The Little Cactus that Could

Getting my roots back on the ground

Love that Texas sun. This is my new leaf. #6

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be landing at Mataveri International Airport in five minutes. Please buckle your seat belts.”  So, signaled Annie’s and my arrival on Easter Island. Our five hour trip from Santiago, Chile was uneventful, the kind you always like when traveling by air.

We were looking forward to a week discovering the mysteries of the Moai (the statues carved by the inhabitants of this island), and eating spectacular seafood.

Our first stop was at our hostel about a 15 minute drive from the airport. It was a small, clean, comfortable place for us to stay during our visit.

That afternoon, I was exploring the patio area and discovered what I have always called, Crown of Thorns. At the end of our holiday, I cut-off a small piece of the cactus, wrapped it carefully in paper towels and hid it inside one of moccasins. Annie scolded me that if Chile customs found it, I would never see the light of day while I rotted in a Chilean prison.

Undeterred, I was willing to take the chance to have a living souvenir from this magical island. People can buy their Moai key chains and t-shirts, but I would have something that would live and grow forever. OK, maybe not forever, but for a long time.

I must admit that a few beads of sweat formed on my forehead going through customs on our return to Santiago. “What if Annie is right?” But, there was no search. No questions. Zip. We were in a taxi on our way back to our hostel.

Outside our hostel window was a flower pot. I carefully dug a small hole and placed the cactus in the grey looking dirt. Each day I sprinkled some water around it…not too much, just enough.

A few weeks passed. We moved to our apartment just a few blocks down Avienda Brasil. I gently dug up the cactus, wrapped it and carefully secured it in my moccasin. This time, I was determined to give it a better home. I bought a flower pot from Juan down by the supermarket, some fresh dirt and fertilizer.  I placed the cactus in the sun. Weeks passed. She lost a leaf and I felt like she was headed down. How could she come 10,000 miles only to die?  Months passed and finally one day, she sprouted a new leaf. She was going to make it!

In August, Annie and I prepared to finish our journey in South America, visit some more countries and return to the USA. This time, I knew I had to take greater precautions. From her Santiago pot, I re-potted her into an old prescription bottle in order to protect her roots. I carefully put her in my moccasin and hoped for the best. When we arrived in Ecuador, I was leery that the custom’s officers would find her. But, once again that sly little devil went through undetected. At the hostel in Puerto Lopez, I gave her a drink and placed her in a sunny spot. She wasn’t doing well. She seemed limp and unhappy.

I was worried. We had so much more traveling to do before she could have a real home. When we arrived in Lima, Peru, I knew I had to get her in some dirt. At the hotel, I asked if I could plant her in one of their flower beds. They had no objections. We were going away for a week. She would be on her own. This would be a “make or break” for the little cactus. Upon our return from Machu Picchu, she was sitting in water. I dug her up immediately and prepared her for her final journey to the US.

Now, all I had to do was get her through American customs. Discovery could be severe. Upon arrival, there was no inspection. We sailed through. We were HOME. The sly little devil had traveled 25,000, avoided capture at least 6 times and was finally home.

My first task was to plant her where she would live for many years. The good ‘ol Texas sun made her happy. Today, she has three leaves and will spend the rest of her days in Texas. She is a TEXAS Star of a Cactus.

Here I go!! The Texas Star Cactus

Photos of Machu Picchu

As you see, there are hundreds, from around the world, trying to get the perfect photo….

As you walk from one site to another you MUST pay attention. You are often on narrow terraces with deadly precipices!!

As you can see, every photo requires patience, we all want the same shot!!!

The path to the Sun Gate continues for ever……we ran out of gas!! There are many, long paths, only this one was more than we wanted.

Sign to the Sun Gate

This view truly displays the magnitude of Machu Picchu. We walked for 5 hours. Once you enter, you move back in time 700 years. ALL modern services are outside the gate.

This is the Sacrificial Rock…… There is a Paragraph in the book too long to add here. PLEASE, google, “Sacrificial Rock Machu Picchu”

Waterfalls of Iguazu

Without a doubt this is one of the most incredible sites I’ve ever seen. It is as if you were standing in a place where you could see fifty Niagara Falls side-by-side. I will never show you the grander of this natural wonder of the world. But, photos are the best I can do.

You’re looking away from the falls to the left.

Looking center away from the falls

Looking to the right with the falls behind you.

 

If you will stand in one place, look left, center and right, you will see still water as far as you can see.

The rest of these photos will be looking at the falls.

Tectonic Plates are the floor of the river. The waterfall is the separation of the two tectonic plates.

To give some feel for height, that is a person standing at the base of the falls in a red shirt.

The Iguazu Falls span 1.7 miles across. The height of the falls varies between 197 to 269 ft. The total number of drops (waterfalls) is 275.

 

Mendoza Argentina Photos

18,  plus or minus the ones I reject…..about 15 ???

This is Lady Liberty.   She has a very long story, for now in the mid 1800s   SPAIN ruled Chile,  Peru.   and Argentina.   The leaders of Chile, Peru, and Argentina agreed to unite and drive the Spaniards out out of S. America.  After several years of planning and fighting Liberty was gained.   Thus the statue…..Lady Liberty.

After the victory a Monument was required!!!  From 1911-1916 the Friezes….. bronze panels were made.

I was there on a COLD, WET day and the crowds were as you see here before I arrived,  while I was there and as my bus was leaving the steps to the LADY OF LIBERTY were crowded!!!   The decision to build the Monument was…..the right thing to do~!!!

 

END OF THE LINE…..

