These Moai were near the quarry where the stone for the statues was obtained. The statues were made there, then moved to the locations where they were put on display. Due to the decline of the Rapa Nui culture some time after the arrival of the Europeans, these statues never made it to where they were supposed to be displayed.
This is the largest grouping of Moai on the island.
Perhaps my favorite of the many pictures I took of the Moai.
This picture shows part of Santiago's skyline, with the Andes in the background. They tower over 20,000 above sea level in places, and make an impressive backdrop for the city's skyline. When it is not too smoggy, that is, as is sometimes the case.
We were in Chile during Fiestas Patrias, the Chilean equivalent of the 4th of July. This one was not just any Fiestas Patrias, though. It marked the country's bicentenniel. This picture was taken at a big celebration in a city park.
An antique fire engine on display as part of a Fiestas Patrias observance.
I thought this picture of a street performer playing his guitar for some diners at a sidewalk cafe kind of captured the feel of the city of Santiago, especially during the festive time we were there.
A view looking up from the slopes showing Portillo's highest chairlift, several hundred feet above the ground at one point. I rode this lift a number of times, and even got stuck on it for a while during a storm when they had to shut it down due to high wind. A little scary, but OK with the safety bar down. Fortunately, most of the time the weather was more like when I took this picture, making for an enjoyable first experience of skiing in the Southern Hemisphere.
A panorama image of the high-altitude Laguna del Inca, taken from the Portillo Hotel. Like all of the Portillo resort, this lake is above tree line.