Cosy pubs, Land Rovers galore and M&S food: A stroll around the capital of the Falkland Islands, one of the world's most remote cities
- Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands, is located more than 12,600km away from the UK
- It has a population of just over 2,000 and is home to many military families based at the RAF base
- Amenities in the small city include a supermarket, cathedral, post office and prison with ten cells
'Our capital city Stanley has the highest number of Land Rovers per capita than anywhere else in the world,' Falkland resident Georgina Strange is telling us before we go off to explore her small hometown. And she's right, it's instantly clear Landies are rife!
It's a grey winter's day and a biting wind is nipping at my nose as I navigate the minute metropolis, dodging 4x4s as I go.
Despite being more than 12,600km away from the UK and much closer to South America, Stanley - which has a population of just over 2,000 - is like a 'little Britain' with Union Jacks flying, fish and chips frying and seagulls crying.
An aerial view of Stanley, which is the capital of the Falkland Islands and located on the island of East Falkland
Even more bizarrely, strolling around the main supermarket, I find Waitrose and Marks & Spencer-branded produce all jumbled together.
Any pangs of home sickness are gradually fading away!
I guess the Britishness is unsurprising, as the Falklands is a British overseas territory and the UK takes responsibility for all of its defence and foreign affairs. However, the islands have internal self-governance.
I'm stopping off at Stanley during a voyage to the sub-Antarctic wilds of South Georgia with Poseidon Expeditions.
Strange had been travelling on board the luxury sailing vessel as a staff photographer and she gives a talk about what to expect when navigating Stanley.
She explains: 'It's a small, friendly place and everybody knows everybody.'
There are dozens of Land Rovers on the Falkland Islands. They are the perfect vehicle for navigating the windswept terrain
British patriotism is proudly displayed on the island, with Union Jacks cropping up everywhere
After briefly skimming the surface, it appears she is right.
I stop in a gift shop and end up having a lovely conversation with a smiley worker who kindly provides me with a city map.
And at the Victory Pub - housed inside what appears to be a large garden shed - the barmaid advises me to jazz my coffee up with a warming glug of Tia Maria.
I kindly oblige, especially as the alcoholic beverage costs less than £3. On the beer front, pints are going for £2.80 and a giant bowl of fish and chips comes in at a reasonable £6.50.
Yes, that's another Briticism of the Falklands - it shares the same currency as the UK, with Falkland Island pounds pegged to the pound sterling.
Furthering my feeling of being back in Britain is the sound of the British Forces radio station playing away in the background.
The pubs in Stanley are said to get rowdy in the evenings, with military men 'letting their hair down' with pints of local ale
The Victory Pub is a popular spot in Stanley but its shed-like exterior can make it tricky to spot
Inside, the pub has a cosy atmosphere with a roaring fire and British Forces radio playing
Stanley is located more than 12,600km away from the UK. Getting there is quite a mission
With Stanley being home to many military families - RAF Mount Pleasant is 53km away - it appears the forces-run station is the one to tune into.
I am told the Victory Pub and other drinking holes in the area get pretty rowdy at the weekends, with uniform-clad men letting their hair down.
'Your feet stick to the floor over at The Globe Tavern,' one Stanley insider informs me, steering my decision to head to the Victory.
After warming up with my boozy coffee and a stint by the pub's roaring fire, I leave the cosy spot to see what else the city has to offer.
On consulting my map, I decide to head to the Christ Church Cathedral, which is the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world and featured on the reverse side of all Falkland Islands pound banknotes.
The Union Flag flies over the Falkland Islands, demonstrating the island's allegiance to the UK
Christ Church Cathedral is the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world and featured on the reverse side of all Falkland Islands pound banknotes
Sadie said the cathedral had a slightly eerie feel with wind whistling through the door and a damp fusty smell wafting from the interiors
The Falklands is virtually crime-free and Sadie didn't see too much action down at the local police station
Consecrated in 1892, the building features a mix of local stone and brick.
Stepping inside, the place has a slightly eerie feel with wind whistling through the door and a damp fusty smell wafting from the interiors.
After a brief moment of reflection I continue my journey along Stanley's main drag, Ross Road - named after the 19th Antarctic explorer James Clark Ross - and find a number of local landmarks, the police station being one of them.
The local slammer doesn't seem too busy, not surprising given that the Falklands is virtually crime-free.
Over the road, the post office also looks pretty sleepy, with some red telephone boxes outside standing as fading monuments of by-gone times.
Other reminders of the past include various memorials marking the 10-week 1982 war between Britain and Argentina, which started when Argentina occupied the island.
Government House has been the home of Falkland Islands' London-appointed governors since the mid-19th century
The post office, complete with a red letter box and two telephone booths, was shut for business when Sadie visited
Out-of-bounds areas peppered with mines are reminders of the 1982 conflict between Britain and Argentina. Above, a view over Gypsy Cove, which is located close to Stanley
The relationship between the Falklands and Argentina is still tense to say the least and there are few flights from the islands to the mainland.
LATAM operates a seven-hour 20-minute flight to Chile every Saturday from Mount Pleasant in the Falklands. The destination is Santiago, via Punta Arenas. However, once a month it stops in Rio Gallegos in Argentina on the outbound leg and makes a return visit on the inbound leg.
Those wanting to fly to the UK can hop on a flight run by the Military of Defense, with the aircraft landing in RAF Brize Norton.
Reaching the end of Ross Road I find Government House, which has been the home of Falkland Islands' London-appointed governors since the mid-19th century.
I can see smoke smouldering from the chimney, signalling the head honcho is home.
The quaint building reminds me of a cricket club house, with a twee green roof, white walls and perfectly manicured lawns.
Checking my watch, it's time to get back to the boat.
The city amenities I don't have time to see include the 18-hole golf course, racecourse and leisure centre.
Reasons, maybe, to return to this quirky spot one day, along with those bargain jazzy coffees.
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More British pride on a little island thousands of...
by Robert Perry20 75