts left on a canoe, named "Khokulea", from the Hawaiian islands on Tahiti, using the ancient-Polynesian method of navigation. And they reached! A theory was confirmed by practice, and legend appeared a historical fact.

But main riddle of the island is moai.

Stone figures and special grounds for rituals are located on all perimeter of the island, but most of them on the South coast. Archaeologists suppose that they were carved and set in XV - XVI centuries A.D. All statues have loggerheads with long ears and powerful, prominent forward chins. Hands with sharp thin fingers are built under a stomach, feet are not present. There are so-called "caps" from the breed of red color on heads. There are on Rapa Nui (one of the ancient names of the island) in general 887 sculptures, 397 from them are at Early Raraku Volcano (all moais were made there). 92 statues are in half-way to "destination". The height of the largest standing moai (by name "Patro") is 10 meters, weight is 82 tons. There is even more, but lying, it's 22 meters and 165 tons. The height of the littlest statue is 1 meter.

How did these massive stone sculptures move and set, remained secret long time. Islanders asserted that statues were occupied by the places independently, in a local language there is even a word, meaning a slow movement unassisted feet. But any way the rational explanation was found. Appeared, that the centre of gravity at statues is located relatively low, and it allows to be managed with bulky figures.

I understand more now, but I still passionately wanted to see everything by my eyes. Four days on a visa, $1300 for a ticket, and I already on a way to Chile, ahead of 20 hours of flight and transplantation on the airplane of local airline - to Easter Island.

In airport of Santiago the first surprise waits me. Just one local airline "Lan Chile" flies on the island, and tickets were sold half a month forward. Two-week expectation was not included in my plans. I have three ways of decision: limited to the trip on Chile; live in the airport, try to catch the freed flight; built a boat from a bamboo and swim to the banks Brine Nui, as ancient Polynesian. I decided wait a bit, and if nothing will turn out, will leave to study local beauties. Success smiled me, the ticket of A-one was freed on a morning trip.

So, morning, easy chair of bed's type, five clock of flight above the Pacific ocean, and a pink-brown triangle with a green spot in the middle appeared, this is the desired island. We go down, there are the barely distinguished outlines of sharks in the transparent blue of ocean . Finally, landing. The crowd of locals, girls with the garlands of flowers, merchants offer souvenirs.

There is a wide choice of hotels on the island: from the simplest to five-stars. A campsite with hot water costs $10 for night. Doing simple calculations in a mind, I shouldered a backpack and go to the nearest forest to tent.

In few hours not far away from airport a modest single dwelling overpeered, a fire crackled, and the covey of gluttonous mosquitoes rushed about round me.

It was like that here I was one single "savage", moving an automatic bracing gear. All other ordered excursions or leased cars. I visited all platforms with moai, climbed round both volcanos, but statues appeared obviously less than promised 887. DId they deceive? Amount is not very important in such business.

Moai fully corresponded to my presentation about them: giant, enigmatic, intent on their thoughts idols. And what to say, they saw so much, that it is above what thoughtful.

On an island the some pacified is felt, just mooing of cows and clattering of rare jeeps and motor cycles are violated a quiet. Islanders, especially Chileans, seemed to me nice and unobtrusive. They are enough reserved, it is preferred to conduct the most of the time at home, and even a bit borings to my mind.

However, once I had to visit guests. In one of the protracted hikes on the island I appeared far from the city. The supplies of water dried up, I was tormented by thirst, and a saving object appeared in my eyeshot, it was a cabin with the enclosed field. I walked up to fence and saw some fellow, he hailed me and inviting waved a hand. Appeared, that he was from Tahiti by birth, he lives on the plantation, and him name is Khose. Fellow warmly accepted me, kindly divided a rain-water.

It was so interesting journey to the ends of the earth. Any way it's a strange place. There are something inexpressible by words, uncomplying rational explanation, some secret. But I think that main that my brave ancestor would be satisfied by me.