A few more days on Easter Island

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Well, I have to admit, I've done it again. I thought that I had a flight to leave Easter Island on Sunday, but when I got to the airport I discovered that that was not the case. Somehow I made it to the island without having an exit ticket and although my intended flight was on my itinerary I never paid for it (you can imagine my conversation at the airport check-in). But I actually had no problem with this and was quite happy to have an excuse to stay for a few more days. I feel quite at home here and wasn't ready to leave just yet. So here I am.

I've already gone horseback riding again, which I have to say was quite the experience. For starters, I split my jeans (one of the three pairs of pants I am traveling with) wich got wet in the rain. Rain?, you ask. Who would be stupid enough to ride in the rain? Not only was it raining on and off, but it was the windiest day probably of the year since it is now only turning to winter weather. And of course I am just crazy enough to want to ride to the highest point on the island where of course it was the windiest as well. The wind was so strong on the island that my eyelids were getting blown to the sides. Then add running with the horses on top of that, and this was all just at the base of the hill. At the top, I thought I would get blown off of Potro (my horse from last week). Needless to say, he didn't like it up there, but I thought it was great. After riding to the top, there was a local horse race that took place on a dirt road. It was a celebration with only the native people. And unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me. Sorry. After the race I was invited to have luch with my guide and his sister at her house with her family, and they told me stories of how different the island is now from the time when their parents and grandparents lived. Another amazing experience.

Well, on wednesday I am really off to Tahiti. It will be quite hard to leave here, but at least now I have ticket which will help. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

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Comments

[Cynthia]

Ticket schmicket
haha well you started the trip w/o a passport....sounds like riding there is amazing! Have a great flight to Tahiti!

[Denise and John C]

Your journal is very interesting
Stephanie, I received your postcard today with this site. It sounds like you are having a super time. Dr. John and I did something like what you are doing about 23 years ago however we camped into the interior of Mexico and were gone for about 5 months and until our money ran out!!! God Bless and continue to have a wonderful time. Love, Denise and John