Hiya from Guernsey! -Banjour dé Guernési! The tour that almost happened!

I can hear you … you are still saying “I know nothing about this island!”

Well, St. Peter Port is a sleepy bayside town and the capital of the island of Guernsey. This town is a charming patchwork of steep, narrow streets. Guernsey is the largest island of the archipelago of the Channel Islands. These islands are dependencies of the British Crown. Yet, it has been equally influenced by the French due to its proximity to Normandy and Brittany. Today, the island’s beauty is in full bloom in its numerous private gardens, bucolic villages, farms and greenhouses, and dolmen and menhir standing stones.

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Fast Fact: The golden-colored Guernsey cow is from here and the island is well known for its rich and creamy milk!

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I was very excited to visit St. Peter Port, Guernsey. The pilot from Guernsey Harbours joined the Viking Sea to discuss water condition with Captain this morning. Unfortunately, the rough waters around the island prohibited the Viking Sea from anchoring off, which also meant it was unsafe for tenders to ferry people ashore. Bless the Pilot from Guernsey! His small vessel, which pulled aside us for him to rejoin was being tossed about like a toy boat.

So, what would have happened had a shore visit been possible? Well, I was scheduled for the Castle Cornet & Old Tow by Foot adventure. The following description of the tour gives a wee bit of an idea of what the experience would have been like.

Walk through the town of St. Peter Port and visit Castle Cornet – the centuries old fortress that guards the harbor. Walk through the town center and listen as a tour guide regales you with interesting tales of Guernsey’s past. Explore its cobblestone highstreets, narrow alleys and grand regency buildings. From the harbor, get your first glimpse of Castle Cornet. Dating back to the 13th-century, the castle has been restored on several occasions during the Medieval and Tudor times and more recently after World War II. Visit the “Story of Castle Cornet” exhibition and discover the beautiful gardens within the castle’s walls, including the apothecary’s garden, kitchen garden, and ornamental gardens. You will also have free time to explore the other on-site museums, including the Maritime Museum, 201 Squadron RAF Museum, and the Militia Museum before returning to your ship.

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Alas, this trip will go back on the Wanderlust Wish List. But, in the meantime, here are “Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Guernsey” by VisitGuernsey.com.

The island of Guernsey has had a long and eventful history, much of it shrouded in mystery and folklore, and visitors are often gripped by tales of the island’s past.

Here are some facts that you probably didn’t know about our fascinating island:

1. Guernsey’s tidal range of 33 feet is one of the largest in the world, transforming the coastline every six hours or so. High tides are perfect for swimming, and children love to explore the rock pools at low tide.

2. The post box in Union Street is the oldest cast iron pillar-box still in use anywhere in the British Isles. It is easily recognisable, as it is the only red post box in Guernsey; all the others are painted blue.

3. Many of the houses in Guernsey’s west have an unusual strange piece of granite sticking out of them – these are “witches’ seats”. Back when they supposedly ran wild in the western parishes, residents built them onto their houses so that the witches could stop and rest, rather than causing havoc.

4. The world-renowned Guernsey cow produces some of the most rich and delicious dairy products in the world; this is because of the high butterfat and protein levels in its milk.

5. According to local folklore, Guernsey was once invaded by a group of fairies, amazed by the beauty of the local women. The bloody battle that was said to have followed inspired the name of Rouge Rue in St. Peter Port, which translates as “Red Road” and refers to the blood that flowed through the street.

6. The island itself used to be the tip of a peninsula attached to mainland Europe, however rising sea levels separated it from modern-day France approximately 8,000 years ago.

7. The Fairy Ring is a mysterious circle in the ground at the island’s western extremity, Pleinmont. It was a stopping point for officials of the Royal Court who paraded across Guernsey, and folklore suggests that if you walk around it three times and then make a wish, it will come true.

8. Spring actually arrives four weeks earlier in Guernsey than on mainland Britain, which allows some unique and very beautiful flora to grow on the island.

9. The world’s first underwater arrest occurred in Guernsey. Mr. Kempthorne-Leigh was illegally harvesting ormers, a popular local shellfish, and was arrested by a scuba-diving police officer!

10. Castle Cornet was built in the 13th century, and has since been under the control of England, France, Germany and even besieged by Guernsey itself, before being handed over as a gift to the islanders from King George VI after the Second World War.

Stay tuned for the next blog post about my day at sea!

Your Polite Adventuress,

Kari