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21 Miles of Paradise!
Bermuda is an often forgotten destination when people are thinking of easy to get to islands from Savannah. A two and a half-hour direct flight from Atlanta, makes it an easy, attractive escape for either a long weekend or an entire week of tropical pleasures.
The island is named for the Spanish explorer, Juan de Bermudez, who discovered this isolated archipelago and gave it his name. Bermuda became an important navigational landmark and sometimes stopping point for mariners crossing the Atlantic. Bermuda had no permanent residents until 1609 when the flagship "Sea Venture" of the British Third Supply Fleet was caught in a vicious storm (most likely a hurricane) and wrecked on Bermuda’s dangerous reefs. With 150 British officials, colonists and crew, on board, the ship’s cargo included supplies for the settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. There was no loss of life from the storm, and most of the settlers that were aboard the Sea Venture continued the journey to Virginia on a ship built while stranded on the island. Left behind were a couple of men whose purpose was to stake a claim to the island, and it is speculated that Shakespeare’s The Tempest was inspired by their experiences.
In 1612 the first true settlers began life in what is today the oldest continuously occupied town of the English origin in the New World. Today, Nearly 4 centuries later, evidence of the remarkable history is present throughout the island. Visitors from all over the world flock to Bermuda to experience its picturesque cottages, quaint lanes and alleyways, and it’s religious and military architecture. Today Bermuda remains nominally a British possession, a completely self-governing British Overseas Territory, with its own laws - not those of the United Kingdom. Bermuda today is the third most densely populated place on earth, with an estimated resident population at year-end 2005 of 68,500 in its 20.75 (twenty point seven five) square miles or 3,301 permanent residents per square mile. Its density is exceeded only by Monaco and Singapore and followed by Vatican City.
Arriving at the Bermuda International Airport is quick and easy. As it is a foreign country, a passport is required for entry for by US citizens. Taxis are readily available to transport you to your hotel or resort. There are no rental cars for hire, but visitors get around easily by taxi, bus, ferry, and motor scooters. In fact, in Bermuda it truly is a case of “Getting there is half the fun!” when traversing the island by scooter. No driver’s license is required for scooters, but the rental locations do require a short training session. The roads on the island are very narrow, sometimes hilly and can be somewhat dangerous, and one should not take driving the scooters lightly. Don’t forget, Bermudians drive on the left hand side of the road! Cyclists must be over 16 years of age and are required to wear safety helmets. Gas stations are only open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, so if you are low on gas don’t expect to fill up after dinner….you may find yourself pushing your scooter back to your hotel! Taxis can be hired by the hour, day, or mile. Taxi drivers are very friendly and love to act as tour guides. The taxi fares do mount up quickly; therefore, many tourists quickly master the bus system in order to save money.
The tiny island has a unique and rich history and is a visual feast. If you have a question about what you are seeing, or about what you want to see, do not hesitate to stop someone and ask. Bermuda prides itself on its friendliness and ability to make everyone feel at home. Despite its latitude and longitude and far north location, Bermuda is entirely frost-free, snow-free and ice-free. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream pass near Bermuda, and its climate is mild in the winter, spring and fall. Summers can be very warm with high humidity, but there are always breezes. Winter in Bermuda is considered spa and golf season, with temperatures ranging in the 60’s and 70’s. In the past some hotels have gambled with a temperature guarantee and offered a discount on room rates on any day the temperature did not reach 68 degrees.
Bermuda houses are distinctive, constructed from local limestone with slate roofs. The soft limestone softens over time giving the roofs molded shapes rather than sharp edges. The heavy stone also helps to minimize the effects of hurricanes and storms. Because Bermuda has no easily-available sources of fresh water, the roofs of the houses catch rainwater and direct it into cisterns. The gleaming white roofs and pastel facades of the house are an image of Bermuda that stays with one when he leaves.
The city of Hamilton is located in the middle of the island and is a hub for international and local business. It is packed with historic buildings, churches, shops, galleries, museums, restaurants and parks, set along a beautiful natural harbor. Cruise ships dock off Front Street which is a shopper’s paradise displaying goods form all over the world, fine china, crystal, jewelry, clothes, cameras, watches and more. Bermuda is famous for its’ Rum cakes made with its equally famous Black Seal Rum.
Bermuda pastimes obviously center around water! If it involves water, it can be done in Bermuda…diving, snorkeling, parasailing, boating, windsurfing, water-skiing, swimming, or kayaking. One of the most popular water activities is fishing. Over 650 species of fish inhabit Bermuda waters. Around and beyond the reefs, amber jack, barracuda, bonefish, chub, dorado or mahi mahi, hogfish mackerel, marlin (blue and white), shark, snapper (mostly grey), pompano, rainbow runner, tuna, wahoo, and yellowtail are plentiful. Legislation limits the catches of blue and white marlin. Local fishermen have caught grouper weighing 90 pounds or more. No license is required and one rent or buy locally.
