See our Site Map for a detailed list of all the website's sections and pages. It has news, facts and practical information about our island. See the Site Map for links to all our web pages. Visit the Tristan Post Office for the latest stunning island stamps and the Online Store for a range of clothing and gifts Want to find out more and support the Tristan community? What kind of trees grew there? A handful of other passengers on the S.
Agulhas II were seized by the same curiosity. But there were a few tourists too. A Brit wanted to scuba dive where no one he knew ever had. Standing on deck, I watched as our vessel approached the northwest side of the island. This human settlement with full-time residents seemed most improbable, a community afloat in emptiness. But there are other excursions you might like too. Repetto smiles. The pastoral tableau of mountain and ocean before me evokes a blend of Scotland and Big Sur.
Helena Island. The road peters out at a mosaic of stonewalled plots overlooking the ocean, an area known as the Patches. Scattered about the farming plots are small cabins; during Christmas, Tristanians pack up and travel all of two miles from the settlement to enjoy a weeklong holiday here. When the British military left Tristan in —the attempt to rescue Napoleon never materialized—a Scottish corporal, William Glass, and two English stonemasons stayed behind.
They built homes and boats from salvaged driftwood, then drafted a constitution decreeing a new community based on equality and cooperation. The collective spirit that sustained the island during years of almost complete isolation still exists. We dig shallow rows, then lay in spuds from a plastic bucket, along with fertilizer pellets.
Some smile over at me with an approving nod. This earns me points, and at least one South African lager. An year-old deejay is serving up pop hits from the s, but the dance floor is awkwardly empty, like at a junior high prom. Young men cluster around a gin bottle they smuggled out of the Albatross; the women are seated on a bench.
The deejay begins spinning a pop song, then abruptly changes to a country-and-western tune. I watch the guys put down their drinks, swoop across the floor, and extend their hands to the ladies. Looking at me, Desiree nods toward a shy young woman, and I walk over to invite her to dance. When the song ends, the floor clears once more.
Later, as I head home under a starry sky, the music slowly fades to just the lonely rhythm of breaking surf—a reminder that Tristan exists all by itself.
She lives down a curvy paved road with no signs, traffic lights, mailboxes, or even house numbers. White-haired and squinting from behind thick glasses, she smiles warmly as she leads me into her living room, furnished with lace-draped armchairs and family photos.
We depended on cattle and sheep and fishing. For the first time, islanders learned that their mountain was an active volcano. Its eruption on October 8 caused the British government to evacuate all Tristanians to Southampton, England, for two years, where they quickly became media sensations and were subjected to all manner of medical tests.
Then it happens: One morning I awake to a calm sea, partly cloudy skies, and light winds. Opposing winds have produced calm conditions, but they are temporary. Like most islanders, Repetto is a keen forecaster by necessity. Locals make their living from farming and fishing. For Tristanians, a great day means a fishing day. Vessels which have not made prior arrangements to call at Tristan with the Police Department must obtain clearance from the Harbourmaster, Medical Officer and Immigration Officer through Tristan Radio before anchoring or disembarking passengers or crew.
Aluminium anchors are generally ineffective in Tristan Harbour. Due to wildlife conservation measures, visiting vessels are prohibited from anchoring overnight off Gough, Inaccessible or Nightingale Islands. The Visits Liaison Officer will arrange for an official party to board visiting vessels and complete local clearance procedures prior to the disembarkation of passengers or crew. All visitors must hold a valid passport and obtain permission to land by having a landing stamp inserted in their passport.
There is a strict ban on the import without permit of any living or dead animal or plant. Information from the Tristan government for visiting vessels may be found here [1]. Walking is the most common method of getting around Tristan da Cunha Island and the only way of moving about any of the outer islands. Due to rugged, steep terrain, going all the way around the island is difficult, but if you are just staying in the village of Tristan, the flat, grassy ground there is easy to manage.
There are no vehicles for hire on Tristan; however, local transport is available to the Potato Patches. This local transport could be an islander's car, tractor, and during the mornings a bus service also operates. The bus is targeted at pensioners, who can use it for free. There is generally rugged terrain, which has several types of more or less harsh beauty, as you can see from some of the photos on this page. These islands are home to rare birds, including the Tristan thrush; the Inaccessible Island rail, which is flightless; and the northern rockhopper penguin.
The Island organizes fishing excursions, walks, climbs and even golf for visitors. Once again, consult their website for more information [4]. Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available from XE. Credit cards and personal cheques are not accepted. Travellers cheques, euros, US dollars, and South African rand may be exchanged at the treasury in the Administration Building. The only public place available is the Prince Philip Hall which occasionally serves food, the building also houses the Albatross Bar , which is the island's only pub.
Opening hours are sketchy to say the least, and the only time it's very likely to be open is when cruise ships are docked at the island. If you are hungry and the hall is closed, the only other option is the Island shop. There are discounts for Tristan Islanders and children. Booking information is available on the Island's official website [5].
Tap water is filtered from a spring and is safe and pleasant to drink. Despite the name, it is possible to visit the island. Only visitors escorted by guides from Tristan da Cunha are permitted to visit the island, and most visitors come as part of a cruise ship itinerary.
There are no permanent settlements on the island and you should bring your own food or drinks.
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