71 years ago today the Allied forces invaded Europe at Normandy. It was D-day. This morning we were in a small boat landing on the Island of Guernsey that spent five years of occupation under the German army. It was and still is an important and unforgotten part of their interesting history that only becomes interesting when William the Conqueror, a Frenchman from Normandy, invaded Britain and occupied it when he beat the English at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Herewith endith the lesson.
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Our day started with a bike tour of this beautiful island. We tendered ashore and were taken by a small bus to the far side of the island and at biking stops we had interesting history lessons given to us by our guides and escort, both young men native to Guernsey, otherwise known as Gurds. Yup, Gurds they are.
Both the guides had French surnames and can trace their ancestry back through centuries, living on Guernsey. They speak impecibly British, if that is a statement. They were of course not alive during the occupation and only their grandparents would have lived through it and they may only know of it through history lessons.
The island is interesting because it is a mix of French and English, mostly French as far as street names and names of houses. The language is of course now English. Gurds have Passports marked Great Britain, Guernsey, have their own money and stamps, seem to be fiercely independent yet definitely British and are members of the Commonwealth.
The whole island, or what we saw of it, looks very prosperous and neat and tidy as a pin. Flowers seem to be everywhere, either in baskets or growing, it seems to be part of their life.
In port today was another ship, a P & O ship, Aurora.
Tourism is the second largest source of income after International Banking or finance.
We were again lucky with the weather as this port is often skipped because of rough water.
Prinsendam at anchor about a mile offshore today.
We hardy folk ventured out to work off all that good food we have had the last several days.
Left over battery from the Napoleonic Wars some two hundred years ago.
That white tower is left over from WW II, the base is from the days of Napolean.
Flowers are everywhere.
Resting in the city centre.
Quaint buildings, many hundreds of years of age.
The view from our late lunch on the waterfront where we sampled their fish and chips; great, so was their beer!
Fellette took this, too nice not to capture.
It looks like a fairy garden.
French cafe, could be Paris.
Could be England.
Even the walls have flowers growing over them.
My beer today was Liberation India Pale Ale. As I said, great.
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