Where is tristan

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.

Lights flick on inside houses as the settlement stirs. Soon men stream down to the harbor with rain slickers slung over shoulders and lunch pails in hand. In pairs, they board fishing boats loaded with lobster traps. The women, including my hostess, Patricia Repetto, will process the bounty in a new factory beside the harbor—whole lobsters for Japan, tails for the U.

Lavarello is large framed, with a silver chain around his neck and tattoos on his arms. He hooks a bit of squid onto his line as bait and, with a well-practiced twist of his body, lobs the line into the water. Finally he feels a small tug—and ends up accumulating a respectable bucket of fish known as five fingers.

Agulhas II returns. Not all of my Tristan ambitions have been fulfilled. I also attended two baptisms, a wedding reception, two birthday potlucks, a lamb-marking, and a distribution of the mail. But holding to a tourist checklist on Tristan was never the point. A handful of Tristanians sit around tables drinking white wine and soda. The talk focuses on the weather, fishing, the potato crop, and local gossip. Life here may not be free from care—the island now is more connected to the world—but it is simpler.

Yet my time here has transpired in some kind of bubble. And if you fall down drunk or, say, get hurt crashing your bike, someone will help you get home; everyone will know where you live. 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. The islands are an important breeding ground for up to 6 million migratory birds at a time that's 2.

Nightingale is a volcanic island, which experienced its first eruption undersea in over 30, years in In the centre of Nightingale lay four small ponds an area known as "The Ponds". Huts have been built at the landing for visitors to spend the night on shore and a trail has been made to The Ponds.

Nightingale is covered by tall grasses up to 3 m high which shelter many of the smaller birds. Endemic and really the only vegetation on the island are the grass Spartina arundinacea and a tree Phylica arborea. The Tristan Thrush Nesocichla eremita is the third landbird found on Nightingale and endemic to the Tristan da Cunha group.

Gough Island was first known as Diego Alvarez, but it was sighted again in by Captain Gough, from his ship the Richmond. This brought a new name, and a bit more attention, to the place. Gough Island has no sheltered harbour or anchorage. The only suitable landing place for boats is at Glen Anchorage in Quest Bay on the island's east coast.

This ship carries cargo and passengers. There is no access for tourists and even crew members from passing yachts may not go ashore except in the case of extreme emergency. Getting around comes with great difficulty: a combination of excessively steep terrain and incredibly dense vegetation, and no paths to speak of. Nor is there any public accommodation on Gough Island. This city travel guide to Tristan da Cunha is a usable article.

It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page. 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?