Fun things to do in Saint Helena

Longwood House
This was Napoleon's last residence where he spent the final six years of his life. The property is now a Museum and maintained by the Government of France; the house is filled with Napoleonic memorabilia.

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At Plantation house on the lawns you will find him. When I sat down next to him and looked into his one eye (the other eye is covered with a cateract) - we immediately "bonded".
I held his head on my hand and stroke his neck. He is so tame. He has such personality. Don't miss a visit to this magnificent animal.

They say in his young days Jonathan used to scare many a lady visiting Plantation house for a tea part on the lawns, by pulling her chair over!

Although we did not do this, were were often invited to join friends as they take tourists on a trip around the island in an outboard motor boat.
Saints will show you all the places of interest around the coast of the island.
And you are bound to stop at Lemon Valley for a swim and a picnic.
You may even see dolphins swimming next to the boat.

Everyone was very keen for us to walk up Diana's Peak and eventually uncle Vernie agreed to accompany us. When he picked us up in his 1950 chev he told us that we could not wait until the next day, because the rain was coming and would make it impossible for us to walk up.
We walked over lush fields of soft grass, through flax bushes and slowly made our way up to the highest point from where uncle Vernie pointed out the famous rocks named ass' ears and Lot and Lot's wife.
On top of the peak there was a little wooden "post box" with a book and stamp which visitors can use to stamp as a remembrance the words "I was on Diana's Peak".
As we returned to the car, the rain came. But fortunately uncle Vernie's wife, aunty Doreen, had thick vegetable soup with dumplings waiting on her open wood-fire stove in the kitchen.
From that day onwards the rain did not stop for at least two weeks. So CHECKTHE WEATHER BEFORE YOU GO UP!!!

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We were invited by George and his two children to walk down to Lemon Valley where they showed us how to fish with home made fishing rods. They caught huge fish - the names escape me - as well as eel - which is very popular on the island.

Another time we walked with friends the precarious path to Lot's Ponds where we fished from the rocks under uncle Vernie's supervision while the rest of the men went over the rocks to catch eels.

For anyone keen on fishing, St Helena Island is the place to be!

The records at the Archives are among the finest in the world; some dating back to the year 1673. They provide valuable information for historical and genealogical research and are accessible by visitors without charge. However for those persons living abroad, the custodians will research information for a small fee of £1.50 per hour subject to a minimum charge of £20.00.

Napoleon died on 5th May 1821. His funeral took place on 9th May and he was laid to rest in this valley. This position was chosen by Napoleon himself during a walk in the cool valley.
His tomb remains there to this day although his body was later exhumed and taken to France. The twelve cypress trees that once surrounded the tomb were planted in 1840 in memory of Napoleon's twelve great victories. The Norfolk pines were planted when France became the owner of the valley, the olive tree was planted by the Prince of Wales in 1925, and the wild olive was planted by Prince Phillip in 1957. In 1921 an olive tree was planted in the name of Marshall Foch to mark the centenary of the death of Napoleon. Three other trees commemorate the visits of the "Jeanne d'Arc" in 1935, 1958 and 1963.

Napoleon resided in this property from 17 October 1815 to 10th December 1815. The Briars estate at that time belonged to the Balcombe family.
By a strange coincidence Arthur Wellesley, later to become the Duke of Wellington, had stayed at this place during a short stop at St Helena