Stanley, Falkland Islands

Today the warm winds of the Falklands gently blew around the small town of Stanley. Traveling the area by bus gave us a sense of the town. We spent the rest of the day exploring on our own. The evidence of the “conflict” with Argentina is still very obvious. Almost as if to say, “We won’t be surprised a second time”, a military jet flew over our ship at the dock. Areas are closed to pedestrians because of land mines that are still being excavated.

We saw old ships in the harbor that once sailed adventures, now listing and rusting away aside sailing ships that have taken their places in the rough seas off Cape Horn. We counted ourselves among many who have found their way to the Falkland Islands. A “totem pole” with signs that point in numerous directions toward the home towns of people who spent time here, gave us pause as to how far from home we all are today.

Our museum stop took us back in time to long lacy dresses and tins of mints shipped half way around the world. Tea cups and dainty saucers reminded us of the traditions of British society. The air outside had a pipe-smoke quality to it. This lingering scent is from heat stoves burning peat. Hillside plots were allotted to each family from which they could cut their years worth of peat. Only a few homes still use the free and available source of fuel. Now petroleum products have made home heating much less laborious if not more expensive. Our guide treated us to a story about a reindeer that once imported was seen as unfit for the wild life it had been intended to live. Now a family pet, “George” is reputed to be more spoiled than “Rudolf” the famous reindeer of Christmas. Much to our dismay, George was not taking visitors when we arrived.

Fish and chips filled many bellies and the shops were happy to open their doors to us. Crossing the street was an adventure in itself as the British tradition of driving on the opposite side of the road than we do in the US, proved tricky to negotiate.

As the afternoon wore on, the clouds came in and we finished our shopping, walking, and tour of the hydroponic gardens. Tea time greeted us as we found our way back to our ship-board home. Happy and tired, we will leave the dilemma of how to fit our new treasures into our suitcases, for another day.