UK & Ireland - day 3 (2015-09-12)

The forecasters were telling us that today was likely to be our best weather day in Guernsey, so we maximized our outdoor activity.  Armed with a 1-day bus pass, we set off to town and on to Jerbourg Point at the southeast corner of the island, the starting point for a walk on the coastal cliff path.  Our destination was Petit Bot Bay, which the guidebook identified as a 3 hour walk.

The walk was mainly on top of the cliffs, but each time we came to a valley, we had to drop almost to sea level, cross the valley and climb back up the other side.  We had spectacular views from the cliff tops of bays, berries, coves, and cows (Guernseys of course).  The path was lined with berry bushes, some blackberries, but mainly sloes, which the locals use to make sloe gin.

                                          La Bette & La Jaonett Bays, Guernsey

                                                            Guernsey Cows

                                                                Sloe Berries

At Petit Bot Bay we stopped for a light lunch at the Petit Bot Bay Cafe and Water Garden, where we enjoyed our meal in the garden under an umbrella.  After lunch, the consensus was to visit the German Underground Military Hospital, built by the Germans, using slave labour, between 1940 and 1944, during their WWII occupation of the island.  The hospital was a massive undertaking and we walked almost 2 km underground to see it from end to end.  It was first used to treat German soldiers who were injured in the D-Day landings, and ceased operation soon after, when the allies liberated Guernsey.

                                   Ward at German Underground Military Hospital

The walk from Petit Bot Bay to the Underground Hospital was almost entirely up hill (that is what happens on an island when you start at sea level), so by the time we had walked through the hospital, our legs were fairly tired.  But we were only 10 minutes away from the Little Chapel, so we pushed ourselves for one last walk, to see it.  The Little Chapel is dubbed as "possibly" the world's smallest chapel, and is decorated with pieces of broken china. pebbles and sea shells.  It was built in 1914 by Brother Deodat, who planned it to be a miniature of the grotto and basilica at Lourdes.

                          The Little Chapel     

      
Thankfully, the Little Chapel was on a bus route, and we were soon back to our B&B for a little rest and relaxation.

Somewhat rejuvenated, we headed back into town at 6 pm to have dinner and take in the "Proms on the Pier".  It is the last night of the Proms season in the UK, and is a big deal for everyone.  In Guernsey, they began at 7:30 pm with a local orchestra, and then cut to a live TV broadcast from London.  We walked as we listened to the music, and did not wait for the TV broadcast, opting instead to get a taxi back to the B&B where we could watch the show on television.

                                                       Proms on the Pier

All in all a busy day, having walked more than 24,000 steps and climbed 143 flights of stairs.  Now it is time for bed, in preparation for more excitement tomorrow.