The Isle of the Jersey Cow…
Well it’s been a few days since writing!
On Wednesday we departed London for Jersey in the Channel Islands. Our BA flight left from Gatwick airport, and after catching the bus from the YHA Hostel to Rotherhithe (said kinda like rotterhIte not rotherheethe!) tube station, then the tube to Victoria station, then the Gatwick Express from Victoria station to Gatwick airport….. the journey just to get to Gatwick ended up being longer than the flight to Jersey itself!
Mara’s Granny and Pops have shown us both great hospitality! We are based in St Helier, which to the south of the Island, and you can just see the French coast from the shores (or their lounge room window). We’re actually staying at Mark and Karen’s house (Mara’s uncle and aunt) which is right near the Jersey Cemetery which is a little odd considering you can see the head-stones when you look out the kitchen/hall windows!!! Granny and Pops have driven us to everywhere on the Island, and I even got sunburnt on our first day out when we had lobster with salad for lunch followed by strawberries and cream at Greve de Lecq to the North. Also visited Grosnez Castle on Piemont Bay, St Ouen’s Bay, went along the 5 Mile Road (and stopped for ice-cream), St Brelade’s Bay and St Aubin’s Bay. To see the Island and the paths etc you can check out www.mybus.je to get an understanding of the small size of the place, but also of all the sights we have seen already if you so wish!Friday was spent ‘in town’… the main place is not really a city, and yet it’s bigger than Alice Spring’s CBD and low-and-behold better shops too so it’s not really a town either. We walked here there and everywhere and found some really nice bakeries in the Market Square where they sell chocolate-filled donuts (similar to jam filled ones…) and tartlets covered with fresh strawberries etc, etc! So yes, I will need to get into the gym routine in London! Oh also – some of you know how I do not eat potato because I really just don’t like them… well that was until I discovered the Jersey Royals! I think it’s the only place in the world I’ll willingly buy and eat potatoes! Don’t know how to describe them, but better than any spud I’ve ever eaten.
Saturday was spent at the Jersey Foire (Fair), which was actually pretty good! There wasn’t entirely a whole lot there, but enough to see and taste to keep us occupied! Things included ‘Jersey Own’ products where we tasted a drink very similar to Bailey’s but made with Jersey Cream… don’t worry we made sure it was after midday when we were drinking it! The French come over (from France…) with various produce, and we bought some brie cheese & stinky blue cheese from one stand, strawberries, baby radishes & gigantic shell peas from another, lemon olives & marinated baby mushrooms from another, and after trying every sausage-type on another stand we bought a pork salami type thing. You have to imagine, especially for those from Alice Springs… all the little tasty morsels of things you can only buy in jars at home, or vegies that are nearly dead, over here are SO FRESH and vibrant and so very tasty! We’ve been told actually that produce in London is pretty crap – hence stocking up on our good foods whilst in Jersey! I think with the price of meat over here we’re going to eat vegetarian for a while in London too… Sarah said even English people don’t eat steak as it’s too expensive! ME with no scotch fillet for a while – unbelievable, hey Tys! At the fair we also had lovely ice-cream smooth from ‘Naughty Monkey’, it’s like Cold Rock Ice creamery in that you choose which chocolate bar you want munched into your smoothie!
Today was bucketing rain and we went by Mont Orgueil (Gorey) Castle and St Catherine where we ate yet more Jersey Ice-cream! And we also went up to St Martin’s and Rozel (Uncle Andy, Mara’s dad used to play soccer for Rozel). Monday 28 here is my cousin Alex’s birthday (Happy Day!) and also a Bank Holiday in the UK, hence the crappy weather’s predicted gales and more rain.We’ve still got the Durrell Conservation Trust (formerly Jersey Zoo) to visit which I read does some fantastic work breeding endangered animals, a few Castles we want to go inside (including Gorey Castle, where Mara’s Uncle Mick’s dad was the keeper of keys) and we’re also planning a ferry trip for a day on the French Coast! Preferably a day with plenty of sunshine, heat and calm water!
Back to London on Friday, and we’re then spending Friday and Saturday night’s at Sarah’s house following the Derby on Saturday – yup! Going to the big horse race :o) and then we’ll finally properly move into the share-house in Mile End so that should be good! Finally a place we can spread out our cases of stuff and also hang up things! I’ve also already contacted my job agencies, so the ball has started rolling to get into work (yay) but earning Pounds will be good as then I can also start spending them, and not converting everything we buy into Australian dollars – believe me it is NOT a good deal!
Tags: Jersey, Travel
lijadana
Am I the only one that can see the irony that you got burnt while eating lobster? haha
I’m glad that you’re having a good time (sounds like it anyways) and can’t wait to read more updates. Although, once I take off in 10 days I may not be able to check here very regularly. I’ll send you my site for when I’m away.
Miss ya! See you soon(ish!)
You are certainly packing in the sights.nrWait until you come to Birmingham and we will do a BBQ with some great T-Bone steaks, whoever told you we Brits don’t eat steak is pulling your leg , its our staple diet.
Take care