Page 107 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2025 GRAND VOYAGE

Saint Helena

Saint Helena is one of the most remote in-
habited islands on Earth. At just 47 square
miles—about the same size as San Francis-
co—it remains a speck in the vast South At-
lantic Ocean, some 1,200 miles from Africa.
Home to around 4,500 people, affection-
ately known as "Saints," the island offers
striking diversity in its landscapes—from
rugged coastlines to lush green mountains
dotted with charming white cottages.
This lonely island marked Napoleon’s fi-
nal chapter—his last home and place of
death.
Historically, Saint Helena served as a vi-
tal stopover for ships traveling between
Europe, Africa, and Asia during the age of
sail. Its remoteness made it an ideal loca-
tion for Napoleon’s exile, ensuring that es-
cape was virtually impossible.Despite the
completion of an airport in 2016, the island
remains delightfully off the beaten path.
Cruise ship visits are rare.
The first stop on our Napoleon-centric
tour was his tomb. What surprised us
wasn’t the tomb itself but the rugged steep
half-mile path leading to it. Nestled in a
peaceful valley that Napoleon himself ad-
mired, the resting place was not the emper-
ors first choice. He wanted to be buried in
Paris, but the British kept his remains on
Saint Helena until 1840, 19 years after his
death in 1821, hoping his fame had ebbed.
His body was eventually returned to France surveillance, enduring endless frustrations
in the grand event known as Retour des and conflicts with his captors. Longwood
Cendres. House itself was not a luxurious residence
Our visit to Longwood House, and contributed to his complaints.
Napoleon’s final residence, provided fur- It’s hard to imagine Napoleon’s life
ther insight into his difficult life on Saint there. But equally hard to contemplate liv-
Helena. The house, now a museum, is filled ing there today. Despite its beauty and
with artifacts and exhibits that paint a vivid poignant history, its isolation is almost
picture of his exile. Confined to a 12-mile chilling. We were happy to reboard our ship
radius, Napoleon lived under strict British and sail on.

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