A Day To Ourselves

Sunday 7 January

Having some free time today, we didn’t rush up this morning, so it was almost 09.30 before we went to breakfast. The skies had been overcast with light grey cloud when we first looked out, but just as we left our room to walk through the gardens to the dining room, the rain started – heavily enough to have to go back and search out our kagools. We had leisurely meal waiting for the weather to clear, and were rewarded by a watery sun appearing a little later.

We packed our backpacks and set off to walk to the museum which we had seen signposted on our first exploratory walk, at the end of the high street. As we reached the crossroads, we encountered a couple of groups of other people, also going in our direction. So it was like ants walking up the hills, around the unmade roads, looking for more signs to show us the way. It was definitely much further than we, and I suspect others, had thought. The circuitous route led us to the top of a hill leading down to the sea, if we continued along the path.

The museum was built in the mid 1990’s and contained artifacts relating to the lives of the ancient peoples of the island, as well as telling their story on graphic boards all round the main room. We were given an English translation of the explanations, and spent the next hour and a half, reading and peering at the exhibits. We had heard the history of course, while we were on the tours, but this exhibition enhanced our understanding of the ancient rites and customs, as well as showing us traditional weapons, tools and household items in the displays. As it was Sunday, closing time was 1230, which was a real shame. At this time there were still lots of people looking around, and I for one hadn’t had time to mooch through the shop, and could have spent longer viewing the exhibits.

Leaving the museum we decided to walk back to the hotel through the fields at the bottom of the track, beside the sea. The sun was shining warmly again now and it was very pleasant to wander past even more moai – we didn’t realize there were so many nearby – emerging by the fish restaurant on the coast road. There seemed to be some “fake” petroglyphs being erected in an area being typically developed for concerts and gatherings – perhaps a move to entertain the increasing numbers of tourists. As it was lunch time we chose a restaurant on the opposite corner to the fish restaurant, and both ate raw fish – mine with lemon, oil and capers, while Colin’s was accompanied by rice and coleslaw. I really like fish served this way, and will have to experiment more when I get home. From here, we wandered back to the hotel, and make sure everything was ready for our departure tomorrow morning.

This evening we returned to the first restaurant we visited, for dinner. We both chose steaks again, which were served with tasty sauces – mine a green peppercorn and Colin’s a mushroom – both served with “papa’s fries” of course.

The sun set in a really pink sky tonight, and the temperature was a little lower. We seem to have been very lucky with the weather whilst here, and we are both showing signs of being “singed”.