Trip of the week: memories of war in the Falkland Islands
For a British tourist of a certain age, a visit to the battle sites is ‘spine-tingling’
With a landmass almost as big as Northern Ireland’s and a population of just 3,500, the Falkland Islands have an “otherworldly” natural beauty that has attracted a growing number of visitors. But this spring, some Britons have another reason to go, said Marcel Theroux in The Daily Telegraph. It is the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, which began on 2 April 1982 and ended six weeks later, on 14 June. From 4 May, hundreds of veterans are due to fly to the islands to attend remembrance ceremonies in the capital, Stanley.
The war still “looms large in every aspect of Falklands life”. It can be “very sobering” to hear first-hand from islanders about their memories of the fighting; and for a British tourist of a certain age, a visit to the battle sites is “spine-tingling”. You come across once-familiar names (Mount Harriet, Tumbledown, Goose Green), as well as rusting chunks of matériel (“burned out helicopters, old Argentine field kitchens, downed fighter planes”) that make the conflict seem “eerily recent”.
But for islanders, the war had some positive effects. The Foreign Office largely neglected them until 1982, and life was poor and tough for most. Since then, there have been “huge material improvements”, with new fishing rights and a growth in tourism, largely from cruise ships.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Founded in 1845, Stanley retains its quaint Victorian heart, but has expanded greatly in recent years. It has acquired some “reliably good” restaurants (the local toothfish is “delicious”), a great microbrewery and a “fantastic” artisanal gin distillery, Darwin’s Botanicals. And transport links within the islands are much improved.
Go to revel in their limitless space and quiet, their “intense southern hemisphere sunshine”, and their astonishing sub-Antarctic wildlife, which includes elephant seals, sea lions and six types of penguin.
Specialist tour operators include Journey Latin America (journeylatinamerica.co.uk) and Rainbow Tours (rainbowtours.co.uk).
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 3, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - presidential pitching, wavering convictions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour – an 'expansive' exhibition
The Week Recommends The 'sweeping' show features over 140 works from paintings to ceramics
By The Week UK Published
-
Kate Summerscale picks her favourite true crime books
The Week Recommends The writer shares works by Janet Malcolm, Helen Garner and Mark O'Connell
By The Week UK Published
-
The Forsyte Saga: 'faultless' production with a 'pitch-perfect' cast
The Week Recommends Theatrical adaptation of John Galsworthy's novels is a 'must-see' show
By The Week Published
-
6 exciting homes for athletes
Feature Featuring a rock-climbing wall in New York and a basketball-tennis court in Washington
By The Week Staff Published
-
Peter Ames Carlin's 6 favorite books on pop culture icons
Feature The author recommends works by James McBride, Jim Bouton, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Wild Robot: animated adventure is 'warm, funny and wise'
The Week Recommends 'Sharply written and richly detailed' adaptation of Peter Brown's best-selling book
By The Week UK Published
-
Francis Bacon: Human Presence – a 'stirring, splendid' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Riveting' show at the National Portrait Gallery explores the artist's 'wild' portraits
By The Week UK Published
-
Robert McCrum shares his favourite books on sport
The Week Recommends Writer and editor picks works by Nick Hornby, David Goldblatt and others
By The Week UK Published