Holidays in Guernsey

Understanding Guernsey

The islands of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops during World War II

Talking in Guernsey

Overwhelmingly English is spoken, but Norman-French Guernesais is taught in schools in a bid to preserve it

What to see in Guernsey

Maya ruins are the key attractions in the country and the most notable are El Mirador, perhaps the cradle of Maya civilisation, and Tikal

Volcanoes

Guatemala has a lot of volcanoes, many of them over 3,000 metres high

• Volcán de Pacaya 2500m - this is an active volcano about 30 minutes outside of Antigua Some days it will not be accessible as the volcano may be too active to observe safely Bring a jacket since it will be windy and cold at the top although the ground will feel warm and wear long pants as the volcanic rock can easily give you a nice cut Tour guides can be organised from Antigua This volcano can be climbed all the way to the crater, and most of the time you get to see real lava

What to do in Guernsey

Guatemala is rich in natural beauty and travel opportunities, it's a country that offers so much to those willing to step off the beaten track for a little while

Antigua Guatemala is often regarded as the travellers hub, a crumbling, picture-perfect central american town ringed by volcanoes From here you can take a hike up Volcano Pacaya, take a bus to the bustling market of Chichicastenango, or simply sip some coffee in a street-side cafe and watch the world go by

Lake Atitlan or Lago de Atitlán is another frequent stop on any visitors itinerary A volcano-rimmed lake with plenty of backpacker hostels and Mayan villages that dot the shores

Flores in Guatemala's wild north is a tourist friendly island in the middle of Lake Petén Itzá From here you can take a bus ride to one of best preserved Mayan ruins in the world, Tikal Howler monkeys and dense jungle make walking around the ruins an adventure in itself

• Semuc Champey Lanquin, near Coban, Alta Verapaz Semuc Champey is a cascade of turquoise limestone pools created by the river plunging below ground for a stretch before rushing back out through a spectacular waterfall Definately worth making the trip to Lanquin for as well as the beautiful lodges that have sprung up from the captivating hilly landscape

Buying stuff in Guernsey

Economy

Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance, etc - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel Island economy Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the game under which Guernsey operates

Guernsey Pound on parity with British pound GBP; Notes from Jersey are also accepted Note - Guernsey pounds are not accepted in the UK and should be changed for UK pounds before leaving the islands ATMs generally describe which currency is being dispensed - 'Local' or 'Sterling'

Food and eating in Guernsey

Most international cuisines are represented with, not surprisingly, fresh local seafood taking centre stage For nice views and good food head for L'Auberge de Jerbourg, La Fregate, La Nautique, Pier 17, Sawatdi Thai or Mora's The Crow's nest has good views but is overpriced Le Petit Bistro and L'escalier for French and Da Nello's for Italian

Summer in Guernsey is all about al fresco dining, with long cliff top lunches and leisurely gatherings at old farmhouse restaurants One of the locals’ best-kept secrets is fresh fish and chips and chilled local cider on the wall outside the Rockmount Cafe at Cobo Bay; the local's favourite for sun set Crabby Jack's is another good sunset location on the west coast; caters for families and large groups and around 11pm the dance floor fills up for some old fashioned rocking to all time favourites NB not for a romantic meal a deux!

Guernsey’s beach kiosks are a gastronomic odyssey in their own right The Fermain Beach Cafe started life as a kiosk and evolved into a bistro-cafe specialising in seafood You can work up an appetite or work off lunch with a stunning clifftop walk and then sit down to local crab sandwich, scallops with bacon or locally caught monkfish or sea bass with a view of Guernsey's prettiest bay In summer, you'll need to book two weeks in advance tel 01481 238636 For a wooden basket of traditional cream tea to take to the beach head for the kiosk in Saint's Bay or Portelet Bay the latter better accesible for wheelchair users

Picnics are also popular For the ultimate spontaneity, pack fresh French bread and cheese, local tomatoes and paté and a bottle of wine and head for the cliffs There’s a view from a bay or winding path that really is yours alone ALternatively check the diary of castle Cornet http://wwwmuseumguernseynet/outdoor_theatrehtm for outdoor theatre or, in summer, life music on Friday nights usually free! Come early and eat your picknick on the top lawns of the castle, descent with your bottle of wine to watch outdoor theatre or life music in a great medieval setting NB dress warm!

Breakfast: Bacon butties from Nelia's Bakery, Continental style breakfast at Victor Hugo's, Fry up's at White Rock cafe, Halfway Cafe or Half Moon cafe

• Market Kitchen Market Kitchen, Market Square, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1HE Perry's Guide Ref pg5 K8 +441481712249 wwwmarketkitchengg Open Daily Local restaurant serving food influenced by cultures world-wide but stressing the importance of using local Guernsey produce Offers both indoor and outdoor seating weather depending Open for lunch and evening meals

Drinking in Guernsey

There are lots of pubs to be visited all over the island, in St Peter Port the pubs are easy to find and are mostly along the waterfront Laska's has an enourmous list of cocktails and is a popular spot Start here and work your way north along the waterfront, ending at the taxi rank

Guernsey cream teas: The OGH hotel is an excellent location for wintertime cream teas The Victoria Cafe in Candy gardens has excellent views but you mustn't be in a hurry! Cobo tea room on the west coast has excellent home made cakes Or sample a piece of coffee cake from the kiosk at Port Soif; No real indoor space there but a lovely sheltered garden to hang out in

Accommodation in Guernsey

You will likely find cheap hotels in every town or village in Guatemala In the main tourist areas, there are also many high quality hotels

Working in Guernsey

There are various volunteering opportunities

• Proyecto Mosaico Guatemala, PMG 4 will, for a fee, set you up with an organisation in Guatemala which needs a volunteer They also can arrange a home stay, Spanish language classes, and other services

• Global Vision International GVI, PMG 5 run a number of volunteering programs around Guatemala with indigenous communities They include home stay, Spanish language classes, and other services

• Casa Alianza Guatemala 6 welcomes enquiries from potential volunteers who want to help provide care and assistance to, and protect the human rights of, the children and adolescents who live on the streets of Latin America

• Some schools organise social projects as well See, for example, the Guate Spanish school's entry under Quetzaltenango

• Entremundos 7 is said to organize local NGOs

• CARE is said to organise volunteer projects in Guatemala 8

• PID Partners In Development is a non-profit organization that works to help the extreme poor of Guatemala They build houses for families, provide small business loans, and offer sponsorship programs for children in need 9

• En Mi Salsa 10 is a Dutch Foundation that focuses on development of rural women and their children They support women’s handicraft cooperative Ut'z Bat'z in Chichicastenango and offer scholarships to poor children Volunteers are needed They also arrange your Spanish language classes, home stay, volunteer work, local tours

Cities in Guernsey