Julie Goucher ~ Anglers Rest

Having got off the tour bus back at Liberation Station, we decided that we would have a coffee and a rest. We had four hours to fill and a few plans.

We walked through the market and there were some great stalls, selling a variety of goods and foods.

But as lovely as all those items and foods were, we didn’t buy any of them. Instead we bought this for our little man back home!

Yes, a lovely new collar, with his name on. Made by CuteCollars. (Disclaimer – A genuine recommendation, made without financial incentive from a happy dog and his owner!)

We woke on day three to beautiful, glorious sunshine! We therefore decided to do the open top bus tour today, in case the weather changed for the rest of the week.

The bus, which is a lovely old fashioned one, departs from outside the main hotel opposite Liberation Square.

The bus parked at Gorey, whilst we all enjoyed a coffee!

Our first tour departed at 10.00 and we were joined by tourists from a variety of European nations. Our driver was a lovely chap called Paul who coped with the driving of the bus beautifully and added interesting bits of information to the recorded site seeing announcements.

Across this part of the island there is an abundance of fortifications. Originally those built to protect the island from invasion from the French, and then those built or adapted by the German Occupation during the Second World War to defend against the British and Allied Forces.

Seymour Tower

The pretty town of Gorey with the Castle overlooking the harbour

The bus then did a circular trip back along to Liberation Station. We had also planned to do the West of the Island, but decided to have a break and miss the next trip and then do the West of the Island later at 4pm.

One of the main sites of St Helier, is that of Liberation Square and the bus station which is just along from the square, and called Liberation Station.

The historical focus here is the statue which represents Liberation after the five year German Occupation from 1940-1945. All around the Island there are references to the proud Islanders and their experience during the Second World War.

After the turbulence of War, the Square is a focus point for meeting and enjoying refreshments or an ice cream; or perhaps purchasing a ticket for an open air bus trip around the Island, as we did.

Elizabeth Castle

We actually got lost trying to find the bus stop! But we had a look across part of the Marina.

Albert Marina

We also had a brief look at Albert Port, where we found a Memorial Plaque to the Islanders who lost their lives when the German Air Force bombed the harbour. The photo has been uploaded and transcribed at Grave Encounters. We then followed the various signs into town and made it to the bus stop.

The bus services on the island are fairly good, drivers will call out the stops.

The Gardens of Samares Manor were lovely, we spent a good few hours wandering around and then sat in the lawned garden restaurant and had a coffee. Lunch was off the menu after a hearty breakfast at the hotel. More about the gardens later.

Back to St Heliers and we made our way back to the hotel for a shower and change before heading off to try and find the bus stop across to St Aubins bay. We had been recommended to a restaurant, Bon Viveur, for our anniversary dinner by the representative of the travel company that we met on Tuesday, and we were not disappointed.

For starter I had tomato & mozzarella & Stuart had Garlic prawns. We both then had lobster thermadore, which was the meal we had in Kenya after our wedding. Stuart managed a desert and then we both had coffee. The restaurant was lovely, it looked across the bay, the staff great; very attentive & friendly. The restaurant comes highly recommended.

View across St Aubin’s Bay

Our flight was at 7am which meant an alarm breaking the nightly silence at 4.15am. Such an early start on a holiday. The drive to Exeter airport was uneventful and check in was painless. Given all the routine & necessary security at the  airport, I did wonder if in future we should travel in our pyjamas! The security officer found it amusing and was somewhat bemused that I could joke so early in the day.

The flight was uneventful. After 30 minutes we arrived at Guernsey and then onto Jersey where we disembarked. The plane then returned back to Exeter. The was lots of cloud and a fair bit of turbulence but otherwise an uneventful flight which arrived  little early.

By the time we arrived it was raining. We checked into the hotel,The Revere and were advised that we had been upgraded to fourposter room, which was lovely, as it was our Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday 13th July. 

Trying to get the energy to unpack!

We unpacked and then met up with the tour company that arranged our flight & hotel. First class and after a quick chat we headed off to explore St.Hellier, albeit, in the rain. It did make a miserable day, we got soaked and lost and after a light lunch & dry, headed back to the hotel.

Our first appearances,were we liked Jersey. The weather forecast indicated that it should hold out for the rest of the week. We had though, lost the majority of a day due to the really miserable weather, but such is life. If we don’t get chance to visit everything we wish. To see we can revisit, perhaps the early part of next year.

Dinner, we decided would be at the hotel, then an early night so we can get cracking early in the morning.

We ate in the Candlelight restaurant, at the hotel. A super meal. Unusually, we opted for the same meal. Sirloin steak, presented on a bed of the most succulent chunky chips I have ever eaten, beef tomato and a large flat mushroom. For desert we both had cappachino ice cream then a coffee with a twilight mint. We then walked that off with a walk down to the esplanade overlooking Elizabeth Castle, bathed in a lovely night light.

Night view of the remarkable Elizabeth Castle

We returned on Tuesday from our much looked forward to and welcomed break from Jersey in the Channel Islands. I did keep a log of what we did and in some cases ate, the places we visited and some general observations and will over the next few days tweak those posts and fiddle with the photographs – there are loads of them! and then upload the posts.

One of the things I pondered on as I spent the week away, was do I add the posts to this blog or perhaps create a separate blog to act as a travel journal? I’ll consider over the next day or so. If you have any thoughts or comments please leave them, they would be very welcome.

Anyway, Jersey was wonderful, the people, the hotel and the food. The weather was changeable, but nonetheless, we had a lovely break. Stop by over the next few days and you’ll hear all about it!