A Second Day on Easter Island

 Last night after the dance presentation, we were told there might be issues at the airport, so we would be getting up early and leaving before problems developed.  Linda and I had signed up for a sunrise photography excursion so we were to leave the hotel at 6:30 AM and then after the sunrise thing go directly to the airport.

But after the sunrise photography, the word was that things had been resolved, so instead we went to the South of the island to see the “houses” used by the bird-man cult that took over after the Moai were toppled.

That site is right next to a big crater from the last volcanic eruption.  Sort of like Crater Lake, except that either the crater leaks or does not get as much rain, because it is mostly empty.  There are what look like puddles and swamp in the bottom of the crater.







This is the location of all the drama surrounding the yearly birdman cult exercise where participants swam out the islands to get the first-layed egg of the season in a race to see who could finish first and become "Birdman" for the next year.




Then off to another site and another site where the natives of the island had huts and houses. 



 When the Moai were downed, there was unrest and fighting among the clans on the island.  There was a cave that is believed to have been used as a refuge for the women and children to protect from attack.

Then back to the hotel for lunch and an update on the flight situation.  At this point it is not clear if we are going to be able to fly out today, or stay over another day here at Easter Island

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