Easter Island (Rapa Nui)- The first day.

      After a long 6 flights and nearly 24 hours, we arrived in Easter Island. We met our Couchsurfing host and set off to explore.

Sleepy Tyler

Pizza in New York Airport

WE HAVE ARRIVED!!

Turns out his home is a few miles from the one and only town on the island and whenever we wanted to go somewhere, we walked those few miles there and back atleast a couple times a day. The first day we had planned to start our PADI certifications but water conditions made us cancel that plan. Instead we decided to hike to Orongo,

without first purchasing sunscreen, and yes we are still very much regretting that decision. The hike was long and mostly uphill but the views along the way were lush. After a few hours we reached the top, we didn't know what to expect but we found ourselves looking down into a giant crater. It was fantastic! The crater acts as a kind of greenhouse for the island and protects many species of flora and fauna.

Tyler taking a break

Orongo.

We also saw some of the home of the Rapa Nui people who used to inhabit the island. They were low homes made of layered rock with very tiny entrances. Orongo is also the location of the Bird Man Race whose competitors were those from long ago. One man was chosen to represent each tribe and they had to climb all the way down the sheer rock face, swim with their "surfboard" out to a not too distant island, find a nest with a birds egg, swim back across and climb up the hill and give the not cracked egg to the leader, that man became the supreme bird man. It was a very brutal and deadly competition.
 

 On the way back down a truck stopped and picked us up and brought us back to town where we immediately bought sunscreen, refilled our water, and ate plenty of food!

Just on the beach close to where we lived, were some pretty incredible Moai statues, we saw them on our walks to and from town.

 We had a wonderful first day on Easter Island, I've got tons more to write about but not the time! More to come, hope you all have a splendid day :)