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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

2nd part of our time in Jersey.



Now we are on the little train and it is such fun! I cannot believe we never went on this when we lived here! It is such a "slow" way to see part of the island and in comfort too. Maybe it was too Touristy when we lived here!Ha!

 From this image of the tree you can see there is a lot of wind on this island!
Couldn't resist taking this image of these two chairs...didn't know that Katie Price ( Jordon) lived on Jersey!!!!Remember the thrones in her wedding to Peter Andre? Not that l normally follow that gossip!!!!..Honest.
Isn't this sand castle great? l think there was a guy trying to get people to give him money..but not sure.
The train journey ended at St. Aubin which was the original port l believe before they developed St. Helier in the Middle Ages. Can you see the Swan Figure Head? I think it is fantastic.
There are a series of Art Studio's here but unfortunetly they were closed when we arrived in the late afternoon. One thing l did see was a series of 5 ( l think it was that number) what l would call, "Beach Rubbish" paintings. Really interesting but sad images when you think what the painting are made up of.
 Down in the harbour we found this family of Doves. After watching them for a while l realised they were mum,dad and a baby. The baby kept pestering mum to fed it and she was not that forth coming. Quite fun to watch.

 Do you remember the children's programme..Bagpuss? This cat looks just like him..fierce or what?
This and the next image are of a dead tree that had been carved where it stood..fantastic.

This must be the prettiest car park anywhere and it was such a pleasure to walk though it. Loads of flowering bushes and unusual grasses.
Outside the car park we found this "Cobweb" bush!Ugh! It reminded us of the spider's web that we came across when in Papua New Guinea. That one was spread across the gap between 2 trees which must have measured around 2 mts wide, 2 mts high and 2 mts long...full of thousands of small spiders. Glad it was not something we saw often!!!!

This sculture is called "The Jersey Girl" and swings wildly in the wind and was very hard to try and get a good image of.

This was the tidest bus station l have ever been in! You sit and wait and then when the bus arrives...the door slowly open and lets you enter. Weird!
Catching a bus the long way round the island to visit the Jersey Zoo, which is now called Durrell's Wildlife Trust. And l am ashamed to say that the 3 years we lived on the Island, we never caught a bus!!!
One thing l was pleased to see on the island were loads of "Meadow's", something l don't remember when l lived here.
 This image is what Jersey is famous for....Jersey New Potatoes.
The entrance to the Zoo! It is so much bigger than we were here 20 years ago, which we now realise was just the beginning of something special.

 The place has wonderful plants as well as all the animals, birds and insects that the place holds.
 Think this image shows you again how windy this Island is!!
There were buildings to go into where the birds were flying all around you..wonderful experience. Just look at the colours of this bird. They had created the jungle just as it really is, even down to the humidity...bought back many memories..arrr..heat!




 The children love this..so funny!
 Can you see the frog?
This blue frog was quite difficult to take an image of but he looked just like a piece of porcelin and also seemed to shimmer.
 Then there were yellow frogs......

 and a yellow snake to match.
 Can you see the chameleon?  Took me along to find it and it really did change colour as it moved around.
 I can't remember what these plants are called but l know they collect water.
 Ugly Iguana but cute at the same time!!! Saw huge ones when we lived in Nassau in the Bahamas.
A very beautiful green and yellow lizard.
 Love this idea they have in the Meerka's enclosure....who is looking at who?
 Cute creature's aren't they? So famous now because of the TV adverts.
 Think this is a wonderful idea...a bird nest that you can see into and not disturb the birds, eggs or chicks.
Gorilla's and more tomorrow.......night

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The first blog of my 4 days visit to Jersey in the Channel Islands.


Starting off our journey from the train station at Clapham Juntion....l love trains.
Here we are at Gatwick North Terminal and it was empty. I began to wonder if something had happened and no-one had told us!! Perhaps not travelling at a weekend does make a big difference!
Airborne..beautiful blue sky, clouds and the earth..beautiful.
This image should tell you that you are about to land on a pretty wealthy island.....!
Our hotel and the Marina in front of it, so beautiful and blue sky to boot.
The veranda infront of the Bar and this is where they held a BBQ and Live Music on Friday night. We did try to get a seat but the only free table was inbetween smokers, so we stayed in side.
In the Foyer there was a huge fish tank with some really great fish in it. I love watching fish and find it very relaxing. 
I had never seen white fish before and there were several in this tank . It was very interesting watching the fish being feed each day. The guy had to use a step ladder as the tank is so tall. 

Outside the hotel was a large metal tree scupture that is called "The Freedom Tree" and round the base is a beautiful poem.
The Castle on this island is called Elizabeth Castle and is always busy when it is Tourist Time on Jersey.
When the tide is out it is possible to walk to the Island, but far more fun l would think is to ride a DUKW  out to the island.
Read the sign on this image and then look at the next image........
I think the fish read the sign and realised they were safe in the Marina!Ha.
Rocks galore in Jersey!

There is a fish and a vegtable market in Jersey... lovely looking building.


There were never modern building like this or this colour when we lived here. They make me think of Amsterdam.
One of the things l noticed in just the first few hours here...were there was so many new interesting sculptures. Like this one which was created to celebrate The Jersey Cow.

This sculpture celebrates Jersey's Liberation Day.
Me being soooooo happy and excited being on a sandy beach again...shell hunting..so much fun. BUT...I had forgotten the Jersey is always VERY windy!

There are so many different types, shapes and colours of seaweed on the island. Wish l could have bought some of it home but the smell might have been a problem on the plane and train home!
 



 
Beautiful beach and only 4 of us on it...bliss.
 
Amazing houses on the beach ....worth millions.
The following images are of the inside of a shelter we found on the beach....amazing images.
Leftt-side of the shelter.

Right-side of the Shelter.

One of the front door windows
The photographer.

This was on the beach and l thought it was great....may make it into a postcard.
Another of the many amazing houses on this Island..l have to win the Lottery!
On this Island there are no Bus Stop Shelters or sign posts..just the word BUS written on the road. Quite often you feel unsafe standing on one of these signs, on the actual road. Also most roads in Jersey are not very wide at all!!!


La Hocq Tower still attracts lots of visitors which is just around the corner from where we used to live.
 


This is the house we used to rent, when we lived in Jersey 20 years ago. It has been smartened up and also there is an extention on the left hand side of the house. It is just across the road from the sea and when the winds got up, the waves often used to come up and over our roof!!!!Exciting!
This is the sea opposite our old house. It is so clean and looks gorgeous and full of crabs and small fish.
Yet more empty beaches but you wait till the Summer and you will not be able to move on this beach for tourists

I don't normally like pink but l have to admit this is rather sweet.
"What ..no crips"!

One of the beautiful images Tony took of the Marina in the early evening with the Ferry coming in.
Wind swept me!
The seating that has been put down on the beach, wasn't here when we lived there...great Amphitheatre though.
Great new (to me) fountain with a wonderful water feature that was great fun for children of all ages.

Look at the rubbish bins and tell me which country do you think you are in?



This is the little train that runs along the front in St.Helier, that we never went on when we were here..so this time we did.. Look out for the next instalment on our great time in Jersey!! Hint..Jersey Zoo!!!!!