Sandy and Tom: JAMESTOWN, SAINT HELENA

JAMESTOWN, SAINT HELENA

APRIL 8, 2014

Jamestown was founded by the English East India Company in 1659, when they built a fort and established a garrison the site on James Bay naming it after James II. Jamestown was once a place of great strategic importance for ships making their way around the Cape of Good Hope on trading routes to and from Asia. It became a key spot in the abolition of slavery, with patrols established here to stop ships on their way from Africa to Brazil and points in the Caribbean.

But the island is best known for its most famous resident: Napoleon, who was exiled here after his defeat at Waterloo. He lived here from 1815 until his death in 1821. He was buried here until 1840 when his remains were taken back to France to be buried in Paris. On tour we visited the house he lived in for six years. It was in very nice condition but we were told when he was there it was not as nice. He had 80 people that lived in the house that waited on him. They slept on the second floor and we were told they didn’t have much room up there. He was allowed to ride a horse on the property with guards that went with him. There was not much danger of his escape as James Bay was the only way into the island and a large ship could only tender a small boat in. When we tendered in it was very difficult to get close to the dock and several of our tenders were damaged.

Another claim to fame for Jamestown is Jacob’s Ladder. It is construed in 1829 to connect Jamestown to the Garrison on Ladder Hill and was used to haul up manure from the horses and send goods down. Jacob’s Ladder has 699 steps and is 900 feet in length. Tom and I didn’t climb the ladder but many of our friends did and they got a certificate! We were on a tour bus that took us all over the island so that is how we got pictures from the bottom and then the top.

Saint Helena’s natural beauty has dramatic range, from desert like mountains, to lush tropical forests and waterfalls, to sea views from ancient forts to rural farms. It is an overseas territory of England and one third of their economy comes from them.

Because of an Ebola outbreak in Guinea our ship’s Captain has changed our itinerary so we will not go to any more ports in Africa. We were to go to Banjul, Gambia and Dakar, Senegal. We will now go to Praia, Santiago Island and stay an extra day in Mindelo, Sao Vincente Island. I am glad he is looking out for us and we will come home healthy.