Easter Island Visitor’s Guide - Page 12

There are several shops and stores along "main" streets, Atamu Tekena and Te Pito te Henua. These two streets intersect. One corner has a small park, across the street is the island school, and a third corner is the municipalidad, where the mayor's office is located. All along these two streets can be found a variety of items from groceries to pareu to postcards, to carvings. The largest store on Atamu Tekena, Tumu Kai, has groceries, bottled water, wine, beer, etc. There are also places on this street to buy a snack or a meal. Near the corner of Atamu Tekena and Pont street (where LANChile office is located) is a cappuccino bar. The corner of Atamu Tekena and Tu'u Maheke (the street with the bank, governor's office, and tourist office) has a roofed but open air market set up for selling everything from fresh fish to veggies to carvings and shell necklaces.

Many of the small shops in the village specialize in tourist items such as t-shirts, wood carvings, postcards, etc. Hotu Matua's Favorite Shoppe (near the small park at the corner of Atamu Tekena and Te Pito te Henua) has, in addition, a good collection of books for sale. Some hotels and residenciales are located along the main street; others are on side roads and a few are quite a distance out of the main village area (such as the Hotu Matu'a and the Iorana Hotel). The larger hotels have gift shops also, but often prices are higher at the hotel shops, and don't expect to bargain.

The artisan's market is near the church, on Tu'u Koihu street (this street runs in front of the church and continues north and south). This new market replaced the old ramshackle corrugated iron building that formerly blighted this location. The new market has many amenities that the former one lacked, including lots of windows. However, it was clearly designed by someone on the continent who had no direct knowledge about the island's climate. In the Summer time, all those great windows focus the sun and the place heats up like a Turkish bath. But aside from that, many of the local artisans display their carvings and other items for sale. Here you can find a lot of inexpensive souvenirs, plus some that are quite costly. Small gift items range from earrings to key chains. The larger pieces include many types of carvings from chess sets to large fruit bowls, or wood spoon/forks with elaborate handles. While these are not traditional pieces and are created solely for the tourist trade, they can be very nicely done. Prices go up with the time involved in the carving process. Some take weeks to complete and thus will be more expensive.

Two of the better carvers do not put their work in the public market. Luis Tomas Paté ("pah-tay") has a small store on Te Pito te Henua street called Puku Rangi Uku, It's on the south side, as you walk uphill toward the church.

Another artist who shows at his home and his own gallery is Bene Aukara Tuki. His gallery and home are located on Pont, just east of the corner of Pont and Atamu Tekena, on the north side of the street. The better carvers naturally charge more for their work. The quality pieces are beautifully finished and polished, and the details are carved very precisely. (For much more on Wood Carvings, go on to the next page.)

The island museum, (Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert) has a small book / gift shop inside the museum building.

Food

If you are shopping for food, be prepared for sticker shock. Prices are high because nearly everything is imported from the mainland. Anything coming via air is more costly than by ship. The best buys are locally grown produce. In Summer, there are fresh local pineapples, very sweet and tasty. Also watermelon and a variety of produce. In the Winter, the choices are few. Some islanders put up locally grown guava and sell it at Tumu Kai market. It has a distinctive label and is a fun item to bring home for gifts.

While probably not of interest to tourists, a new hardware store has opened on Hotu Matua street (the street that borders the airport).