The sun rose over calm seas as the Caledonian Star approached Stanley (population: 2,050), the tiny capital of the Falkland Islands. Before we had docked, the wind increased to over forty knots in the space of only ten minutes -- conditions very typical for this dramatic archipelago. A shuttle bus service ran us from the dock to Stanley's colorful town center about two miles away, where the drop-off point was in front of the Christchurch Cathedral and Whalebone Arch.
Consecrated in 1892, the cathedral (the world's most southerly) dominates Stanley seafront and is a focal point of the community. The impressive arch next door was built in 1933 from the jawbones of two blue whales.
Stanley was ours to explore at leisure, and provided many a delight for both shoppers and photographers. Some of us had lunch at one of Stanley's bars, where we sampled some of the excellent local fare. A true highlight was a visit to the small but extremely impressive Falkland Islands Museum, where we had the pleasure of the hospitality of the curator, Mr. John Smith.
