Another delightful day on the water! The ferry from St. Malo, France to St. Helier, Isle of Jersey only takes about 1 1/2 hours and was jammed with school kids from France taking a day trip.
I can’t explain why I felt such a feeling of elation upon passing through Border Control and, after a short walk, seeing this tribute to joy & freedom. Maybe it was hearing everyone speaking English or simply the feeling of familiarity I have when in the UK. Even in a place I’ve not ever been to.
I felt like them!
George II
There is naturally a market in the center of town a it seems to be in every town in Europe. These are always fun to check out. This one with it’s Victorian look and glass ceilings was one of the most picturesque I’ve seen.
What happens to all the hog heads in the US? I’ve never seen one for sale.
Knowing far too little about the Channel Islands, I decided to being my visit at the the Jersey Museum. A nice local one it told the history of the islands and the people.
As part of the museum there is the fully restored Merchant’s house. On the evening of 27th August 1869, a momentous decision was taken by the family that lived at No 9 Pier Road. Dr Charles Ginestet persuaded his wife Jeanne that they should abandon their beautiful home and flee to France to start a new life. They would be leaving behind friends and family but also a nightmare of debts and legal proceeding. Oddly, all the items in the house had price tags with lot numbers as if for an auction as that was how the place was sold.
In the garden outside the museum
John McKenna created this piece honoring the Jersey cattle in 2001. The calf is checking out a crapaud or toad.
General Sir George Don served in Jersey during the Napoleonic War and later became governor of Gibraltar
The island has a number of working harbors. In conversation with a worker here I found that like many island communities, uber-rich (one of Jersey’s main business is the financial realm due to tax laws more favorable than in the EU or UK) have come to buy up property to visit a few weeks or days a year thereby driving up the cost of living for those that do the work of keeping the place running. Apparently if one doesn’t have 20% for a down payment with the minimum translating to £60,000/$79000 one can not buy. This results in most residents being renters.
More on Elizabeth Castle in a later post.
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