Bermuda: Friendly, Warm and Easy to Navigate

When we arrived we were unable to quit drinking in the beauty of this Sub-tropical Island found in the mid-Atlantic. We had left the ordinary behind. For me and my new bride, Ellen, Bermuda is where we would spend our honeymoon, for many reasons. It's only a shade under three hours by air from the east coast of Canada and the United States. Being the oldest overseas British Territory the customs and the language were familiar to us. And we liked the all-inclusive resort. However, there was one thing that took getting used too. Drivers of cars and scooters drive on the left side of the road.

Bermuda, population 66,000, is actually an archipelago consisting of six main islands 21 square miles long and three miles wide joined by bridges. Their excellent government transportation system allows you to travel from one end of the island to the other in about two hours. When we arrived in February the temperature for our seven day visit averaged about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, just perfect for shorts and sandals.

Grotto Bay Beach Resort

We choose the only resort on the island to offer an all inclusive package. The Grotto Bay Beach Resort is a ten minute ride from the airport. This resort ended up getting a gold ribbon from us. Our spacious room overlooked the turquoise coloured waters of Grotto and Bailey's Bay (how appropriate). There was a superb pool and a spectacular clean white sandy beach to while away the hours when we weren't out exploring. There was even a natural cave on site, filled with an array of delicate crystal formations of stalagmites and stalactites. The international staff earned bonus points for charm and attentiveness. The food (and plenty of it) was delicious.

Bermuda Activities and Top Things to Do

Town of St. George

The lovely little historic seaport of St. George on the eastern end of the island is only a 20 minute bus ride. It was the original capital of the island and goes back to the early 1600's.

Narrow winding brick lanes give close-up views of pastel 18th and 19th century homes. This UNESCO World Heritage Site will impress the most serious history buffs. On Saturday morning we visited St. Peter's Church the oldest continuously used Anglican Church (circa 1612) in the Western hemisphere. At the harbor, we stumbled upon a re-enactment of a ducking (not dunking) of a women accused of being a "nag and gossip". It looked a lot like a dunking.

Highlight of the visit was a free guided tour of the town by Alison Outerbridge. She explained to us she was an Onion, that's a person who can trace their heritage back to the settlement of the island. They are called Onion's because when the colony was first established they grew sweet onions to survive. She had the gift of making the past seem like the present.

Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo

Back in the bus we took a forty minute ride west to Flatt's Village. This unpretentious attraction turned out to be a show-stopper. This aquarium/museum and zoo, located on the waterfront, looks like nothing from the front but as we stepped inside we were, as they say on the island, gobsmacked (dumbfounded).

We discovered fantastic exhibits that told about the islands marine and terrestrial wildlife and saw the prettiest orange (not pink) Flamingoes in the world. We lingered for 3 hours. Later, we learned it was the islands most popular attraction.

Hamilton, the Capital of Bermuda

Over the next few days we would make several trips to Hamilton, the Capital of the island. The ride is forty minutes from the resort. This city is laid out in a grid pattern and easy to navigate. Start your tour with a visit to City Hall, next to the bus terminal. It's also the home of the Bermuda National Gallery. Admission is free.

Nearby are two Spectacular cathedrals both dating back to the early 1900s. However, most of our time we spent wandering the streets, visiting classy stores and boutique shops. We even purchased some bling to remind us of our visit.

Don't expect to shop in Hamilton on Sundays because most stores are closed.

Royal Navy Dockyards

No trip to Bermuda is complete without a visit to this historic naval shipyard in the west of the island. We choose to take the 20 minute ferry ride (it's included in the pass) from Hamilton Harbor. Shops are open on Sundays. Local historian Tim Rogers conducts free tours on Sunday mornings of the dockyards.

If You Go

Getting Around
First, get a transportation pass for the island. Our package included the pass but if you're on your own, expect to pay about $100.00 for two for seven days. The other alternative is to rent a scooter (only the very brave or those familiar with driving on the left should do this).

Thank goodness, visitors are not allowed to rent a car. The bus stopped right at the resorts front door which allowed us to explore the entire island at ease? Getting on the bus and mingling with the locals was a wonderful experience. Bermudians are extremely polite and easy to talk too. A bit of a tip, always start your conversation with a polite salutation like, Good morning, how are you today? It goes a long way.

Pick up the Handy Bermuda Reference Map before you begin your island expedition. Prices The price of food, and everything else on the island is expensive. Bermudian and U.S. dollars are at par. If we didn't have the all-inclusive package we'd have spent, for both of us, on average $40.00 for breakfast, the same for lunch and about $200.00 for dinner, without drinks! You'll find similar meal prices at other restaurants. A 17 per cent gratuity is automatically added to your bill. There are no sale taxes on meals or purchases.

We found seven days were not enough to explore what this island has to offer. It's in our calendar to return next year to create more memories of our Honeymoon in Paradise.