Easter Island was given its common name of "Easter" because the first recorded European visit, by the Dutch Admiral Jacob Roggeveen, was on Easter Sunday, 1722. The island's official Spanish name, Isla de Pascua, is a direct translation of "Easter Island".

Located 3,600 km west of continental Chile, Easter Island is one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world. The island is approximately triangular in shape, with an area of 63 sq. miles, and a population of 3,791. Easter Island is made up of three volcanoes: Poike, Rano Kau, and Terevaka.

Thanks Wikipedia.

So off we set for Easter Island - both very excited. We boarded the full-luxury ultra-modern plane and set off on our 5 hour flight. When we arrived at the airport we were met by the people from Mihinoa camping, with whom we had made a reservation. We were presented with a garland of flowers around our neck in a scene-causing moment and driven to the campsite. Charlie got to ride in the back of the pick-up because the truck was full. Lisa was trapped inside because she was a girl ha ha. An Italian couple that had sat in front of us on the plane also came to the campsite with us. We hope we didn�t say anything bad about them within earshot oops!

We arrived at the campsite, which was perched right at the edge of the sea. Our tent had already been put up for us, so we headed off for a wander. We accidentally visited some stone heads (Moai) on the way to the museum, which we had to leave before we had finished because the museum was closing for the night. We headed back to the campsite and cooked in the kitchen.

The next day we headed back to the museum and finished it off. For once we actually found it interesting, although this might also have been due to the peppering of bad English throughout the information pack. We headed back home and were intellectually exhaused, so we had a nap in the super-cosy tent (complete with blow up bed - luxury!)

The following day we set off on a baby hike to Orongu, which is where there was a massive crated formed by the creation of the Island. It looked amazing flying over it in the place. It was quite a steep walk, but the campsite�s dog accompanied us and caused lots of mayhem, so it was quite fun. At one point, an island kulak was herding a huge line of cows in a very ordered fashion. Once the dog had seen them though, he was off, barking his head off. All the cows scattered immediately and we hid in the forest so we wouldn�t get in trouble. At another point, the dog angered a horrible massive rotweiler that kept barking at us instead of the dog. We were very scared but managed to run away eventually. The site of Orongu is also where the bird man competition used to take place in the olden days, where the next island leader would be chosen by a race to swim out to a smaller island and return without breaking it. Kulak election! There were also some old petroglyphs, which the dog scratched. An old english couple caused a scene by talking very loudly and moving very slowly.

The next day we decided to hire a vehicle to explore the rest of the heads on the island, since many of them were too far away to reach on foot. We originally decided to hire a motorbike, but then thought a jeep or quad bike would be better. However, when we got to the hire shop, the only option left was a motorbike. Mud here we come! The bike was an off-roader and so high Lisa�s feet didn�t touch the floor on it. He he. We set off, slightly wobbly, and took turns in driving. Most of the roads were OK, but there were a few that were total dirt tracks with huge potholes and ditches that we loved testing the bike�s suspension and grip on. We managed to take in lots of Moai sights and wandered around an old quarry where the stone heads began construction. Lots of floods had to be negotiated on the road which was quite scary. We also nearly came a cropper on one road which the tour agency not to take the bike up (oops). We headed off up the road and stopped to see the site where the top knots for the heads were made. However, it started to rain and the journey back was disasterous. The road had turned to slime and the bike slipped and skidded everywhere. We ended up having to push the bike back most of the way to the main road, where the conditions were much better for riding! A scene was nearly called when a jeep stopped and asked if we needed help, but we managed to get rid of them. Luckily we made it back to the hire shop with both us and the bike in one piece.

After a lazy day travelling around on two wheels we decided the safer option was to use our two feet and walk to some Stone heads that were not too far away. The walk took us up the coast giving us delicious views of the sparkingly clear blue water crashing into the jaggedy and crispy looking volcanic rock. We also found a dead horse by the side of the track that was smelt before being seen. It had no hair, black rotting skin, insides on the outside and only bones for head and neck. There were two sheepish looking dogs henging over the body. We also risked our lives walking through areas where bulls roamed free. Our first site took about 3 hours to walk to and was an unrestored Moai, which meant that it had been left in its fallen and broken state. We decided to have a spot of lunch next to the fallen Moais overlooking the sea. Just as we were getting ready to dine Charlie's new Argentina Football flask tipped over onto the grass. This delicate tipping action caused irreperable damage and soon asparagas soup was spilling all over the place. Charlie had only just mentioned how if this flask (the 2nd) broke it would not be replaced and just then the awful delicate tip caused such destruction. It was a good job we brought eggs and bread so the feast was not marred.

We continued down the road and had to avoid giant puddles that flooded the road but luckily cows don't like floods either and had preprepared a path for us through the shrubbery. The next site was a cave that frightened us so we continued walking. Soon we arrived at Ahu Akivi. This is a restored site (the Maois standing up) and the only site where the heads face out to sea. We then found a small road that took us between volcanoes and under a lovely tree lined road. It was here that two young puppies came to play with us, luckily for them we have no room in our backpacks! We returned o Hanga Roa in light rain but had a lovely day for the rest of it. We tanned quite well in the sun.

The next day was gorgeous and sunny with none of the usual showers. We roamed about the town collecting dogs to follow us and plan for the excitement of the following evening (Charlie's Birthday). We found a new supermarket to use but wee very scared as the locals seemed bigger and hairier in here and there was very loud music playing. We bought our collection of items and ran. Unfortunately for Lisa they sold large boxes of wine (1.5 litres) designed to be drunk over a few days but Lisa's lack of control meant there were only a few millimeters left by the next morning. Needless to say she woke up a little muggy on Charlie's birthday.

Charlie woke to a bright on sunny day on his 23rd birthday. As he didn't want a scene caused and certainly didn't want to participate in any dancing, it was never mention to any of our new found friends that it was his birthday. We spent the day wandering around and reconfirming our flight. Our favourite polish friend (Martian) had a disaster with his flight as he checked later on but was booked on the flight for that day, which had already left. Luckily we had no such disasters. We ate fatty fried empañadas for lunch and went for a lovely dinner at Te Moana. Charlie treated himself to raw tuna (a local specialty) and Lisa contented herself with the only veg dish on the menu (salad!). Charlie enjoyed the food but the service was rubbish and we had to ask for the candle to be lit at our table. Back in the campsite our Polish friend, who could speak Japonese but not Spanish) was being entertained and ripped off by the large group of Japonese that were staying in Mihinoa. They had bought a fresh tuna from a fisherman and promptly covered the entire kitchen with fish guts and a very pungent smell! Martian was charged for the his portion of fish (divided equally) but only got to eat a very small amount. We told him his trust was misplaced!

The next day we packed up all our belongings from the tent and went to the airport at 11am. Zavs, our favourite dog, chased the car and jumped in halfway. He remained at the airport the entire time we were waiting and followed us in all of the queues but he remained outside when we went into departures. We met up with English Granja and Granjad that we had seen in their tour group. Granjad spoke with a big booming voice and thus english granja was drowned out. They were fun to speak to and were also jaded travellers who got bored very easily. We respected them for that.

The plane was a huge let down. The full luxury ultra modern plane had changed into a crispy, no TV in back of seat, inferior model. Our disappointment soon changed into fear as Martian learned it was Charlies birthday and spent the 5 hour trip trying to cause as many scenes as possible, Free cake and beer was one thing but going up to see the pilot was definately out of the question and bluntly refused.

Final Thoughts: What a fabulous holiday within a holiday.  Expensive but worth every penny.

Mark out of 10: 10