Rota: Day 3 — Island exploration

The first stop on the day’s itinerary was to a very pretty bird sanctuary. While there are birds on Guam (contrary to the common misconception that the Brown Treesnake has eaten them all), but not large preserves like this.



Next destination was a latte stone quarry. This site has a number of unfinished latte stones. The bowl shaped piece goes on top of the rectangular base. If these were completed, they would have been some of the largest in all of Micronesia. However, most likely, these would have been used symbolically instead of for construction. It’s also possible that construction was halted by the Spanish when they subjugated the area in the 16th century.



We headed back to the water on the other side of the island. This is a popular swim hole. As you can see, the surf had picked up a little from the previous day. Fortunately, we were in a relatively protected location.

The ancient Chamorro people often used caves and karsts for shelter. One enterprising family made use of one and turned it into a small museum. While the displays were inelegant, it was interesting nonetheless.


Here’s an example of a sling stone. It’s the first that I’ve seen. The shape is prominently displayed on the Guam flag.

Here are some unique artifacts from the time of the Spanish.

Mark is manning the WWII Japanese guns…

Here’s what the erect latte stones look like. Of course there is no building on them, but it’s a good example at least.

Next up was a trip back to the run course to show the girls the view from the course and stop by another scenic overlook.

Putting another WWII Japanese gun to good use.



Back to the village our hotel was in and up the hill nearby to get a better view. Here’s what it looks like.

Here’s our hotel (the large building in the center).

Well, that whirlwind tour took us to just about all the high points on the island. So, it was time to load up our gear, and head back home.

Just a short flight and our condo was in view. Ours is the medium size white building in the center of the photo.

It was another great weekend trip. If you ever want a great quiet little tropical island to get away to, Rota is your place. 🙂
So, until the next adventure…
–Jim