CHANNEL ISLANDS - GUERNSEY:
We awoke to totally overcast skies and a bit of fog. I have a walking tour this morning and will be on the first zodiacs ashore. Lynn has decided to stay onboard and rest her hip. So I will be unsupervised in Guernsey.
Situated roughly 30 miles from the Normandy coast and 70 miles from the south coast of England.
Guernsey has it’s own currency the Guernsey pound (GBP is accepted, but Guernsey notes are not always accepted in the UK).
When William, Duke of Normandy (a descendant of the Vikings), invaded England in 1066, Guernsey was already his territory. Consequently, the Channel Islands became linked to the English Crown as part of the victors' territory, not the conquered territory.
This is a return to Guernsey for me, I do remember rather enjoying this island. Maybe visit the hardware store again and find a treasure. (IT WAS CLOSED)
Guernsey is a self-governed British Crown Dependency located in the English Channel. Thus technically not part of the UK but under the British Crown. Known for its scenic coastlines, beaches, and historical sites like Castle Cornet.
During WWII after Dunkirk Churchill evacuated troops from Guernsey. This is when the Nazis occupied the island. Guernsey became a highly developed fortress during this occupation. Over a year and a half of fortress building there were 20,000 tons of concrete poured each month. Bunkers and gun emplacements were built. There are about 28 km of deep tunnels on this island used to house and move troops. It was here the Nazis set up there most advanced radar post and communication center for the Atlantic Wolf Packs using Enigma.
Guernsey has a deep, albeit subtle, connection to the Vikings, primarily through Norman heritage, which saw Norse settlers adopt the French language and customs, rather than long term colonization.
While Vikings likely targeted the Channel Islands for raids during the 9th century, their lasting influence is found in the islands' language, culture, and geography.
The name "Guernsey," along with its neighbors Jersey and Alderney, is of Old Norse origin, with the suffix "-ey" meaning "island," likely referring to them as "Green Islands”.
The Vikings, or "Northmen," settled in northern France (Normandy) and were ceded land by King Charles the Simple in 911 AD, with Rollo as their leader. Guernsey became part of this Duchy of Normandy in 933 AD.
The Norman-French language and legal systems, which still influence Guernsey today, were established by these second and third-generation Scandinavian settlers, who blended Old Norse with local customs.
Arriving ashore by a 10-15 minute zodiac ride, I was glad the sea was calm making for a nice ride. The skies have been overcast and they opened up with a steady rain. This prompted me to stow my camera and rely on the cell phone camera.
I joined the walking tour and soon we were off learning about Guernsey. The people of Guernsey are known as donkeys often attributed to the steep streets of St Peter Port requiring beasts of burden, or a reputation for being stubborn.
The rain continued for most of the walk, I enjoyed it as it is what it is. I will say I was glad I decided on wearing the HX expedition jacket for rain protection.
I decided to abandon the tour just before their stop at the castle and explore a bit on my own. I meandered the cobble stone streets stopping in a few shops finding a present for Lynn. I also got a Guernsey wool hat.
I did visit the city church and had a nice chat with a gentleman docent. We talked of the viking age and the WWII occupation. He and his family were life long residents of Guernsey. In the church they were serving tea and I met one of the local constables having a tea break. We had a nice chat about the area and being police officers.
I did find a pub holding a Guinness World Record of being the closest pub to a church. Sadly it was not open as I would have had a pint.
I then returned to the ship to have lunch with Lynn and write the blog. It looks like this afternoon will be a laid back kinda day. So I will publish the blog early today.
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