Easter Island is also known as Rapa Nui

On Easter Sunday in 1722, Jacob Roggeveen, a Dutch explorer, was the first European to visit the island giving it the name Easter Island. However, the local Polynesian name is Rapa Nui. A few years ago John and I spent a week on Easter Island. It has everything: beautiful scenery, mysterious ruins, a couple of great beaches, friendly people, and a relaxed Polynesian ambiance.

Evidence of the ancient Rapa Nui culture is everywhere. There are nearly 1000 of the huge stone statutes called moai scattered around the small island making it an island museum. At Vinapu, not far from the main town of Hanga Roa, the stone work on an altar is similar to that found in Cusco, Peru. The workmanship is so precise that the stones fit perfectly without any mortar. Strangely it is the only place with Cusco-like stone work. The accepted theory is that the Rapa Nui people arrived from a Polynesian Island that was destroyed by some natural disaster. However, at some prehistoric point in time there was a cultural exchange with the mainland of South America. Besides the Inca-like construction, the sweet potato which is indigenous to South America, was introduced.

The giant monolithic moais are scattered across the entire island, which is only 22 miles by six miles. The moais were a form of ancestor worship that became competitive. They made larger and larger moais in an attempt to outdo those made by neighboring groups. Then everything came to a halt. The most widely accepted belief is that a growth in population and the construction of bigger moais led to deforestation. Wood was needed in constructing moais and for rollers to move them. Both issues led to a bloody war over food and power. A good example of what can happen if the environment is not protected.

One of the most intriguing sites is on the side of Volcan Rano Raraku where the stone was quarried. Nearly 400 heads of the completed moais are sprouting out of the ground. They are the finished moais that were waiting to be transported to the altars. Due to erosion two-thirds of their bodies are buried in the ground. Higher up the hillside are more moais in various stages of completion. It is as if one day the order came to stop work and everyone just walked way.

The most impressive altar is Tongariki, where 15 moais have been restored to their upright position, including one of the tallest, which is well over 30 feet. Many of the finished moais are adorned with a topknot hat-like structure of red stone weighing up to 11 tons. Nearly all the moais face inland except a grouping of seven located in the middle of the island near the manufacturing site of the topknots.

We meet Eliza Riroroko-Mason, a Rapa Nui married to an American. She expressed concern for the island’s future. “My island is small and people want to build big name-brand hotels and a casino. Once again my island will be destroyed. I don’t think the change will be good for the Rapa Nui people. It will help only the people who want to make money. This is a very special place. We need to preserve it.” Like Eliza, we hope that desire to capitalize on what the Rapa Nui created will not result in turning the small island into a commercialized tourist attraction.

Great train trips

There is something about the mournful sound of a train that calls for one to hop aboard and see the world. Some trains are legendary such as the Alaskan trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks and the Australian Ghan that now goes from Darwin to Adelaide. There are many trains worldwide that offer excellent experiences. Some travel short distances while others cover a whole continent.

1. Denali, Alaska: Maybe you won’t see any of Alaska’s famed wildlife on the ride between Anchorage and Fairbanks but scenery from the double decked dome rail cars will mesmerize as it enters the Nenana River Canyon and crosses the Tanana River on one of the world’s longest single-span bridges.
2. Fort Bragg Smoke Train: The California train chugs through towering trees, tunnels, over bridges and past open meadows on what is known as the “Redwood Route” following the same route it has since 1885. On the Northspur Route a barbecue in the redwood forest is included.
3. Polar Express: Nearly every state has a Polar Express that takes the young and young-at-heart to the North Pole while the book of the same name is read, cookies are served, and songs sung. When it arrives at Santa’s workshop, the jolly fellow boards the train and gives those who believe a bell – just like in the book.
4. Verde Canyon: Located in Arizona near Jerome and Sedona the train runs from Clarkdale to Perkinsville through the walls of Verde Canyon, near ancient Native American sites, with bald eagles watching from their nests.
5. Greenfield Village: Some historic villages have incorporated trains as part of preserving their heritage. Such is the case of Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village in Michigan where visitors can tour the village on a train pulled by one of the village’s historic steam or diesel locomotives.
6. Adirondack Railroad: Hop on board the train in Utica, New York, and head to Thendara through the forests, past pristine rivers, breathing the fresh mountain air while enjoying the beauty of the six-million acre Adirondack Park. Relive the golden age of railroading when the Adirondacks played host to the rich and famous on their way to the Great Camps.
7. Strasburg, Pennsylvania: Ride through Pennsylvania Dutch Country on the Strasburg Railroad that started in 1832. It didn’t purchase its first passenger car until 1861 when President Lincoln made his inaugural train ride to nearby Lancaster and nearly 5,000 people showed up to cheer for Lincoln during his four-minute stop in Leaman.
8. Peru’s Hiram Bingham: One of the most luxurious train trips is aboard the Orient Express train to the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu. The day starts sipping mimosas while watching folk dances followed by gourmet meals with a guided tour of the ruins, along with the excellent service one comes to expect of the Orient Express.
9. The Little Trains of Wales: There are several narrow gauge steam railways in Wales, some of which have been in operation for over 100 years. They have been lovingly restored and maintained. They offer a leisurely ride through the beautiful countryside, past lakes to small picturesque villages.
10. Australia’s Legendary Ghan: One way to get the feel of the immensity of Australia is to take the Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin witnessing the varied landscape and traveling through the vast barrenness of the Outback. The entire trip of nearly 2000 miles takes about 24 hours.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites have been deemed to be of such important cultural and natural value that they need to be preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy. John and I have visited these and many others, the rest are all on my “Bucket List!” For more location on the World Heritage list check whc.unesco.org or www.worldheritagesite.org.

