A tiny little dot in the ocean

     

As we looked at her world map with me pointing out Easter Island to her, Jemima said “You’ll never fit on there you are too big, silly Libby.”  (Or words to that effect!)

Well Jemima I have and I am here, on Easter Island. Though disappointing no Easter Bunnies or Eggs!!! The name is actually the second name given to the island by the Dutch because they landed on Easter Sunday- previously it was called something that translated to the navel of the earth!

Santiago was a whirlwind and the trip here to Easter Island essentially felt like I was in a queue or going to a queue in between short naps over a period of 24 hours!!!

Santiago is like London a bit more polluted and less people but still a big city and bustling. As you walked around the city it into different cultural influences and clearly different classes as with any city. I didn’t fall in love with it – though my hostel was amazing if you were to stay a while.  I see it more as a transit place good for doing trips to the vineyards and the Andes!

Admittedly I only had a day and half there but I still managed to do a few things. I went to join the free guided walk that started outside the Palace at 1000. I think it is free because I never found the guide and had to go it alone. However,  it did start quite well with some kind of marching of the troops outside the palace La Modena I then followed the map through town to get to the base of San Cristobel where I had decided I would take the train up as I had already fallen over. The route took me past some fairly impressive buildings that housed their National Art Gallery of sorts, Museums and then through different suburbs of the city. 

Following this I headed to the airport for my 1930 flight that became 2200 but they did give me a free all you can eat buffet- not that there was a lot I wanted to eat. Then my 2200 flight became a 20 minute joy ride followed by bag collection fighting to get on a coach and then a rather lovely stay at the Crowne Plaza before we started all over again at 0830 the next.

After a quick nearly 6 hour flight I landed at Easter Island and attempted to find a taxi which in the end pretty much seemed to be a lady who had just been on the plane with – all good and friendly- ended my day with dinner by the sea