We returned to Santiago for 24 hours before leaving for home tonight.  After a good night's sleep, today we toasted the end of our South American journey with a visit to Paseo del Vino, a charming family-owned winery whose owner established it on a single acre of grapes, as a passion project. He makes just 3,000 bottles a year (both red and white) and loves introducing visitors to Chilean wine culture.  We learned about winemaking and tasted some of his vintages, followed by a traditional meal. This evening, we will transfer to the airport for your flight home to the U.S.

Adios until our next adventure.  We're traveling The Great Rivers of Europe September 11-26.  Join us!  There are still rooms available on the ship.

Looking for something a bit more adventuresome like the trip we just finished?  Join us for The Best of Kenya and Tanzania a year from now.  

​Click on the links in the paragraphs above for more information.

The first Polynesians (probably 20-30 people at most) arrived around 500 AD.  At least that's the most common belief.  There is evidence of a much earlier visit from Asia and also from the mainland (South America).  No one really knows - yet.  Starting from an extremely limited resource base (chickens, rats and a few food plants), the Rapa Nui constructed one of the most advanced societies in the world for the technology they had available.  However the demands placed on the environment by this development were immense.  When it could no longer withstand the pressure the society fell with it.  

Once a year they celebrate the Tapati Festival for 2 weeks.  This cultural festival includes feats of strength, endurance and dance.  We were fortunate to be there during the event.  As it turns out, the event this year was understated - they had decided to make it alcohol free resulting in smaller and more subdued crowds.  This change actually made our experience watching the dance competitions more enjoyable.  Even the the competition for queen was eliminated as there was only one contestant.  (The cost of the costumes and activities is too great for most families to support.) 

Sorry for the big gap since the last posting...   We left Santiago Tuesday the 11th on  a 5 hour flight to Easter Island.  We had very slow internet service there so couldn't upload photos.  I'll take the next couple blogs to catch you up on our adventure.

​Easter Island was given it's name by a Dutch explorer who encountered the island on Easter Sunday 1722.  Locals prefer to use the Polynesian name of Rapa Nui (Big Island).  It is 2,200 miles off the coat of Chile, 2,00 miles east of Tahiti, and 4,300 miles southeast of Hawaii making it the most isolated piece of land in the world.  The current population is about 5,000.

This is a place surrounded by mystery.  There is much history and lore, much of it contradictory.  We spent 3 days learning about this fascinating place with our local guide Nicholas (Nikko).  

The history of Easter Island is rich and highly controversial.  It's inhabitants developed a sophisticated culture then endured famines, epidemics, civil war, slave raids, colonialism, and the collapse of their ecosystem.  

Oral tradition says the island originally had a very clear class system, with the ariki (king) wielding absolute god-like power.  The most visible element in the culture was the production of the massive statues that are part of the ancestral worship.

The large stone statues, or moai, for which Easter Island is famous were carved during a relatively short time ranging from 400 - 1600 CE.  There are a total of nearly 900 moai on the island, most carved out of volcanic ash called tuff.  Each statue represents a deceased long-ear chief or important person, their body interred within the ahu (Coastal Platform) the maoi stands upon.  Only a quarter of the statues were actually installed, while nearly half still remain in the quarry and others are scattered about the island.