Visit to Sark (2): first experience of the island
Our journey started with a 6.30 am pick-up by a cab to take us all the way round the North Circular Road from Wembley to London City Airport. There we boarded an ATR 42 turboprop aircraft for the one hour flight to Guernsey. We had a few hours before our ferry, so Vee and I strolled around the cobbled streets and had lunch at a place called “Cafe Emilia” where we met the first two of many Latvian staff that we would come across on this weekend.
The trip from Guernsey to Sark was a relatively smooth sailing of 50 minutes. There are no cars,, buses, trains or trams on the island. The only means of getting around are tractors, bicycles, horse and cart, or foot. Even the fire engine and the ambulance are pulled along by a tractor. So, once on the island, a tractor took us up the hill while a cart transported our luggage.
Our group of 23 is spread over five accommodation locations. Vee and I plus two others are in a bed and breakfast called “La Marguerite”. The ‘programme’ – organised by Eric and Cindy – started with pre-dinner drinks at a hotel called “Stocks” where we celebrated the 24th birthday of Eric ‘s son Yonatan (nine years ago, Vee and I spent a week travelling round Israel with Eric and Yonatan).
Dinner was at a place called “Nicole’s Restaurant” which is just off The Avenue – effectively the High Street (all the lanes are without tarmac or pavements). Most of the group had seafood which is very popular here. It was too cloudy to see stars but hopefully we are going to see a spectacular display.