The Saints

St. Helena marked the midway point for my journey across the Atlantic Ocean and another dream destination fulfilled. Arriving on such a green and tropical mountain island was a nice reprieve from traveling so long at sea, but I certainly felt the remoteness of this little island. Luckily, there were people.

Unlike Tristan Da Cunha, St. Helena is rather populous. The remote South Atlantic island is home to over 4,000 islanders. “The Saints” (as they are known) express a centuries-old blend of African and European heritage, each person an expression of the island’s rich history. Over time, prisoners, slaves, sailors and settlers have all come to live on St. Helena and for such a small place, their descendants express the most incredible cultural diversity.

I enjoyed meeting as many Saints as I could in a day. The people of St. Helena are proud of their unique island. Many of them have never been anywhere else. It is a colorful place–filled with bright flowers, brilliant birds, red and black rocks and fluorescent green slopes. As you can see, the people are just as colorful.