Diving is another popular sport, and is best experienced from May through September. . Bermuda has exceptionally salty water and 230 square miles of offshore reefs, 10 times the physical land area. There are over 300 wrecks from five centuries. Since 1940 alone there have have been 13 official major shipwrecks…testimony to the deadly reefs – the reason early seamen called Bermuda "Isle of Devils"
Golfing is a superb but expensive pastime in Bermuda. There are three government owned clubs…..Ocean View, Port Royal, and St. George’s. Private clubs in Bermuda do not generally welcome non-members without an introduction from a member; however, sometimes one’s hotel or ship’s shore excursion desk can lend a hand. One of the most well-known private clubs is Mid Ocean, originally designed by Charles Blair MacDonald and then modified by the noted Robert Trent Jones in the 1950's. Considered one of the world’s top courses….Sir Winston Churchill, Presidents Eisenhower, Bush and Carter, Babe Ruth, numerous golf professionals and countless other celebrities have played here, and any golfer is happy to boast, “I played Mid-Ocean.” The story is that when Babe Ruth, played the 433-yard fifth hole he knocked eleven straight balls into the water before finally driving one over the hazard!
Many people, when they think of Bermuda, think of Bermuda shorts. It is only the dress shorts - what male Bermudians wear for business attire and cocktail parties that are the real Bermuda short. They are the national dress for male Bermudians. They are worn as uniforms, day attire, informal evening wear, or casual wear. In Bermuda, one can meet the Queen or a President in them, but only when invitations say Bermuda shorts are allowed. They have been declared correct national day and evening attire for any non-formal occasion including meetings of the legislature. The correct height is considered to be three inches above the knee.
To be properly dressed in one’s Bermuda shorts, however, one must wear long, knee-length socks plus a white or blue button down Oxford or other appropriate short sleeved shirt and conservative Windsor knotted striped (or corporate insignia or club or regimental tie, with a single or double breasted navy blue blazer or a sport coat or madras or linen jacket contrasting with the shorts. The most appropriate shoes are loafers with tassels in black or brown, depending on the color of the shorts. They are not appropriate formal wear; there are no black formal Bermuda shorts; and when invitations state formal wear, they exclude Bermuda shorts.
There is a great deal of misunderstanding about the Bermuda Triangle myth. It is assumed, wrongly, that this mythical area is solely in Bermuda. To be entirely accurate, Bermuda is only one point of the three in (and by far the smallest of) the Bermuda Triangle. Draw a triangle between Bermuda, Miami and Puerto Rico to get an idea of the Bermuda Triangle, and then consider the comparative sizes of Florida, Puerto Rico and the 21 square miles of tiny Bermuda.
On the far eastern end of the island, sits the historic town of St. George named after the legendary Dragon Slayer and patron saint of England. St. George is home to many historic buildings, including the Tucker House Museum, Bermuda National Trust Museum, Old Rectory, Somers Garden, and the replica of the sailing ship Deliverance.
Between Hamilton and St. George a must-stop for tourists is the The Swizzle Inn, no Inn at all, but the oldest and most famous pub in Bermuda! The Swizzle Inn has been run by the Correia family since 1962 and is the home of Bermuda's national drink - the Rum Swizzle, still served the traditional way - strained into cocktail glasses from a pitcher. Their motto which is 'Swizzle Inn & Swagger Out' needs no explanation!
Hotels are abundant in the Hamilton area. The Fairmont Hamilton Princess opened its doors in 1885 and has been the center of Bermuda’s social and business life ever since. The Princess is a luxury urban resort resting majestically on the shore of the scenic Hamilton harbor and just steps away from the city of Hamilton. For a different flavor, one can experience Old English Bermuda charm at the Rosedon Hotel. The hotel was built in 1906 as a private home and has been converted to a quiet, friendly, relaxed, lush tropical garden oasis. The Rosedon is centrally located within walking distance of central Hamilton but away from the hustle and bustle. Traditional English tea is served every afternoon at 4:00 pm. as it is at many properties here…..after all, Bermuda is quintessentially British!
Progressing west on the island visitors will pass by some of the world’s finest beaches, experiencing some of the most vibrant blues and green waters ever seen. The pink color of the sand is caused by particles of shells mixed with pieces of coral and calcium carbonate. The Horseshoe Bay area is great for bringing a picnic from one’s hotel and finding the perfect spot to enjoy the water and scenery. The rock-encircled Jobson’s Cove fills the bill perfectly! Resorts, hotels, bed and breakfasts, guest cottages and inns line the roads and beaches throughout the central part of the island. Large resorts with private villas to simple cottages for brief stays offer something for everyone. Along this shore one will find The Reefs, The Southampton Princess, and Elbow Beach Resort. Elbow Beach is immersed in Bermudian tradition and has been a luxury destination since 1908. The luxurious South Shore property combines a resort hotel with a cottage colony on 55 lush acres with its own half mile of pink sand beach. Sister property to the Hamilton Princess is the Southampton Princess. The two hotels offer a short, complimentary (for guests) boat ride to and from the properties for those wishing to either shop or enjoy the private beach club.
Further west is Bermuda’s newest and most casual getaway, a far cry from some of the more traditional lodgings on the island. 9 Beaches is a private reserve away from it all. Tastefully decorated, soft sided (fancy tents) cabanas have magnificent ocean views, with some sitting upon stilts over the sapphire sea with plexi-glass floor panels reveling tropical fish under foot. Fully equipped water activities include kite boards, wind sails, kayaks, jet skis, and wakeboards.
The far west end of the island is dominated by the Royal Naval Dockyard, an imaginative redevelopment program converting the historic old naval buildings into shops, restaurants, and arts and crafts markets. Ferry transportation is available from Hamilton to the Dockyard and allows visitors to enjoy the magnificent views of the island from the water.
Bermuda can fulfill the desires of any traveler. Its’ lure lies in its’ beauty, which is only surpassed by the charm and friendliness of the people. Twenty one square miles of paradise!
By: Jennifer Hicks, Amy Paderewski, and Gwen DeWalt
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