Falkland Islands
All Things Penguin
As someone who’s a fan of Jimmy Choo, Roberto Cavalli and DVF, it’s hard to get excited
about shopping in Port Stanley. Each time a cruise ship docks, the population of Port Stanley instantly doubles, which means most of the shops are geared towards cruising day trippers, so if you’re looking for anything wool or penguin related, you have come to the right island. But as my sworn duty to you, I suck it up and duck into one of the larger souvenir shops on the main strip, with rooms and isles of everything penguin you can possibily imagine.
I’ve never consciously wanted anything penguin related before, but I am standing here justifying a penguin spatula to myself. All of a sudden I can’t imagine baking without it. I also find myself wishing I had a little girl so I could buy her some of these cute pink penguin pajamas.
I manage to get to the till with only one penguin related souvenir from Stanley. As I’m paying for my spatula, I notice it was made in the USA. Still, I now feel that I can’t live without it, so I hand over my ten dollars and leave before justifying clothing purchases for my non-existent daughter.
After touring all the souvenir shops I could find, I’ve come to realize that while there are 
many different marketing things you can do with penguins, they don’t really differ from store to store. So if you are lucky enough to find yourself in Port Stanley, head into one of the tourist shops, buy what you can’t live without and then spend the rest of the time touring the island. Once you’ve seen one shop, you’ve seen them all and there’s so much more to the Falklands than souvenirs and shopping.
After note: The one thing I really regret not buying is their native berry jam, the diddle-dee. Worth trying and worth buying. Legend has it if you eat it while you’re there, then you will return. I’m sure every time I look at my American made penguin spatula, I will miss the taste of diddle-dee berry jam. And if you too feel your kitchen needs a penguin spatula, head to the Harbour View Gift Shop on Ross Road (or Texas – mine says it’s from Houston).
