St. Peter Port, Guernsey, United Kingdom

Welcome to Guernsey

Guernsey is a very pretty island about 30 miles from France and 60 miles from England.  This island is as close as the Germans got to England during WWII. Initially, Germany sent the best officers to the island and tried to treat the islanders well, hoping to show the mainland English how kind and humane the invaders were.  This did not last long, and the people were treated more harshly as the war went on. Another popular tour related to the bestselling book, “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, which is set during the occupation. 

Example of how islanders were treated during the occupation

 

St. Peter Port is a small town and we had to tender in because there was no room for our ship. John escorted a tour to visit the remains of German occupation of the island. We left St. Peter Port and travelled up the steep cliffs along very, and I mean very, narrow roads.  Our small bus had to slow down or stop every time another vehicle approached in the opposite direction.  We first visited the German Occupation Museum.  This building contains a large selection of armaments, uniforms, machines, an enigma machine and various information displays showing how the occupation affected the locals.  We spent a fascinating hour at this museum, but soon had to leave because the water system in the building was under repair and the toilets didn’t work. We were taken to a gorgeous golf club and country club where we had a rest stop plus Guernsey cream tea and gauche (a local raisin bread).

Enigma machine

Some German weaponsry

The tour continued to the Batterie Dolman Gun Emplacement where we had the opportunity to climb around this Cliffside structure.  This was a huge gun emplacement, yet the opening through which the guns protruded was no more than 20 cm high but many metres wide.  This was like a huge concrete fortress.  As the tour continued, we saw other bunkers, gun emplacements and fortifications dating back to Napoleon.

Gun emplacements

Casement bunker

Gail escorted a tour that was meant to provide a general overview of the island.  The first stop was the Chapel at Les Vauxbelets, a miniature model of the grotto at Lourdes.  This building was constructed in the 1920’s of bits of pottery and seashells.  It is the smallest consecrated Catholic Church in the world and holds about 12 people inside.  

Chapel at Les Vauxbelets

After driving through the Torveal area, the tour stopped at an authentic Goldsmith workshop, set in five acres of prized gardens. There is also a running stream with a small waterfall and beautiful foliage and flowers.

Garden with waterfall

Sample of the prized gardens

After this stop, the tour continued along the west and north coasts of the island with a stop at the Guernsey Pearl Cafe for some tea and scones

Guernsey countryside

Guernsey cattle

Both tours returned to the ship in the early afternoon.  We had a quick lunch on board and then tendered back into St. Peter Port to walk around for an hour and a half and do a little shopping.  This was our last chance to spend free time in the United Kingdom as tomorrow we return to Dover and will be transferred to Heathrow by coach. Alas, it is time to go home after 33 days of incredible adventurous travel. We will miss the luxury living aboard the beautiful ship and the great staff we have come to know during these cruises.  We look forward to the next chapter in our travels.