Jersey, an enchanting and unusual island

9.30 am: our journey begins!! From Orio al Serio airport with a Virgin Express flight to Brussels, where another Ryanair flight awaits us (we opted for 2 cheap and slightly longer trips rather than a single British Airways flight at double our price!) towards the almost unknown (to us Italians) island of Jersey, right in the middle of the English Channel. We love "not just sea" trips (without disdaining the latter either), and this little English island seemed perfect to us. And our intuition didn't disappoint us.

A union of "fresh" sea waters and walks in nature, a visit to the zoo housing many species of animals (especially monkeys...I adore them!) facing extinction, street parties with these English people who, always precise and defined in their lives, let themselves go on holiday (sometimes even too much!), a visit to the Shell House, whose garden is entirely built with shells from every corner of the world and...the BATTLE OF FLOWERS!!!!! A spectacular display of floats entirely built with flowers! An incredible thing to say until you touch the flowers and...they're all real! They must take a year to build such marvels on wheels for 2 days of celebration, dancing, music and fireworks in the streets.

Unmissable! Just as unmissable for us was the "trip" to the Magnetic North of the island of Jersey: the ruins of Grosnez castle and above all the literally breathtaking view you enjoy from up there, from rocks 200 feet high and meadows overflowing with heather. And for the more romantic, a trip to the south-west of the island to admire the view of the La Corbiere lighthouse at sunset (and not only) from rocks sheer over the sea is unmissable. Besides, the island being small, it's easily reachable with very convenient buses that connect every side, while for the more sporty I recommend a nice bike ride. Jersey is an unusual island that gives everything and, above all, is different from the usual overly touristy destinations. In a week we met only 4 Italians!! We couldn't believe it! We, in Jersey, really left a little piece of our hearts there!!!!!!

"Do-it-yourself" trip Costs: about 700 euros each for 8 days...not bad, eh? Hotels: 1 bed and breakfast in St Helier, where we were very happy!! Travel: plane