Big Head

Today we hired bikes (v old and with a blokes saddle on it - ouch!) with the plan of exploring the whole Wset coast. However we revised the plan after discovering that all the Moai on the West coast were still toppled! Most of them were restored in the last century - it´s believed that rival tribes toppled the Maoi as the biggest insult possible. When the indiginous peoples left there were no Moai left standing, but the place is literally littered with remnants making you realise how over populated the island must have been at one point. It was very hot and hard work riding the bikes on the bumpy dirt tracks, but we soon got into it and headed inland to see some of the ones still standing. This is Mike next to a toppled head - gives you some idea of the size of these things. All the Moai originate from the North side of the island - God knows how they managaed to move them without cranes, let alone stand them up on the stone plinths. We befriended adog on the way back into town - he ran alongside the bikes for miles - we named him Fernandes Gonzales. I am sure he was stalking us as he showed up at the restaurant later on that evening!