Hamilton

Bermuda is a British Territory and Hamilton is its capital, and also has the distinction of being the world’s tiniest capital. It might be small but it’s packed with shops of all kinds, government buildings, cafes and restaurants. Front Street which borders the Port closes every evening to traffic so you can walk freely without fear of being hit by moving vehicles. At Queen Street, constables wearing Bermuda shorts direct traffic from the “Birdcage”, which is the perch for the island’s famously energetic traffic constables. The formal/work/play dress for men is Bermuda shorts (any pastel color you can imagine), white shirt with tie, knee socks and dress shoes and a suit coat. It’s what I would call a “happy look”.

We arrived at 5pm so what better way to start enjoying our first Caribbean Island than by taking a sunset sail by catamaran. The sail started at sunset towards the west and ended at the harvest moon rise in the east. All of the sailing was in the bay of Fish Hook Island. The catamaran was built over 5 years by two brothers in South Africa with 15 paid skilled laborers. The boat had no nicks or dings. It was a perfect Bermuda arrival calibration.

The next day we opted for a one-day Bermuda Transportation Pass which allowed us to hop on and off buses and/or the ferries. Great way to explore the island. We hopped the ferry to The Dockyard, which once housed the Royal Navy. The Commissioner’s House has been restored and now houses the Bermuda Maritime Museum which we found really interesting. Unlike most museum’s, there’s no one watching your every move; we roamed freely until we felt we’d seen it all.  Island life is truly different, no rush, take your time, sit on the benches, enjoy the journey. We moved outside and found two huge pools where people were swimming with dolphins. We roamed past glass blowers, potters and artists. It was hot and humid and absolutely beautiful.

We had lunch at an outdoor café before hopping a bus to take us around the island and back to Hamilton. The beaches here have the famous pink sand which we didn’t get to see close up because our bus driver thought she was running Mr Toads Wild Ride. No kidding, one hand on the wheel, one hand on the money machine and we were hauling. The roads are barely wide enough for one car let alone a bus and she didn’t slow down – EVER! After talking with others who took buses hoping to see something other than our lives pass before our eyes, it appears all the bus drivers are the same. One speed and it’s FAST!

Once we were back on solid ground, we walked the streets and went into the Bermuda National Gallery to see an exhibit of Jacqueline Alma’s “Like a Tree Let the Dead Leaves Drop”. It was different and really good.

Bermuda is a beautiful island and we didn’t have near enough time there, which is why it’s on our bucket list to return to.