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Bermuda
Bermuda lies in the Atlantic Time Zone and is one hour ahead of New York. It is
situated at a distance of 650 miles from North Carolina. Flights from New York
and other eastern cities take less than 2 hours to reach Bermuda. Air Canada,
American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, United
Airlines and US Airways operate regular flights from major US Cities to Bermuda.
English is the official language albeit spoken with a lilt. Portuguese is also
widely spoken and understood.
Rental cars are not available in Bermuda, primarily to protect the island from traffic and pollution. Taxi, bus, ferry, scooter and carriages are available in plenty to cater to tourist requirements. Taxis are another mode of transport within the island and most of the taxi drivers also double up as tourist guides. All taxis are metered and rates are higher between midnight and 6am and on holidays. Local buses, painted pink with blue stripes, also cover the entire island and have frequent services.
During the summer months from May to November, you need lightweight summer clothes, swimsuits, raincoats and windbreakers during daytime. For the evenings, you need light dressy sweaters, casual cottons, sports jacket and tie. For a Bermuda holiday from December to March, you need to pack light woolens, sweaters, raincoat, windbreakers or coat. You can reserve the swimsuit for the daytime activities. Do carry along a pair of sturdy walking shoes, a pair of flip flops and sun protection gear.The Botanical Gardens: This botanical garden covers 36 acres and includes a palm garden with native palmetto trees, a garden for the blind, a subtropical fruit garden, greenhouses, an aviary and a miniature forest. The Camden House, which is the official residence of Bermuda’s Premier, is also located within the garden. It is open for tours except during official engagements.
Palm Grove Gardens: This is a private garden but has been opened to the public. It has well-manicured gardens, an aviary, citrus groves and sea vistas. It also has a natural map of Bermuda set in a small pond.
Bermuda Maritime Museum: This museum is located within a fortress at the edge of the Royal naval Dockyard. Visitors can take a tour of the Commissioner’s house, which happens to be the first prefabricated cast and wrought iron house in the world. One can also have a look at the exhibitions featuring Bermuda Slavery, Bermuda’s maritime history and Portuguese ancestry. The Dolphin Quest program is also very popular.
Royal Naval Dockyard: This dockyard was built by slave and convict labor and it became a strategic outpost for the British Royal Navy a couple of centuries ago. During the war of 1812, British warships set sail from this dockyard to attack Washington. Many of the old buildings have been converted into restaurants, shops, arts and crafts workshops. You can also explore former military structures and underground chambers. Children can also take part in the interactive exhibits at the Children’s Museum.Dockyard Glassworks: This is a hot glass studio holding glassblowing and flame working demonstrations daily.
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Mark Twain once said, "You die and go to heaven, I'll stay here in Bermuda" Bermuda is truly one of God's jewels on this planet. Aquamarine and turquoise seas surround these beautiful islands. Bermuda is actually an archipelago of small islands that are the remnant of an ancient volcano, resembling a fishhook when viewed from a high altitude. Lush green trees, shrubs, and lawns blanket these subtropical islands. Bermuda is about 570 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Because of its more Northern location, Bermuda is not tropical. The climate from November through February is rather cool. |
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Warwick Long Bay
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South Shore Beach
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Jobson's Cove
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South Shore
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The South Shore has many beautiful beaches, including Warwick Long Bay, Jobson's Cove, Elbow Beach, and Horseshoe Bay. Jobson's Cove is a beautiful little enclosed cove on in Warwick Parish. It is perfect for children to wade in its shallow and gentle water. Warwick Long Bay is just to the East and Stonehole and Horseshoe Bay are to the West.
Our first trip to Bermuda was in February. Indeed, it was cool and sometimes downright cold with gusty winds and rain. There was no need to unpack the bathing suits on this trip. But, we enjoyed this beautiful place nonetheless. We went in early June the second time. The temperature was warmer (75° - 80° F), and the weather overall was much nicer this time. We were able to cover a lot more territory and do more things this time. As beautiful as we had thought Bermuda was the first time, those past memories did not compare to the glorious colors of the seas, skies, and flora we saw this time. Predictably, there were more tourists around, many disembarking from the large cruise ships that came into port for 3 days or more each week. Bermuda is a prosperous country. It is a British colony with a fairly autonomous government. There are people of multiple ethnic groups. However, the descendants of the African slaves brought over in the 17th - 19th centuries comprise the majority. In addition to tourism, the insurance industry has a strong economic presence. The lack of income taxes entices Fortune 500 companies to set-up shop in Bermuda. There is little to no unemployment, a 100% literacy rate, and the third highest per capita income in the world. The capitol city of Hamilton is very clean and is devoid of seedy storefronts, adult bookstores and other questionable establishments. Bermudians are extremely polite and courteous people. In town, Bermudan business people are smartly dressed. Some Bermudan businessmen combine their conservative and stylish dress shirts, ties, and dark blazers with (you guessed it) Bermuda shorts and knee-high socks. Curious to us, but it's very normal dress in Bermuda.
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Bermuda is packed with a number of lovely beaches and as it is an island, you can never be very far from the sea. Swimming, fishing, cruising, parasailing, water skiing, body surfing, snorkeling, kayaking and of course sun-bathing are some of the activities you can enjoy at the beaches. Body boards, kayaks, snorkel masks, fins, umbrella, lounge chairs can all be rented at the beach itself. Bermuda beaches also have snack bars selling drinks and eateries. Some of the remote beaches do not have all these facilities but the seclusion and astounding views make up for it.
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Transportation |
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Picturesque
Mangrove Bay (left) is on the Western "hook" of Bermuda. It is a
favorite spot for many watercolor artists.
