Darwin House East Falkland

... a little about that City. We arrived Sunday, March 15 and slept a good bit of the day as we had a "Red Eye Flight" from Orlando. Out hotel was very nice and we overlooked one of the fine beaches of Rio. Monday, March 16, we hired a car to take us to see the statue, Christ The Redeemer. This was an awesome experience, to put it in the terms of the modern generation, as we stood at the foot of this huge statue, a feeling of a ...

Cruising is a bit too safe for me but obviously appeals to the masses who want to switch off for 15 days. I prefer the randomness of backpacking but was surprised to bump into Uki and Aki the Japanese couple we have found on a number of occasions (Costa Rica, Galapagos Islands)...on the boat!! Uki was the man of the hour on the Falklands and found half price tix on the sold-out trip to see the King Penguins, where we passed ...

... and petrels. We'd hoped to be able to see elephant seals, but they live too far away from Stanley to see them during a day trip. In 1982, the Argentines invaded the Falklands in an attempt to take ownership from the British. Their occupation lasted 78 days. When the British military finally arrived on the islands, they quickly defeated the Argentines. During this conflict many land mines were planted around the island, many of which ...

... entire Island. The stark landscape remined me of Iceland. Where you could see the ground, it seemed very fertile, but it is all peat and the climate does not provide for a good growing season. There are no trees growing naturally on the island. After about 1.5 hours, we finally arrived at the top of a large cliff that rose about 50 feet from the ocean. There on the top of the cliff was ...

Day 4, Fri 7 Nov: Stanley, East Falklands, Weather-God stills smiles on our expedition Falklands capital, population just over the 2000. Not the most interesting place on the planet for some, but appreciated by many into the history side. 2 options offered, a 3 hour hike or a history bus tour. Took the hike which was very slow and about 2.5 hrs too long, but still nice to be wandering about off ship. Got some essentials at the ...

Day 3, Thur 6 Nov: Morning landing at New Island, divine weather. Penguins, penguins, penguins. Little Dudes! The island is owned by two families and run as nature reserves. Standing metres away, watched gorgeous little Rockhopper pengs who bounce up and down sea cliffs to nest their blue eggs, wearing yellow feathers at the side of their heads. They are ...

I shall give you some of the Polar Star daily quotes as they are a more poetic summation of the day than I could hope to manage. Day 2, Wed 5 Nov: Sailing for the Falkland Islands. "I now belong to the higher cult of mortals, for I have seen the Albatross." Robert Cushman Murphy. Whoever he was. It's amazing the way the birds follow the ship (not allowed to call it a boat or we will be ...

Wednesday - went to Long Beach near Georgetown to see turtle burrows on the sand with turtle eggs on the surface , a casualty of being dug up accidentally by other turtles. Returned in the evening to see the immature ...

... lunch time taking aerial photos and we all took a turn at steering the yacht using the compass and computer for navigation , avoiding the kelp patches ahead. Lunch was provided and most of us sunbathed along the length of the deck until we turned back towards the jetty A thoroughly enjoyable day.

Feb 14, Port Stanley, Falkland Islands Coordinates: 51d 40.20m S, 57d 49.42m W MILES: flying 8517, bus 22, taxi 33, walking 20, ship 1916, Zodiac boat 14 total: 10,522 miles Stanley is a very small port city on this British overseas territory. Approximately 3000 people live in the Falkland islands, and 2000 of those live in Stanley. There are two little hotels, several little restaurants, pubs, and a store or two. There is even one gas ...