Jersey, Channel Islands
A Crown dependency that is closer to France than it is to the UK.
The first time that I ever got into an aeroplane that left the ground was when I was 17 years old, a work colleague, who just happened to be an ex RAF pilot offered me the chance to take to the sky in a Cessna 150 two seater, the flight would be what was called a ‘cross country’ flight, take off, fly 50 or so miles, turn left, then fly another 50 miles, do this 2 times more times and land at the same airport that we took off from.
So, what has that got to do with anything, well in early 2010, I was planning my next holiday (vacation), and it was suggested that I might like Jersey, I thought about it for about 30 seconds and agreed that is where I was going to go. It had been a long time since I flew anywhere, so for me, the question was how would I react on the day of the flight.
On the day of my flight, I was a bit nervous, but after a short time in the air I dared to look out of the window. I was a bit confused because I saw this expanse of water and couldn’t think of any lakes that big between Birmingham and the south coast, then I realised that it was the English Channel, I don’t think that I took my eyes from the view until we landed.
I had 7 days of sightseeing in Jersey ahead of me, but I was also looking forward to the flight home, not because I wanted to be back home, but because I wanted to get back into the air.
The following photos were taken between 28th May 2010 and 04th June 2010.
There are 70 Images in this collection.
Royal Hotel (Best Western Hotel), David's Place, St Helier, Jersey - This is the hotel that I stayed at during my visit to Jersey. Image Date: 28/05/2010
The Hotel Bar - A good selection of beverages and bar meals. Image Date: 28/05/2010
The Breakfast/Dining Room - This image taken at breakfast time (before the rush), there are more tables behind me. Image Date: 04/06/2010
The Dining Room - This room caters for larger parties and special occasions. Image Date: 04/06/2010
Hectors Fish and Chips Restaurant - If you're in St Helier, and you fancy some fish and chips, then this is the place to go, take away food on the left, eat in on the right. You can of course do what the locals do on a warm evening, get your take-away and sit on the benches opposite; beware of the gulls though - they sit on the roof waiting for unsuspecting diners. Image Date: 28/05/2010
Entrance to the Jersey War Tunnels - Constructed between 1941 - 1945, this tunnel complex was excavated by forced and slave labour as a bombproof storage and repair facillity, before being converted into a casualty receiving station, which was never used. Image Date: 29/05/2010
Inside the Jersey War Tunnels - This photo cannot capture the atmosphere of what is like now, it is only when you are there you start to think of what conditions must have been like for those that were forced to build them. Image Date: 29/05/2010
The Communications Room - A telephone switchboard, possibly the most advanced form of communication at the time. Image Date: 29/05/2010
Unfinished Tunnel - This is one of the tunnels that was not completed. Image Date: 29/05/2010
Casualty Department - The casualty department for injured military personnel. Image Date: 29/05/2010