Some tangible History
Well it is about a year ago that I was perched on the small island of St. Helena – in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but right on the edge of the African Plate! I was leading a trip with some lovely people who had joined me to brave about 11 days on a round trip ocean voyage for the privilege of a week in this remote and beautiful part of the planet. Primarily we explored the island with the great folks from the St. Helena National Trust and St. Helena Tourism – from their endemic wirebirds and breeding seabirds to reforestation projects (yes, a rainforest occurs on the highest peaks) and important cultural features. We enjoyed the diverse history related to the development of trade routes as well as the prisoner/exile stories too.
Their most famous ‘visitor’ was Napoleon who was exiled here in 1815 after Waterloo. It is recorded that to pass the time he particularly enjoyed a dessert wine produced in the Cape. Vin de Constance was its name and although from different vines, it is still made today and is a highly decorated product of the Klein Constantia wine estate in Cape Town. The highlight for all of us came one afternoon. Steven & Maureen run a super establishment called the Farm House and when I showed him the bottle he countered by showing us an antique wood and brass wine cooler … which belonged to Napoleon himself. I couldn’t beat that for authenticity! And the Fairy Terns drifted by… (Alastair)
![Enjoying an afternoon Vin de Constance on the front lawn of the Farm House - the finest place to stay on the island - superb food throughout and entertaining hosts](http://mammothsafaris.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Farm-House-VdC-copy-1024x683.jpg)
Enjoying an afternoon Vin de Constance on the front lawn of the Farm House – the finest place to stay on the island – superb food throughout and entertaining hosts
![A view from the hillsides down to the 'capital' of Jamestown - all in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 2000 kilometers from Africa!](http://mammothsafaris.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Jamestown-copy-1024x683.jpg)
A view from the hillsides down to the ‘capital’ of Jamestown – all in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 2000 kilometers from Africa!
![No post about St. Helena could be without one of the star avian attractions, one of my favourite fliers, the Fairy Tern](http://mammothsafaris.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Fairy-Tern-copy-1024x683.jpg)
No post about St. Helena could be without one of the star avian attractions, one of my favourite fliers, the Fairy Tern