Much closer than Cerro Vizcachas, in fact just below the road where it passes below the 3.6m telescope, are the rock engravings, or petroglyphs, of La Silla. I visited these a couple of times when I first arrived at La Silla about 15 years ago, but haven’t been back since. Given I was wandering […]
Petroglyphs – La Silla Observatory Read More »
If you walk around the La Silla Observatory site at all, it’s hard to miss the road that starts just below the 2.2m telescope and heads out to Cerro Vizcachas. It was constructed back in the 1990s when the European Southern Observatory was conducting site testing at various locations to determine where they would ultimately build the Very
Las Vizcachas – La Silla Observatory Read More »
Between 2000 and 2004 I worked as an astronomer for the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile. ESO had 2 observatories in Chile at the time – the older La Silla Observatory that had been in operation since the 1960s, and the new Paranal Observatory where the Very Large Telescope was just starting operations with all
La Silla Observatory Read More »
Given my very limited time in Ushuaia before I headed off to Antarctica, I really wanted to get out for 1 day to the Tierra del Fuego National Park to do some hiking. There are quite a few trails but after reading some descriptions I decided to do the Cerro Guanaco trail, that promised an “outstanding
Hiking Cerro Guanaco – Tierra del Fuego Read More »
One of the things I wanted to do this time around on Easter Island was head out to Tongariki for the sunrise. There are excursions offering this for US$60 per person for a 3 hour trip (ouch!), so I decided to rent a scooter instead (even cheaper) to ensure I got out there to see
Easter Island – Part 5 Read More »
Final day on the e-Bike was a bit of an easier one as I was just exploring the Rano Kau volcano and Orongo, both of which are right near Hanga Roa. Started out early and was at 90% assistance getting up the volcano. Everybody who comes to Easter Island visits Orongo at the top of the
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Back on the e-Bike today but not as much riding 🙂 First stop – Puna Pau – where they quarried the red basalt for the topknots (pukaos). It is thought that these represented hair rather than hats, and seem to be very late additions to the Moais (only a fraction of the Moais actually
Easter Island – Part 3 Read More »
Decided to give the butt a rest (yes, it was sore!) and hike the west coast north of Hanga Roa. Started early to try to get good light on Tahai Complex – I was the only person there at 8am! Continued further north to Hanga Kio’e, and then sat down behind a pile of rocks watching the
Easter Island – Part 2 Read More »
Yes, I know I’m in the middle of a series of posts about events that happened a month ago, but just needed to interrupt to say Happy New Year and all the very best for 2017! I actually stayed up till midnight for only about the 4th time in my life! This was
Happy New Year! Welcome 2017 Read More »
I had always had a fascination for Easter Island (Isla de Pascua / Rapa Nui) ever since I was a kid, and made my first trip to the Island back in 2003. I stayed 5 days on that occasion and could not understand how the majority of people who were visiting said they were bored
Easter Island – Part 1 Read More »
