Falkland Islands

Today was a sea day and we were sailing to the Falkland Islands.  Everybody on board was excited.  There were passengers that had tried reaching the Falklands several years ago, but due to bad weather the ship was not able to reach the Island.

Mid-morning, the Captain announced that due to a weather depression coming from Antarctica, the Star Princess would not be able to sail to the Islands.  The ship would be slowing down to handle the rough seas that we would soon be encountering.  Staying on our current course, we would be able to arrive at Cape Horn on our scheduled date.  You could hear many passengers complaining, but we all knew that the Captain was making a smart choice and keeping us safe.

I began to think of all the small ships that sailed to the Falkland Islands never knowing what weather they would encounter.  How many lives and ships were lost in the early years? 

As the morning progressed, the swells became large and the ship was creaking and moaning.  The swells were eight to ten feet.  Passengers were staying in their cabins due to sea sickness.

Kenny and I attended various lectures, ate, took cha-cha lessons and read.  It was a quiet day on board.

We will have to see the Falkland Islands another time.

Falkland Islands have played a large part in military history.  The Island is east of the lower extent of Argentina and is still a part of Britain.  Two well-known battles have been fought for this island.  In 1914, there was a battle between British and German fleets, which Britain won.  The second battle was in 1982 between Britain and Argentina and Britain won.  This island remains a very sensitive issue with the Argentineans.

Sights that you can see:
* Christ Church Cathedral, the southern most Anglican cathedral in the world
* Whalebone Arch, made from the jaws of two blue whales
* Rockhoppers penguins. The smallest of penguins, with elaborately curled “eyebrows”.

Rough seas continued throughout the day and evening. In two days, we would be rounding the Horn.