Every where you walk, bike, tour you will find/see small caves you might could sleep in and larger caves that a close family could live in.   This island has hundreds of caves on shore and at the shore.  Without question many were the homes to the indigenous tribes.

Here are two that were just across the hotel parking lot that are representative of the larger caves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS IS MY  “BUFFALO”  MOAI…..just for fun!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND!!!   This is MOAI KAVAKAVA

He is a Ritual statue for ceremonial use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Varua Ora Show and Dinner.

The theme of the show is to tell the story of the island in song and dance.

The cast is young and enthusiastic and for 2 hours, SING AND DANCE, audience members participate at times and I promise!!!  everyone has fun.

 

TSUNAMI MOAI

A modern-day tsunami struck Easter Island in May of 1960 and laid waste to the remains of the Tongariki ahi (platform), tossing 15 moai, some weighing up to 30 tons, over 700 yards inland. Japan came to help Easter Island with the salvage of the moia in 1992 and in  1996 the moai were installed into their new location seen in these photos.

A close frontal view level with the new pad they are mounted on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A broad view some 200 yards removed above the pad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slightly below the pad and on the opposite  end of the moai.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level with the moai and a view from behind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A view of the moai in queue with the new pad and a view of the magnificent new home for the moai.

 

 

 

 

 

Moai

CLICK  ON  PHOTO  TO  ENLARGE

There are dozens of broken Moai, few are as complete as this one.  At this point the land is flat and the ocean is in front and not so far away.  Behind you would be the quarry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More broken, damaged and buried Moai.   These are just slightly higher on the volcano.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-site photo of a Moai never completed.  Notice he is quarried from the outside surface of the volcano.  There were several incomplete, at various stages of completion none showing  how they CUT the Moai from the solid rock of the mountain side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this one.   It is so easy to enjoy.  Walk up and say HI,  talk to,  you are never to touch a Moai but….you know I watched so many wanting their SELFIE as they touched them,  leaned on them, hugged them.  This on is so easy to feel comfortable with…..no ancient history or secrets!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again this is at the base of the volcano.   You can see another Moai with a detached head.  There are hundreds of broken pieces, damaged beyond repair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a back view of a line of 15 Moai.  I was there 4 full days and every day I chased those rock statues all over the island.   This was the most impressive collection I saw.   A long story but I will tell it for my next and last Easter Island adventure…..IT HAS BEEN FUN!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Jigsaw Puzzle with a million pieces of Moia!

Two photos taken inside the Volcano adjacent to an area where the Polynesian civilization  lived and worked for hundreds of years.  The total number of Moia Statues has been estimated to be 900  for the Island.  The 3 sites here have 400 Moia.  We will see Moai inside the volcano,  on the exterior of the volcano crater and the “15 Moai” in a single line we ALL have seen.  These 3 areas are without question the place to see and understand the basics of Easter Island.

The floor of the Volcano is filled with water,  imagine, you are standing inside the Volcano and can see the full circumference  of the Volcano wall .    On west end there are (Guess) 10-12  Moai on the  surface of the crater (see photo  1.).  On the outside of the Volcano you will also see the quarry where workers and artists built and shaped the Moai out of the organic TUFF,  a combination of lava and ash.

The next 2-3 Bloggs will expand your understanding of this area.  Photos will illustrate the history of how they made the statues and how far they were moved.  For now,  I have to catch a plane…..only 2 photos!  Sorry!!!

I am back at Santiago,  will send more tomorrow!  For now the 2 photos from yesterday.

EASTER ISLAND…….WOW!!!!!

The original islanders arrived from Polynesia around  1000 AD . The Polynesians lived in peace until the Peruvian  slave traders arrived in early 1860’s.  The strong men were transported to Peru as slaves .  By 1862 disease and hard labor had killed over 90% of the Polynesians.  French missionaries in late 1860’s converted the remaining population to Christianity.   Today the culture is a mix of Polynesian and Chilean.

The attraction to Easter Island is the MOAI STATUES.  The statues were hand carved for over 800 years,  We do not know the significance of the statues.   Religion is a possibility but there are no clues.  The MOAI statues, carved out of the volcanic tuff (rock) that forms the island have fascinated us for over 100 years.

 

 

will have more tomorrow……and the day after……..

 

 

Vega Wrapup

In the last blog we saw trailer loads of vegetables separated into parcels for a wholesaler or grocery store chain.

 

(1 A)     Large bundles of Vegetables get broken down into parcels for the smaller wholesaler and onsite sales to restaurants and families.

 

 

 

 

(2 A)      The small packages for the various beans and peas have been processed on site,   shelled, washed, weighed, and packaged into various sizes.  The smaller sizes are for families and small  restaurants,  which are in Santiago by the hundreds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3A)     It was totally amazing for me,  the fruits and vegetables were so brilliant and perfect.  I had never seen the choices at a Kroger, Safeway, HEB or Trader Joe’s!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4A)     The incredible selection is almost endless.  I did not count but there were dozens of choices and you know they are all fresh and perfect in every way.   The choice is YOURS.

 

 

 

 

(5A)     MY FAVORITE PHOTO!!!   The colors are perfect,  the fruit looks so  “ready to eat”,  so may choices!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything comes to Vega as it was….IN THE FIELD!!!   It must be washed, trimmed, shelled, pealed,  packaged and displayed for its beauty it’s color…..a ton of scraps trimmed from: cabbage, lettuce, corn, 4 kinds of onions, banana stems, and and and…….it is time to clean the debris, tomorrow is just hours away!