Satellite
Show on map
  • Day 3

    Robert Louis Stevenson house.

    March 22, 2023 in Samoa ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    The RLS museum near Apia (see another post) is a replica of his house where he lived until his death from tuberculosis in 1894. It is said that he studied all the islands of the South Pacific to try to find the place where the climate was best for his condition. He settled in Samoa.
    The original house was destroyed by cyclones. The building is said to be a faithful reconstruction of his house at it was, and some of the furnishings are original.
    The 1st picture looks at the house. Vailima was the name he gave the estate.
    The 2nd picture is of the 1st part of the house to be built. It contains the 1st ever fireplace in Samoa. It was built for the rare damp, cool days when he needed warmth. The 3rd picture is his library and bedroom. There are copies here of most of his novels and translations, including a few 1st editions.
    The next 3 picture are the bedrooms of his wife and her 2 children. The 7th picture is of the rooms where RLS's mother lived.
    The 8th picture is the in house hospital set up to care for RLS when when he needed special attention. There was no hospital in Samoa at the time. So they established their own.
    The 9th picture might be called the hall or dining room. This is the largest room in the house and is where the family ate and where they entertained guests.
    The last picture is the family's kitchen. In traditional Samoan style, the kitchen is a separate building from the house to reduce the chance for a fire spreading. I'm told that it is a European style kitchen located per Samoan tradition.
    RLS's tomb is on the adjacent hilltop in what was part of his estate but is now a park. I didn't climb up as it was too late in the day when I was there. I'm told the views are spectacular.
    Read more