Stanley, Falkland Islands - March 11, 2014

After an interesting two days at sea, we arrived early in Stanley, Falkland Islands.  The temperature dropped dramatically over those two days.  We were inundated with small brown moths, but by the time we got to Stanley they were gone.  We also saw a number of interesting sea birds, including two different types if albatrosses.  Fortunately, the weather was good enough that we were able to go ashore in Stanley.  Half the cruise ships that try to visit don't make it.

We were hoping to do a bird walk in Stanley, and maybe even get to the penguin area, but the weather has turned pretty nasty.  We went ashore on a tender, and rather foolishly chose to ride on the open top, along with another couple.  It was 50 degrees and windy, and at one point there was a big wave that came over the boat and drenched us. 

On shore, we set out walking.  The Falkland Islands are made up of two large islands, plus a number of very small ones.  The only town, Stanley, has a population of 1700.   The islands are very bleak, with no trees.  In spite of the miserable weather (they can have frost any month of the year) the town is absolutely charming.  It feels like a small English village that has become stuck in the 1940s. 

We went to a grocery store, where David bought some tea, and to a gift shop where I found some Falkland Island wool for spinning. 

The highlight of our visit was a tour of the local school.  They had an open house and a number of the students were out recruiting people to visit.  So we did.  We were led on a tour by four fifth grade boys.  The school has 300 students, including 33 who are 'camp' students.  Their homes are in outlying areas and they live in town for two months at a time at a hostel called Stanley House.  The kids were all so sweet and friendly, and at the end we had penguin cookies decorated by the students. 

The Islanders are very proud of being British!

Unfortunately, the weather was so cold, with occasional downpours, that we cut our birding trip short.  We were unable to find anyone to take us to see the penguins.  We went back to the ship in a tender, this time inside.  After lunch we were in our cabin when we spotted a group of gulls in the water.  As we looked at them to identify them, we realized that there were penguins swimming among them!  We identified them as Chinstrap Penguins. 

We sailed at 5:00 and headed for Cape Horn.