Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

Tiny Port Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands, lies on the barren, and windswept, tip of East Falkland. The town is home to the majority of the Falkland’s population, at just under 2,500 people, with another 900, or so, folks scattered throughout the islands, in a number of much smaller communities. The Falkland Islands consist of East and West Falkland, plus 200 smaller islands.
The Falklands have long served as a way station for ships, particularly in the days when whalers were passing to, and from, Cape Horn.
The Falklands refer to themselves as Kelpers - after the kelp seaweed which grows abundantly around the shores. They are very welcoming, friendly and fiercely patriotic to the United Kingdom.
Colourful houses dot the low rolling moorland which borders Stanley harbour - most have tin roofs and many are single story, while some of the older buildings are built from brick and stone, and are more substantial. All are designed and built to withstand the harsh weather.
During the summer months from December through March, temperatures average around 12C, but may reach 18C, on occasion. The winter months of April through September, only see temperatures of 6C, or a little higher, are cloudy and wet - raging gales, and high seas, are prevalent.
The rigorous climate becomes very evident, when the almost twenty hulks of vessels are seen dotted around the shores.
The strategic location of the islands led to significant roles in both World Wars, but are best remembered as the cause of the 1982 war between the United Kingdom and Argentina.
When chatting with the locals, it is very evident that they are fiercely patriotic towards the United Kingdom.
On the day of our visit, high seas and strong winds were forecast, but thankfully the weather was quite the opposite and we enjoyed a mostly calm and pleasantly warm day of walking.
We spent an easy few hours of investigating historical buildings, exploring the waterfront, visiting the war memorials, wondering how folks could live in such a remote and windswept environment, but mostly just enjoying being in this so very remote place which is so strongly connected to our birth place and home country.
We also visited the tiny supermarket and enjoyed seeing many items, which are quite commonly seen in English stores, that we had not seen in several years.
And yes, we also bought £15 worth of candy bars and treats. I know, we are on a cruise ship with all kinds of great food choices, but we just could not resist the temptation!
After several hours of walking, we took a break for coffee and a snack, and then boarded a shuttle bus  for more walking and to visit a penguin colony.
What we envisaged as a day of easy strolling became a quite strenuous almost 10km trek, which had drained us both emotionally as well as physically but was so much fun.

 

  

Arch built beside the cathedral, from the jaw bones of two blue whales,

in 1933 to commemorate the centenary of  continuous

British administration in the Falklands.

The post office - note the old style ‘phone boxes 

and the King George 1V era mail box -

mail collected twice per day, Monday to Friday.

So very British.

The police station

Government House

The local newspaper - Penguin News.

British Arctic survey offices

Jubilee Villas built in 1887 

to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

Typical British terraced houses of the era and a

sharp contrast to the rest of Stanley’s architecture.

 The Victory Bar in Port Stanley

is a very popular watering hole.

Margaret Thatcher Prime Minister of the UK

during the war with Argentina

1982 war memorials for all UK

armed forces personnel 

who gave their lives

WW1 memorial.

A few examples of the numerous hulks which

are scattered around the bay.