The town was established here in the 1840’s, chosen for the sheltered harbour and abundant supplies of peat and fresh water nearby. Stanley is the hub of the Falklands with development of local industries and depopulation of the countryside leading to the town, doubling its size, in the last 25 years.

A group of us visited the Long Island farm, with a huge number of sheep, and a large peat bog area that they dig up for heating and also sell to the local community.   We got to see Mt Harriet, where the English army (unexpectedly) attacked the Argentinians encamped on the mountain from the rear, leading to the eventual capitulation of Argentina in the war.

And saw a geological area called ‘the Runes’ – where rivulets of rock that had tumbled down from the top of the mountain where a glacier had been progressively receding.

The museum in Stanley has a 10 minute video of adults talking about their childhood in 1982 and the impact on them of the 74 day war between England and Argentina. I wandered around town taking photos of houses, garden, a ‘liberation’ monument and a tribute to the Beagle, the ship that brought Captain Fitzroy from England (with a young Charles Darwin aboard).

Tonight, one of the naturalist staff on board, Rodolpho from Argentina, spoke about how many Argentinians didn’t want the war, nor to fight in the Falklands, but were forced to participate being threatened with dire consequences, if they did not. He wrote a beautiful poem in Spanish about peace and freedom in response to the war taking place – and read it to us (then his translated English version). Very emotional moment.

Gorgeous sunset around 10pm…