Page 16 - Abacoa Community News - January '23
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Page 16, Abacoa
The Channel Islands: Location, Location, Location
Previously submitted by the mainland. Many of the older population who still reside there
late Don Kiselewski, MCC, today vividly recall the hardships they once endured.
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens A major portion of the islands are barren, due to the strong
Travel Leaders winds. However, the earth is harvested for an abundance of
How many times have table vegetables, particularly tomatoes. They even produce
we heard those three words? a tomato wine that they boast is not made anywhere else.
In the case of the group of And, for those who enjoy milk products, it is hard to beat
islands off the coast of France, the products produced from the cow’s milk from Guernsey
it couldn’t be truer. Because closest, just eight miles offshore. Likewise, it is the largest of the and Jersey. Although similar, these are two distinct breeds
of their location, the Channel islands followed by Guernsey and then Alderney. The coast of and both produce exceptionally rich milk. I can assure you
Islands have played a major England from Guernsey is 90 miles to the north, whereas Jersey that freshly baked scones with strawberry jam and Guernsey
part in many endeavors. They is some 200 miles from the mother country. Ferries run between cream can’t be beaten!
form a stepping stone between England and France, and, the islands and off the adjacent shores of England and France. For total relaxation, again it’s the Channel Islands for
needless to say, we all know of the frictions that have existed Politically, the Channel Islands have a unique position in location, with few people, no apparent poverty because
between those two nations. The islands are a secluded location the world makeup. They realize a great degree of autonomy, the hardworking islanders are surprisingly affluent, and a
to enjoy a quiet life. And, probably the most interesting aspect although they pledged their allegiance to the English Crown relatively mild climate surrounded by the English Channel.
of their location is their emergence in international offshore over 800 years ago. However, this has not kept them from For those who really want to escape the outside world, a
banking. They are, you could say, the “Cayman Islands” of the “doing their own thing.” As mentioned, there is a formal visit to the three smaller islands in the Guernsey Bailiwick
English Channel. allegiance to the Crown but they are not subject to the will send you back in time. No automobiles or television are
The location gave Channel Island “privateers” first pickings laws passed by the British Parliament, except when acting allowed on the islands. Those are the rules for total relaxation,
of the ships (which may or may not have been in trouble) that upon their own consent. This relationship has far reaching the old-fashioned way. Horse-drawn vehicles and tractors
sailed through the English Channel. Today, the islands are consequences in a unified Europe. The islands are an “associate make up the means of getting around.
dotted with large nine-window, multistory homes. This was member” of the European Union (EU), but not a full member The Channel Islands are a haven for the fast contemporary
the standard of the opulent bounty hunter of the sea. As with and do not abide by many of the EU’s laws promulgated world in a relaxing atmosphere of yesteryear. Visit them and be
most government corruption, the privateer was allowed to in Brussels. Nevertheless, the EU’s free-trade advantage is pleasingly surprised at the “location.”
plunder because he had a license to do so. That is, as long as recognized. Currently, two lieutenant governors, one per The late Don Kiselewski wrote from his personal experiences,
the government officials got their share. bailiwick, represent the ties to the British Crown. having traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans, seas
The islands have also been safe haven for those escaping The Channel Islands print their own sterling currency and and rivers of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders,
European strife over the centuries. Because William the also trade with the euro, as well as the U.S. dollar and British his family owned and operated agency, is located at Mirasol
Conqueror first captured the islands in 1066, before going on to pound sterling. Interestingly, the Channel islanders will accept Town Square, 11360 North Jog Road, Building A, Suite 102-6,
conquer England in the Battle of Hastings, the islanders boast the British pound, but the British islanders will not accept the Palm Beach Gardens. The agency has been serving the travel
that, “This means that England was annexed to the Channel Channel islanders’ pound. The Channel islanders pay no taxes needs of the South Florida area for over a quarter of a century.
Islands, rather than the other way around.” to Britain, and as a result, many goods and services are less Contact them at (561) 694-9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.
I’m not going to get in the middle of that one. expensive in the islands. The main islands are contemporary Photos by Don Kiselewski
The Channel Islands are a group of five major islands that financial hubs. Some 60 banks have offices in St. Peter Port
have been divided into two “bailiwicks.” The name bailiwick alone. In addition to the British banking facilities, American,
was established to define portions of the islands for governing Australian, Canadian and most European nations are
jurisdictions back in the days when barons ruled the archipelago. represented. Their popularity stems from the attractive “offshore
The island of Jersey stands alone in the Bailiwick of Jersey, while banking” tax-haven status.
the islands of Alderney, Sark, Herm and Guernsey form the Because the French Cotentin Peninsula is so close, the
Bailiwick of Guernsey. St. Hellier serves as the capital of Jersey language has flown into the islands. The official language is
Bailiwick, while St. Peter Port is the capital of Guernsey. At English, although it is not unusual to hear Norman-French
one time before the bailiwicks were established in the Channel (patois) spoken in the streets of St. Peter Port. Some of the
Islands, all of the islands were privately owned. There are still government agencies, assemblies, law courts and churches use
privately owned islands within the group (e.g., the tiny “rock” modern French, but English is still taught in school. Interestingly,
of Jethou), and they are not open to the public. Jersey’s patois is different than Guernsey’s; however, but nearly
Geographically, the islands spread over some 75 square miles everyone speaks English.
just off the Brittany and Normandy coast of France. Jersey is the The location placed the islands in jeopardy during WWII. In
1940, the Germans heavily bombed St. Peter Port, later invading
and capturing the island. During the period of their occupation,
they built a series of emplacements around the island for defense
and observation. Today, a number of these structures remain as
a reminder of their occupation. The Germans forced the local
islanders to dig an underground facility, which served as a
hospital for wounded German soldiers relocated from Europe’s Seymour Tower
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