Photos by Dakare: on the map, in Google Earth (KML)

Too much - its out of the world!

Thanks for the correction on thelast name. I thought that I had caught that correction earlier, so for whatever reason, you got it and I did not.

In any case, We considered it to be a real privilege to meet Margaret. It is not often these days that you can meet a real explorer!

Circa 1750, this stone cottage has 3 foot thick stone walls and beautiful granite floors in the entryway. Now it is a charming cottage that has been significantly remodeled and landscaped since this picture was taken. It was originally used as a butcherie and to make soaps (Savonniere.) The stone wall is original and is host to myriads of flowering plants that bloom Spring, Summer and Fall. A Virgin Vine can be seen on the left of the cottage and a climbing rose bush located in the middle of the picture. Rose bushes line the wall on the right.

güzel

Wow places like this do exist!

We visited Floreana in 1999 and were thrilled to be lucky enough to meet Margaret Wittmer (89), the last of the original settlers of the island. There are many conflicting stories about the original settlers of Floreana. As we understand it, the first resident(1809)was a marooned Irishman, Patrick Watkins. He eked out his existence for 2 years before being rescued by a whaling ship. We were told that a Swedish settlement was attempted and failed. The animals left behind by that attempt would have dire consequences on subsequent settlers. In 1929, a couple fleeing Nazi Germany, Friedrich Ritter and Dora Strauch arrived on Floreana. Before leaving Germany, they had their teeth removed, and brought one pair of stainless steel dentures with them to share. The concept was that since there would be no dentists on the island, it was best to eliminate the possibility of dental problems (go figure!) In 1932, Heinz and Margaret Wittmer and their son arrived. The same year, 'Baroness' von Wagner Bosquet arrived on the island with her three lovers. All these settlers died or disappeared, leaving Margaret Wittmer, and her offspring, as the sole survivors. It is generally believed that the toothless, Buddhist, vegetarian and atheist Ritters, desperate for food because of a crop failure on the island, ate one of the feral chickens. Being vegetarians, they did not prepare the chicken properly and died from food poisoning. It is also believed that one of the jaded Baroness's lovers did the Baroness and the other two gents in – but it seems no one knows for sure. It was rumored that a tell-all book would be published after Margaret’s death. Margaret Wittmer lived in Floreana with her descendants until her death. We believe that she died about 2 years after our visit. See S/Y Dakare

While hiking a designated trail around Labastide, we came across this story book scene of Labastide on New Years morning of 2008

Looking South towards the Pyrenees and Pic du Midi from the man made lake near Tournay

A story book setting... This is the beginning of the Eastern end of the beautiful valley in the Pyrenees called the Baronnies. It is roughly 24 kilometers long and runs parallel to the Pyrenees on the French side. The picture was taken from a point in Esparros (On the Eastern end of the Barronies) looking West towards Laborde.

Yes, we travelled to Horta on our yacht. We had an excellent trip there from Bermuda. It took us 9.25 days to make the trip, a very good time for a cruising boat. Thanks.