This morning we awoke to a typical English day of drizzle and a fresh breeze, which was quite poignant as we were fast approaching the British territory of the Falkland Islands. As we steamed at full speed we spent the morning enjoying two interesting presentations by our expedition team and captain.
After breakfast our captain conducted a fascinating presentation on how mariners navigate across the open seas. He instructed us on the techniques sailors use to navigate treacherous waters from the early days of maritime history up to the present-day use of the worldwide global positioning system. The highlight was his tutorial on how to use a sextant and the stars to plot a course across an open ocean when the safety of land is no longer in sight.
Later in the morning, Justin from the Expedition Team took the stage with his presentation, “Finding Hope in a Sea of Change.” He expertly informed us of how our choices in the types of fish we consume can greatly affect the sustainability of fish populations around the world.
After lunch we arrived in the tranquil town of Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands. As soon as the gangway was lowered and the local officials gave us the all clear, we boarded a series of buses to whisk us away to see the sight and sounds of this small village of just over 1, 500 human inhabitants.
The town was established beside a beautiful natural harbour in the early 1840s and as we walked around the town we were astounded by the charming old buildings with their brightly painted decorative woodwork. A few of us even enjoyed a pint at the local pub after our tour!
The skies cleared in the early evening and the National Geographic Orion sailed out of this beautiful harbour escorted by the local aquatic animals bound for the West Falkland Islands.
