For as long as I can remember, my husband has been wanting to visit Rapa Nui or Easter Island. Some 30 years later, we finally made this bucket list dream a reality. Last month, we said goodbye to the kids and dog and set off for the long thin line that is remarkable Chile. After visiting Punta Arena, the southern most inhabited city, and trip to Isla Magdalena for some small but majestic nonetheless Magellan penguins, we trekked for a few days in magnificent Patagonia and then flew to the farthest reaches of anywhere on the planet: Rap Nui. About 8000 people live on the island, and about half are direct descendants of the Rapa Nui people who came to the island around 400 AD. The other half are mainly Chilean. Around 7000 horses also roam the island freely, although they are owned and branded. The highlight of the island are the awe inspiring Moai, the monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui between 1200 and 1500 AD from the volcanic quarry, Rano Raraku, on the island near the coast. The Moai, who represent the ancestors, weigh between 80 and 180 tons and are remarkably placed throughout the island. While many have been toppled for various reasons, significant areas have been restored. Reach out to me if you’d like to see more photos or learn about the Birdman Cult that replaced the Moai culture…equally amazing!