C6 - Wednesday, June 15, 1983 - North Shore News UNSPOILED ISLAND There’s more to Jersey than cream “COMMERCIALIZED” was the first criticism I heard about Jersey. So what? If that means neat shops, good restaurants, clean hotels and exellent car rentals and tours why should | complain? If you want to get away from the main drag it’s no problem to find a fine inn on the North Coast. I'd never try that without hiring a car, though. The _ busses, although excellent, run on a limited schedule and cabs cost a lot. When you think that the island is only a nine by five mile rectangle you must also remember that there are no straight roads — everything meanders. Mid-summer is a good time to visit for fine weather. That is, if you like mob scenes. My preference would be Christmas when many of the hotels prepare a magnificent feast for weeks. In fact. many of the locals book into hotels for the fine food and reasonable prices. “It's cheaper for my wife and I to book a hotel for the Solidays than to buy all the trimmings at home.” one Jersey bus driver told me. Over the centuries the ownership of the Channel Islands bounced back and forth between Engiand and France. The French have left a permanent legacy in Street names, family names and food. Since the islands are so close to the French mainland a lot of visiting back and forth goes on and there appears to be quite a commercial tie. Speaking of ownership of the islands, there was a dark penod from 1940-45 when another kind of ownership took place. The residents refer to wu as “Under the Jackboot”, meaning the Ger- man occupation. Many evidences still remain in- cluding hideous pilliboxes and fortifications along the beaches and large cemetenes full of graves of slave laborers who were worked and starved to death building the defences “Well, they did improve the roads,” said one Jerseyite “but there was no love lost © CRUISE ALASKA! Big Savings Book before June 26 for Aug 27 departure Aurora Travel 687-3762 RENO BUSES Special fr > 1 O09 abl DISNEYLAND BUS dep May 20 tr *279 12 & under RENO AIR 3 or 4 nites LAS VEGAS AIR HAWAII AIR DISNEYLAND AIR Adanac Tours , tt ABT-4420 Kingeway Burnaby BC aaT-aTe1 eomeraT Travel - wise Barbara McCreadie “Do you get many Ger- man tounsts here now?” | asked. “Not many, but it’s more than I lke.” Even 40 years later the residents of Jersey resent the fact that they were the only part of Great Bn- tain to be occupied and even though they realize that the allies couldn't’ spare the troops to hberate them nght after D-Day it still rankles. Both Jersey and Guernsey have museums of the oc- cupation — period, very popular with tourists. The residents don't mind making a bit of money out of that bleak time but as one operator said, “You'll never believe how hard it was to get hold of German equip- ment after the war. After what the people went through they destroyed everything they could find. Whole boatloads of stuff were taken out to a deep fissure in the sea floor and dumped. And _ bonfires! Uniforms and_ everything were burned.” As a tourist to Jersey you'd be smart to rent a car. The roads are good, if narrow, and the traffic isn't bad. Many of the nicest spots aren't accessible any other way. Before you~ do, however, take a Blue Coach tour of the island to get the lay of the land. The view over the hedgerows is much better by bus. Remember, too, that large vehicles have the right- of-way and you'll be ex- pected to back up into private driveways to let the lormes and busses through The coach drivers despise the tourists in cars. “The locals know where to duck to get out of the way Tourists back into ditches and stone walls hidden in the hedges. Helluva mess.” If you're visiting Jersey you won't have trouble fin- ding any sort of accommoda- ion you want. My own choice would be a small inn on one of the beaches to the north — car essential. Here are a few pub and restaurant recommendations on Jersey. First, I had the best fish and chips in my life (cheap. too) at Albert J. Ramsbottom’s on Halkett Place. They serve a variety of fish dishes as well and a couple of choices for non- fish eaters. Don't miss order- ing the mushy peas as a side dish! Perfect with the F and C. The whole meal, mous servings, $10 for two. I didn’t get a chance to visit two of the best pubs on the island but the :ccom- mendations come from an excellent source. “Old Smuggler’s Inn” at Oausine on the West Coast and the Windmill at St. Peter's are inexpensive and colorful. Mauro’s Restaurant was unfortunately closed the Sunday we tried to visit. IC is a top favorite with locals. Also, small and not well- known 1s “La Soupe D’Oignon” on Fell St. The recommendation came from a shop girl who shared an apartment directly above the restaurant. She told me that the food was so good and so reasonable that she'd almost given up cooking for herself I also started an argument among a group of locals in the Royal Yacht Pub when | asked where to get the best lobster. They finally agreed on the Sea Crest Hotel — near the Smuggler’'s Inn. If enor- was under WAIKIKI Arr Only $379 WAIKIKI $479 8 Days, 7 Nights. Air & Hotel LAS VEGAS $285 5 Days, 4 Nights, Air & Hotel RENO $255 5 Days, 4 Nights, Air & Hotel TORONTO $329 Air Onty MAPLE LEAF TRAVEL 736-3555 Reg. Agent 157-3 THE STOREWIDE SAVINGS | OUR BIGGEST SALE EVER! " 3 COLONY’S:| >» MASSIVE — wee hee Vesa inygy Voorsvabieres appobean es en roar erertiegs Mea a sto lang: truly incredible savings! J many ITEMS AT OR BELOW OUR COST! GENUINE DISCOUNTS TO 70%! EARLY SHOPPING RECOMMENDED FOR BEST SELECTION COLON Y | HOME FURNISHINGS LTO you get a chance to try it, let me know. Another con- tender was The Lobster Pot (Mont du Valet area) that also sells fresh seafood but is expensive. Another fine spot to eat 1s Bogart's, just half a block from the Royal Yacht Hotel. We had a great meal with a drink each for $14 total. The service is good and aithough you might not recognize the dish you order (my Spaghetu Carbonera had beef and tomatoes in it!) the flavors are tops. The waitress ex- plained that the chef is Mor- roccan and he rewrites recipes. A word about drink prices — beer 1s 54¢ a bottle in bars. Mixed drinks run $1 and fine wines can be had for about a third of the price you pay here. At last. another fabulous vacation spot cost the earth! that doesn't Be Water Wise You can help a drowning person even if you can't swim. Extend a towel, a stick, any- thing that will lengthen your reach ! + Tre Canadian Red Cross Society ng ATTENTION Vitamin Users: We've got good news for you! At last there Is ONE store where youll EVERYTHING youre looking for find the purest quality vitamins, natural cosmetics, natural foods. herds Qlandulars and tissue salts Gay low prices! all at consistend every Compare and Save! FOTAMETOS ONE PER DAY Fuvitamin & Miner ate One Per Day A complete and Dalanc ed vitamin & mineral supplement for people on the go! 90 tans reg 619 $@o9o 180 tans reg 1199 $@98 “Your one stop nutrition Shop” The Vitamin House 1929 Lonsdale 980-5545 “Open Friday ‘till 9:00"