We have all seen the movie where someone is stranded on a deserted island where there seems to be an abundance of fruit and creepy crawlies to eat. A British outpost and a prison to Napoleon Bonaparte (there is a memorial gravesite), St Helena is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It sits roughly halfway between South Africa and Brazil and I am pretty sure that without crops and supplies from England, they would surely starve. Picturesque, sure, but with limited space to grow enough food and not enough fresh water it is an expensive and difficult life.
The RMS St Helena stops in every fortnight to bring their essentials, but surprisingly, they do have everything that any other city in the world has – electricity from a diesel power plant, water from a desalination plant, a road system and a telecommunication and internet infrastructure. The roads are narrow and twisty with mist in places, so all drivers are cautious and considerate.
Anne’s Place is welcoming with topiary figures dotted around the garden, free wifi, a few squirrels, a comprehensive menu and friendly staff. Before eating, I climbed the steps leading up the valley side to the upper residential area, it was hard work but certainly worth it. If the climb does not kill you then not only will you be in awe of the view but also of your accomplishment. Until the road was built, these steps were the only way to get to the top of the hill, and all their goods were transported using a system of cables, hauling goods up the sides of the steps.
There are some people who were born on the island, and incredibly, have never left to visit any other part of the world. The jail is a small room in the Police Station just off the main street, and prisoners are allowed to go out – in such a small community everyone knows everyone so you can run but you cannot hide!