We spent a quiet night on board National Geographic Orion at the sheltered dock of Port Stanley. Today is our last day on land before heading out to sea on course for southern South America. We awoke to a delightful sunny day.
After another hearty breakfast we departed for a short tour of Stanley, the capitol and government headquarters for the Falklands. We enjoyed a slow drive through town as our local guides pointed out landmarks and described life in the Falkland Islands.
To our surprise, more that 2,000 of the total 2,500 Falkland Islanders live in Stanley, which means that less than 500 inhabitants live in the surrounding countryside larger that the state of Connecticut. Commercial fishing, tourism and sheep farming support the economy of this self-governing territory of the United Kingdom.
We made a number of brief stops to photograph some of the highlights around town, including the Government House, war memorials, and the 1982 Liberation Monument. Our final stop was at the Falklands Museum with interesting depictions of the history of the islands.
Overall, it was a quiet and enjoyable morning walking along the waterfront with just one or two shops open. A few of us took part in some successful power shopping.
Back on board, preparations were almost complete for heading out to sea across some of the stormiest ocean anywhere on the planet. It was all hands on deck as the crew lashed everything down. Fueled up and ready, National Geographic Orion cast off the lines and navigated the narrow channel to open water. The ship handled very well the 30 knots of wind and three meter seas—the motion perfect for enjoying an afternoon nap.
The skies cleared as we headed into dinner. It was definitely early to bed for everyone as the winds and seas picked up.
