Exploring Rui Napa

Time to Relax

Arriving in Rui Napa the transfer to the hotel was really easy and we had a nice fresh garland of flowers given to us at the airport. The runway goes from one side of the island to the other and is 4 miles long. Our suitcases travelled to the hotel separately in a open backed pick-up truck. Luckily if was dry and the cases were at the hotel when we arrived.

At the first hotel stop we arrived at the pilots were being dropped so we guessed that was the posh hotel. Ours is a nice hotel slightly off the main street and has a pool which is very welcome with this heat.

We spent the first couple of days relaxing, the last 2 to 3 months had been pretty much non-stop. It was also nice to use the fridge so we can make sandwiches for our lunch rather than eating out all the time.

The food on the island is good, I had lobster the first night! We've had pizza as well. A nice choice of craft beer as well, although we were tempted back to the pisco sours as well.

Orongo Crater

We've had 2 trips, the first to Orongo volcano crater. This volcano erupted 3 million years ago and is now half freshwater and half land. Our guide was incredibly enthusiastic explaining the history and taking us for a walk. At one point the path disappeared and we walked through plants which were up to Karen's shoulders! The history is fascinating and matches the amazing scenery. Tails of historic swimming competitions (the birdman contest to stop the separate faction wiping each other out), one person dreaming of the Island and then setting out by canoe to find it. Up to more modern times of the airport runway the longest in South America as was built by the US in case Challenger needed an emergency landing. Also if our covid was isolating they had 2 and 1/2 years with no one in or out of the island!

Sunrise Over the Moai: A Once in a Lifetime Experience

We were up at 5am this morning for the sunrise. The guide drove us out to watch the sunrise behind 15 moai figures. The was definitely worth the early rise. We got there when it was still dark and watched as the statues became visible in the early sunlight. Again we got plenty of history as well as the brilliant experience of the statues becoming visible

We're enjoying the time here although it's flying by. The scenery is brilliant and so far the weather has been sunny and around 30C.