A three hour skip across the English Channel brings you to the Channel Islands. A day trip being as it is, we only had a little over three hours before we had to ready ourselves for the three hour return journey north. It was a three-hourly segmented day. So, the big question was how best to spend three hours ashore as first time visitors. It was a challenge, and I thrive on the pressure of a challenge. But the thing about Guernsey is, that there seems to be a lack of pressure around.
Life on the island seems to move at a more sedate pace. As we got onto the bus to take us to the boat, Jen and I realised that we were considerably the youngest passengers (something that doesn't happen very much any more). We were surrounded by the older generation. Everywhere that is except in our wallets. Guernsey (and the Channel Islands in general) have their own form of currency. And on said banknotes, our dear Queen Elizabeth II looks startlingly younger than the reality. It's like they're stuck in time.
This was a theme that continued to appear during our short trip to the island. Guernsey in general is not too different to the mainland, but there are small details that are slightly...off. It was like being in an alternative reality. An alternative reality loosely based on Enid Blighton novels.
A distinctive feature of life on Guernsey is the 'Hedge Veg'. You can't go far along the road without seeing a small box offering excess vegetable, fruit, dairy or floral products for sale (honesty box ready to collect the money). It's such a lovely idea and the variety of goods on offer was very exciting to see. Some were lone boxes outside a house and some were long rows of offerings in a lay-by. It was just a shame that we were passing them on the bus, so that gave us limited opportunity to stop and shop.
Speaking of the bus service, I was very impressed. It cost just £1 for any journey, any length. As such, we paid our fare and took the seat on the bus that loops the island. Our own hour-and-a-half tour for a quid. Can't say fairer that that. And if you're looking for where to get on and off, you look for a bus stop right? Not on Guernsey. Here, there is just a big, bold word on the ground. Does the same job I suppose, just eliminates the risk of walking into a pole. Guernsey, you are very wise, in an alternate reality way.
As we're on the subject of public services, the differences continue with the post service. On Guernsey, the post boxes are blue, not red. And the craziness doesn't end there. The phone boxes are yellow. Madness.
Once we got off the bus, we headed into the town centre. We passed buskers, but not as I've seen them before. This was corporate busking. Each busking spot had a gazebo, sponsorship signs and an amp. I have very high standards when it comes to busking, and this was just not right.
Past the main stretch of the high street, with the musical accompaniment, we started to feel alone. There were still shops: clothing shops, pet shops, hairdressers and tat shops to name just a few. All normal in that you might think. But they were all closed. In the middle of the afternoon. On a Tuesday. In the height of the Summer season. It was like a ghost town. It was all a bit odd, and we were relieved to rejoin the main throng of shops. Just don't get me started on the HMV branch that seemed to be located in an old medieval church.
Thankfully, some things were normal but extraordinary in their beauty. Guernsey has many beautiful beaches and harbours. We didn't get to explore many of them, but it was good to get a whistle-stop tour so I know where to go when I return - Ladies Bay, I have my eye on you. We managed to get a walk on the sand at Havelet Bay, which had to tide me over for beach exploration.
I shall endeavour to return to the Channel Islands now that I've had a taster, although, on the subject of taste, I missed out on tasting any Gache (prounounced 'gosh') so that's another reason to return. To find out more, we'll have to search the internet - with the Guernsey addresses ending .gg - see there really is no end to this crazy alternate reality.
