February 3, 2011
After four days at sea, the ship arrived at Easter Island. Ashore we took a tour that included visiting the volcanic quarry, carving site of the Easter Islands famous statues, the Maoi. The quarry included many statues in various stages of completion.which were carved from the volcanic stone and hauled many miles to their permanent location on the coast. The heaviest of the statues weighs 80 tons. No one is sure how the original inhabitants were able to move the statues. The purpose of the statues was to mark the burial location of a tribal chiefs. In addition we visited two sites where the Maoi have been erected showing how they looked originally. By the 1930’s all the statues were pushed over because of the wars between the island’s residents.
February 6, 2011
We arrived at Pitcairn Island. This is the island where the mutineers from the HMS Bounty sought to establish a new life hidden from the wrath of the British Navy. At one point the island was home to about 250 people. Today about 50 people live there.
Forty three of the island residents came out to the ship to sell their wears. Most of the items were handicrafts. The ship didn't allow passengers to land on the island due to the dangers of the steep ascent to the village.
Next stop Tahiti!
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