We were on tour this am, going ashore by tender. It was bit iffy for a while but the word was announced that we were going to start tendering, on time. The boarding process took longer than it should have because of the rocking and rolling when getting into the tenders. After a hearty breakfast we were soon in a very rocky boat heading for shore. At least nobody was shooting at us I thought as we headed for shore some 20 minutes away.
There were 21 of us on this tour, some Brits, Americans and maybe a few Canadians. We were in a large comfortable bus so there was scads of room. Our guide was a seventh generation male Falklonian or whatever a resident of the Falklands is called. He was about 20 when the island was invaded and occupied in April 1982 by the Argentinians, who for over 170 years have claimed that they are the rightful owners of these Islands which they call the Malvinas.
The trip was like any battlefield tour: monuments, stops of interest and an explanation of what happened some 35 years ago. The trip was like a four-hour history lesson, with a teacher who witnessed the history. The wind was blustery and cold so it helped make the tour more believable.
We ended up at a place called Fitzroy Farm where the Welsh Guards suffered a substantial loss of life when two Royal Navy ships were blown up by Argentinian Guided Missiles. I remember the day on the news as I rushed home after Firehall practice to get the 10:00 PM news and catch up with this brief but nasty war going on over some God-forsaken island in the South Atlantic. All I knew of the islands then was that had very nice postage stamps!
We shortly were in The Fitzroy Village Hall for tea, coffee and baked treats from the wife of the guide, who lived in this hamlet of a few buildings, population of four.
We then journeyed back to Stanley, tracing the steps of the British forces as the slowly squeezed the invaders into surrendering.
The War is a very big thing in the Falklands, population now about 3200? They are now more than ever, 'British to the Core'. The economy is booming here and although young people go abroad for higher education, they now return to their home.
We then took off on foot and explored the small but very neat town and ended up with a fish and chip dinner, rather late in the day.
Jim and Gail went in search of penguins, accomplishing their goal very nicely. They then invited us down to their suite for nibbles and a drink before we all tumbled off to the dining room where most of us had a light dinner.
Good day but a bit sad to have been at so many places those young people lost their lives over a hunk of land. But then I suppose that is what countries do when they are confronted with a bully, otherwise, the bully wins.
Finally, ashore in the Falklands.
People are still dying in places like this.
Mates and relatives have left mementos to their lost. I thought that this bottle of rum was significant for some sailor.
The Village Hall is still full of photos and mementos of what happened here.
Do you think they are British?
Says it all.
Beautiful building and church. The southernmost, Anglican [?] I think, in the Southern Hemisphere.
Victoria House, built in the late 1800s. Right in the heart of Stanley, the capital.
Lunchtime. [Like we need more food?]
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