After 2 1/2 days at sea and a distance of 1221 statue miles we arrived at the Falkland Islands and Stanley, which has been the Capital of the islands since 1843. The first day and 1/2 we had moderate seas. The second day we had very high seas, with a strong gale. We were concerned about our ability to anchor aweigh from the Islands. We heard various reports that only 2 out of 5 ships with tourists get to go ashore on the islands because of the rough seas and no dock to be tied to requiring us to anchor aweigh. The first attempt to have the anchor was discouraging. The wind and rough seas wouldn't allow our anchor to hold the ship in place. Our Captain discussed the situation with the authorities on the Island and they made a suggestion of another area to let down the anchor. After moving to that area, dropping the anchor, waiting for a time , the Captain became assured that the anchor would hold and we were cleared to go ashore. The ship anchored at Stanley's outer harbor, Port William.
The Climate of the islands is a temperate oceanic climate and pollution-free skies. The average daytime temperatures range from 36°F in July to 48°F in January. The lowest recorded minimum temperature was 13.5°F in July 2002 and the highest maximum temperature was 85°F in January 1992. Rainfall is generally low at around 23 inches per year. The wind is persistent, usually westerly, with an average speed of about 17 miles per hour.
The Falkland Islands consist of 788 islands. The English navigator Captain John Davis is credited with the first confrmed sightings and accurate recordings of the Falkland Islands position on August 14, 1592. Two years later another English Captain, Sir Richard Hawkins, sighted the Islands and named them Hawkins Maidenland. The first recorded landing was in January 1690 by Captain John Strong with the ship the "Welfare" who put into Bold Cove, near Port Howard on West Falkland, to replenish his ship with water.The earliest settlement in the Falklands, was founded by the French in the 18th century at Port Louis.
You cannot be at the Falkland Islands without saying something about the war. Apparently the Argentine military was having problems with its own people, was forced from power and to divert public attention from the growing domestic crisis turned the public attention to foreign matters. In this case the British-occupied Falkland Islands. The ensuing South Atlantic War was brief but bloody, beginning April 2, 1982 with Argentine invasion of the islands and ending with their surrender at th capital Port Stanley on June 14.General Galtieri resigned three days after the argentine surrender and was replaced a week later by retired general Reynal;do Bignone.
With the invasion of Argentina in 1982 and the eventual war with England, the Falkland Islands became more noticeable and as a result more people wanted to see them. The Falkland Islands are among the few places left that can be descibed as "off the beaten track".
Since the ship anchored at Stanley's outer harbor, Port William. We were tendered into Port Stanley. The islands appeared very barren. We didn't see any trees, so any wood for houses have to be shipped in.
All land outside Port Stanley is referred to as "the camp", a distinction that does not end with a label. While "camp"-ers and Port Stanley residents recognize each other as fellow citizens, they see hugh differences - the majority of those in "the camp" are sheep farmers. Two-thirds of the approximately 2,000 residents were born in the islands and most claim some British ancestry. The total population in 2001 was 2,491, 1,989 in Stanley, 502 in the camp.
We did not committ to any tours as we thought we would just walk around the town, talk to people, see the homes, gardens etc. As we got off the tender, we decided to walk down Ross Rd, which is the road which follows the coast first.
Seeing a local bar we thought, what better place to see some of the locals and learn a little about the culture.
After stopping at the local bar, we continued our walk on the street above the town. It should be noted that is no McDonald's in town. We also discovered there were no stoplights anywhere on the islands.
In order to get some more informtion about the culture and people, we decided to have lunch in one of the resturants. We also thought there should be fish on the menu.We stopped at the Goble Tavern. They did have fish on the menu.
We left the Falkland Islands at 5:30 pm. The Falklands although very calm seemed like a life of Barren existence.
