A trip to Easter Island has been a dream of mine since I first heard mention of it as a kid.  It’s the kind of out of the way place you go to with a purpose… not just casually.  It’s the kind of place you’re drawn to; and as my wife and I found out, the kind of place you’ll dream of going back to.

    Easter Island is situated about half way between Chile and the French Polynesian islands… about 1,300 miles away from it’s next closest inhabited land mass, making it one of the most isolated on the planet.  My kind of place!

    The draw, of course, are the huge statues known as moai.  The mystery that surrounds these giants continues today, and while there are plenty of theories to the “how’s” and “why’s” and no shortage self proclaimed experts; archaeologists who have spent a lot of time on the island readily admit they know little more now then when they started.  Any one who knows me well, knows I’m a sucker for a good mystery… especially when some of the theories involve aliens!  :)

    Admittedly though, what calls me back to Easter Island isn’t necessarily the moai (although I’d be lying if I said I thought I could ever get tired of seeing them… they are truly awe inspiring) but the Rapa Nui people.  I’m pretty sure the islanders are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.  There is very much a sense of family and community there, one like I imagine you’d have found in the United States in the 40′s and earlier.  Life is very simple there and the pace is very slow.  It seems very much untouched by the outside world… save the modern amenities.  Again, my kind of place.

– Dan Thompson

   If you’d like to check out more pictures from this trip, go here: danandholly.com. (thealbinobowler.com makes no guarantees as to the quality of the content on externally linked websites)

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