Day 23 - Chris - Whilst at sea yesterday the captain warned that we should not be optimistic about being able to disembark at Port Stanley as gale force winds were expected in the afternoon. When we opened the curtains all seemed pretty calm and we were glad to see the tenders were running. We got onto a tender at approx 8.50am as we had booked a 9.00 am walking tour. We were very lucky as at 9.30am the harbour master stopped any new passengers from disembarking and most of the days tours were therefore cancelled. When our tender pulled towards the pontoon to dock, it was pretty choppy and it seemed to me that the pilot hesitated before deciding to dock. The winds were fierce and it was very cold, but for me, this was the best day of the cruise.

Our tour guide was a 4th generation Falkland Islander named Xenia. Her parents found the name in a book and used it as there was no-one else in the Falklands with a name beginning with X! She was a nurse during the 1982 conflict and her stories, insights and personal recollections of life on the island before, during and after the conflict were hugely interesting. She even met Margaret Thatcher 3 times.

After the walking tour, during which we had to stop to buy some gloves for Mal, we visited the museum, which showed a film based on the conflict. A 19 year old version of Xenia was interviewed as part of the film.

On then to the Falkland tradition of a pint and fish and chips at the Victory arms.