Today we arrived at picturesque Port Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands, under a relatively sunny morning sky. First on many people's list was Christchurch. This Anglican cathedral was first consecrated in 1892 and dominates the center of town. This church was an important place of refuge during the last days of the Falklands War and many an islander huddled here against bomb blasts. Across from the church we saw the Whalebone Arch, shown in today's photo. This arch is constructed from the jaw bones of two blue whales and was given to the Falkland Islands in 1933 by the whalers of South Georgia to commemorate 100 years as a colony of Britain.

As we continued down the waterfront road we passed Victory Green, a small park containing four cannons from Port Louis, the first British settlement in the Falklands, and the mizzen mast of Brunel's famous ship, the Great Britain, which sank in the Falklands. Next our stroll took us by the Liberty Monument, a tribute to the people who gave their lives in 1982 in the war with Argentina. Unveiled in 1984, this monument was constructed through volunteer labor and paid for by public donations.

Under a billowing sky we continued on to the Falkland Island Museum. This small museum is housed in a building constructed in 1981 for the Argentine Air Force, who maintained a twice-weekly air service between the Falklands and the mainland. Following the war of 1982, the house was occupied by the various commanders of the British forces until in 1989, when it opened as the Falkland Island Museum. This small but interesting museum depicts the Falklands' rich and varied history covering domestic, maritime, social, military and natural history. Strolling among the artifacts and collections we listened to music produced by a German symphonion made in 1896.

Traditional British pub fare was enjoyed by many as was a stout or bitter. Happy to return to the warmth and comfort of our floating home we departed for the small islands off the western coast of West Falkland.