ST PETER PORT - GUERNSEY

We'll what did you expect more Bagpipes?!? This IS where the Guernsey Cow came from ya know!

We glided into port around 10AM, this time with no Shake ‘n’ Shimmy as it was a tender port.  The Captain came on the loudspeakers in the hall, [apparently the one in the cabin is just for an emergency] reminding us that once he swung the ship around on the anchor we could begin lining up for the tender.

We4 tried for a quick bite in the Park Café only to find it closed [apparently only when in port] so they strolled over to the Windjammer before heading to the tender gangway.  

Since the outer harbor at St.Peter Port is fairly deep, and the sea was as calm as glass, it was a short ride to a looooonnng ramp up to the top of Albert Pier, so named for Queen Victoria's husband the Prince Consort.

Once on the pier and with a local map in hand from a volunteer info guide, the debate was whether to walk about or take one of the buses that took 1.5 hours to circumnavigate the island.  The vote was to check out the buses first.  We4 were directed to the Bus kiosk on the corner across The Quay.  That netted the news that: the bus {not a HoHo bus} had just left, and the next one wasn’t for an hour.  One look at the long queue already formed for that one and our hardy travelers elected to strike out towards what looked like the most likely of vistas.

You Are Here!

Thus commenced a 2.5 hour trek along The Quay, a quaint waterfront lined with an assortment of storefronts, saloons, churches, cafes etc.  In and out of tchotchke shops they roamed, with Chucky ducking in and out of saloons for his 

“Saloons Around the World” photo essay, 

[still being compiled since it was begun way back in NOWAT Espania  2002 - not that it may ever get published].  

Map in hand, Chucky found just the right street to turn up to travel along the backside of The Quay, back towards the starting place near Albert Pier with more of the tchotchke shop, café, Saloon pics etc, along the way, including a group pic with a Guernsey Donkey, another famous Mascot of the island besides the Cows.

By now, it was time to look for a spot for lunch and after a couple of false starts, {Donna was set on finding Lobster somewhere} they settled on the cute little St Emilion Café, operated by Nico, a perky little Italian with a marvelous sense of humor who opened the place 30 years ago on a lark, and has been there ever since.

The Meal Was MARVELOUS as was the service.  We4 all had the Lobster Bisque, loaded with chunks of fresh tender Lobster. While D&L shared a Lobster salad, Chucky had the best Lobster Thermidor he has had in ages and DL went for a local Bream type fish that was Excellent.  Fresh Coffee topped it off with a shared Tiramisu, so Outstandingly Rich, Creamy and Authentic that Chucky threatened to buy a second piece just to take back to the Chef on-board to show him what REAL Tiramisu is all about– but he was talked out of it. 

Bidding the Non-Stop Nico and Lovely Charlotte Ciao-Ciao  it was time to walk off the calories and see if it was worth waiting for another bus.  

Unfortunately the only spot to catch it was back at the Bus Kiosk where we ran into TE10{-4} waiting in another long queue for the next bus, which, came along with just 26 seats.  And since the last of TE10{-4} made 26 and there were still 22 people behind them, We4 waived Bye-Bye and got in line for the next bus that was promised in 30 minutes.  The 22 folks ahead of them, having waited so long before, dispersed leaving We4 first in line.  

But Alas, Lenny’s bad back was barking at him again so they elected to wander back to the Tender and take some quite time on the Ship before convening the Happy Hour Club.

The usual positions were assumed in the Schooner with Super XXX performing his magic before they adjourned to the dining room to see what drama was in store with tonight's menu.

They found themselves seated next to Derek and his gang and engaged in a lively banter while consuming appetizers of Escargot Bourguignonne and Chilled Mangoe Soup until Stan the Man and Julius took our orders for tonight's specials: Tempura Fried Pollack [a nod to the area's fishing reputation] or Beef Stroganoff, so tough it took all the sauce to get it down, but the rice pilaf was nice.  Donna stuck with Bolognaise, while DL enjoyed the Lemon and Harasa Roasted Chicken.

Dessert again was Apple Pie - no Ala Mode, and it was off to the Casino for another round of "Lets all Watch Donna Beat the House" to go along with our Cognac.

Since tomorrow is a Sea Day, they again closed the Schooner with Enselmo and Chucky getting down and dirty with a seriously gut wrenching rendition of Stormy Monday, followed by Goin' to Chicago and closing the joint down with Every Day I Get the Blues. {And the crowd roared...}

Ciao 4 Now

Uncle Chuck & The totally worn out from all the walking,

Dragon Lady