Journeys with my Gun

(46) South America

Photo©️🆎 'Royal Princess' takes a break at Ushuaia Argentina (the town at the end of the world) following a very rough cruise from Stanley, in the British Falkland Islands.
                
It wasn't February 24 but that was the date we were advised not to cruise the South Atlantic, dreadful weather was threatened and our intention to make port in Stanley was advised as improbable.
A comment in the German 'Trip Advisor' read (inter alia) 'Don't go to the Falklands unless you are a scientist, it is the weirdest and most expensive place on earth, you feel unwelcome there and the people there dislike tourists' (However, like many other places they do like your money)
It was the case that a Holland America Cruise Ship had made land in the Falklands in front of our ship and passengers were caught ashore ensuring a cold and uncomfortable night.
Anyway, tourists only see sheep.  I think that the real value of the Falklands is beneath the waves.

The Fight for the Falklands.
The Islands are of great interest to British travelers due to its history especially after the amazing British victory in evicting the Argentinian invaders. Although it was a hard fought but a rightful military outcome, nobody really won, it was a dreadful decision by Argentina to invade which was said to be a time of political turmoil in Buenos Aires, both countries lost the lives of too many young men for a certain known outcome.

The Falkland's known to Argentinians as 'Las Malvinas' are claimed on the belief that they were ceded to Argentina by Spain in the 1800's. The British have a different story.
It was a very foolish attack by Argentina, with their disinterested conscripts and believing that the British would not respond. Although the British were lacking at the time with the development of their forces, they were always going to evict the Argentines.
I loved the Time magazine cover photo of the aircraft carrier 'HMS Hermes' as it sailed for the Falklands, 'The Empire Strikes Back'
The British sadly lost about 250 lives, and 5 ships. Argentina lost one ship, the cruiser 'General Belgrano' which was sold to them by the British and Argentina lost about 750 lives.
There was much discussion about the safety structure of the (aluminum) content of the British ships against the French Exocet missiles. First sunk was HMS Sheffield and others lost were Ardent, Antelope, Coventry, SS Atlantic Conveyor which sank under tow, a RFA Auxiliary, 'Sir Galahad' was also sank and its site is now an official war grave.
I had sailed on the Galahad from England to West Germany to join up with the British Army of the Rhine during the European Cold War.

It should not be forgotten that the British land forces at the Falklands lived through hell, their relief of the Islands was tough work, they froze and trudged over those accursed Islands and acquitted themselves well.
I was most impressed with the saga that was the story of the long-range Vulcan bomber missions to the Falklands, which is an amazing story on its own, planning, technical support, refueling and attack aircraft and crews performed breathtaking missions. The first lead aircraft pilot Flt Lt Martin Withers was awarded the DFC, and awards were also made to his crew.
The French were accused of supporting both sides in assisting with the proper deployment of the Exocet missiles - Oh those French.

Before the South Atlantic War
Our grand plan to tackle the Cape of Good Hope commenced with a long flight with Aerolineas Argentina from Sydney via NZ to Santiago, Chile. Then we were entertained aboard a 'Lan Chile' flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina with the roughest flight across the Andes imaginable, we all have experienced turbulence but wings shaking off for at least an hour nonstop, really. So, after completing the aircraft worthiness test, we lobbed into the former home of Evita.
Buenos Aires is situated on the Rio de La Plata (the silver river) a most interesting and dangerous city, rampant with crime and unrest which caused us much thought about evening adventures. The latest problem in the city was tourists being attacked from behind near to or outside of their hotels, with the attackers then pretending to assist those injured until help arrived.
Whilst we were there the city commercial banks along the shopping mecca of San Francisco Street were being besieged by angry locals, so badly that the banks had reinforced their outside walls with panels of shipping container metal however, all that did was allow the mob to bash on the metal with iron rods continuously - in shifts.
If they thought, they had bank problems they might have considered Australian banks.
I would depart the ANZ bank in a flash if I thought that the cold and calculating mob might miss me.