The Channel Islands

Our first port of call is St. Peter Port on Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. There are 8 inhabited islands and 6 empty islets in the archipelago. Guernsey (yes, as its name suggests, it is famous for its cows and dairy products!) is only 8 miles from France and, as you can imagine, it's changed hands many times over the years.

During WWII, it was occupied by German forces and there's a literary connection to the island--The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was set on this small chunk of land.


  They say geography is destiny. It's cold with a biting wind at Guernsey. We were treated to a taste of just how exposed these islands are to the elements as well as the conflicting political interests that surround them. The people who live there would have to be hearty, tough-minded and self-sufficient.

 At least, that's how I'd write them.

 Now I'm off to download The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. Now that I've seen the place, it's sort of a must.

How about you? Have you ever visited the place where a novel was set? Were you disappointed or did the setting live up to your expectations?