Pretty much everyone begins in the Falklands' tiny capital — and only real town (above and top) — with a population of just under 3,000 (which represents more than 80 percent of the islands´ total). Brightly roofed houses line the waterfront, red telephone boxes and post boxes punctuate the streets, and pubs and tearooms reinforce the sensation that a small British seaside community has somehow drifted thousands of miles into the South Atlantic. Check out the compact Anglican Christ Church Cathedral, inaugurated in 1892; the Whalebone Arch out front, constructed of blue whale jawbones in 1933 to commemorate a century of British rule; and the Historic Dockyard and Museum is the best introduction to the islands' maritime, social and natural history. Along Ross Road, shipwrecks and monuments recall the generations of sailors who navigated these difficult waters, while memorials and exhibits document the 1982 war, an event that remains very much part of the islands' contemporary identity. Stanley is also where the Falklands feel most "inhabited." Hotels and guesthouses, shops, cafés, and pubs are clustered within a compact area easily explored on foot. Local lamb and mutton, fish, pies and baked goods reflect the islands' British roots, while the institution of “smoko” — a midmorning or afternoon break for tea or coffee and a bit to nibble on — remains part of Falklands life. For souvenirs, look for local woollens, wildlife art and photography, handicrafts, and stamps and coins.
Read more in my post Are the Falkland Islands Worth Visiting?
Comments