1. The Statue of Liberty: A must visit for all Americans. It has become a symbol of freedom to people all over the world. A gift from France, the Roman Goddess of Freedom sits on Liberty Island in New York Harbor and has welcomed thousands of immigrants to our shore.

2. Iguazu National Park, Argentina and Brazil: The spectacular Iguazu waterfalls are located in a tropical rainforest forming the border between Argentina and Brazil. The falls are 265 high and nearly 9000 feet long and made up of many cascades.

3. Brugge, Belgium: The quaint city of Brugge is an excellent example of a place that has preserved its historic center with many Gothic buildings clustered around the town square. One of the many fascinating things to see is the Michelangelo’s “Madonna and Child” in the Church of Our Lady.

4. Angkor Wat, Cambodia: Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The massive site has the remains of the various capitals of the Khmer Empire that spanned from the 9th to the 15th century. Most impressive is Ta Prohm Temple with huge roots laced around the buildings.

5. The Rideau Canal, Canada: The 125-mile canal system was constructed during the 1800s. The system connects Ottawa, Canada’s capital to Kingston on Lake Ontario. The 1800s was the canal building era in North America and the Rideau is the only canal from the era that is still fully operational with most of its structures still in use.

6. Easter Island, Chile: The island, also known as Rapa Nui, was most likely settled by Polynesians around AD 300. They established a culture that was free from outside contact for several centuries during which they carved enormous stone figures called moai. How they were able to do this and why is still the topic of much controversy.

7. Prague, Czech Republic: Prague is home to many historical structures that span from the 11th to the 18th century including Hradcani Castle high on the hill above the Vltava, the Charles Bridge and the amazing Astronomical Clock. Many of the buildings were erected in the 14th century during the time of Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor.
.
8. Machu Picchu, Peru: The Inca city high in the Andes has jaw-dropping views of the valleys below. Referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas” there is still a debate as to the exact purpose of the difficult to reach site. It is one of the few places not discovered and looted by the Spanish Explorers.

9. Bath, England: Founded by the Romans as a thermal spa, Bath became an important center during in the Middle Ages. Bath is the oldest of England’s principal tourist destinations and has been welcoming visitors for centuries

10. Hoi An, Vietnam: Hoi An was a trading town from the 10th to the 19th century. Because the old city escaped the ravages of the wars it is well preserved and shows the influence of local and foreign cultures.

Sailing the Andes

One of my favorite trips getting from one place to another was Cruce de Lagos in South America. We were in Puerto Montt in the south of Chile and wanted to travel to Bariloche, Argentina. The quickest way would have been by air but then we would have missed the beautiful scenery crossing the Andes. From Puerto Montt we took a cab to Puerto Varas where we spent the night. Both Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas have a strong German ambiance. It was a picture-perfect setting with beautiful Lake Llanquihue and the classic-shaped Orsono Volcano in the background.

The next morning it was off to Cruce de Lagos, “Cruise the Lakes,” where buses connect to boats to get across the Andes. The trip follows the same route used 400 years ago by the indigenous people of Southern Chile, and later by the Jesuits. A bus took us along Lake Llanquihue and Lake Petrohue with incredible views Osorno and Calbuco Volcanoes. We stopped at Vicente Perez Rosales Park, where a short hike on a nature trail led to the Petrohue Rapids, which tumbled and coursed over the rocks. At the Petrohue wharf we boarded a catamaran. Again the views were inspiring as we sailed along Lake Todos Los Santos for two hours never tiring of looking at the volcanoes.

When we arrived in Peulla it was lunchtime. Wisely, we chose to do the trip in two days. After lunch some of our fellow travelers opted for the zip line and others went rafting. When the group left a wonderful silence descended on this quiet little niche in the forest. There were very few guests in the old hotel with floors that creaked and groaned with every step. We passed on the opportunity to try out a zip line instead we took a short hike to Novia Waterfalls. After a quiet dinner we returned to our room for a quiet evening of reading. Some people we met during the trip said, “Why did you stay there? There’s nothing to do there.” That’s the whole point. With such beauty there is no need to do anything but enjoy the peace and beauty.

In the morning we awoke to the sounds of birds outside our window and the fresh mountain air stirring the curtains. Too soon it was time to get on the bus for the short ride to the Chilean border where we completed border procedures. Back on the bus we bounced along a dirt road to the Argentine border and completed their custom requirements. We met only one vehicle during the two-hour ride, “A traffic jam!” quipped the guide. We boarded another boat to cross Lago Frias. Then a short bus ride took us to Puerto Blest. It was time for a lunch break. After lunch a boat took us across the lake to a series of steps that led to a waterfall. The operative word is “steps.”

As we motored along Lake Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Panuelo I knew the adventure was coming to an end. We began to see houses and other watercraft. At our last port of call, we were bused to our hotel in Bariloche, arriving about 4 PM.

Puerto Montt, Puero Varas, and Bariloche are excellent destinations but it is not the destination so much as the journey – a journey that included five buses and four boats and beautiful scenery.