A Flower in Bermuda

Some of My Favorite Places

Dockyard, BDA

A visit to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda is a step back into history with all the splendors of the present. 

Whether it be the shops, the food, or the ferry, whatever brings you to dockyard, the views will not disappoint. 

Dockyard is filled with beautiful boats:

And a fine looking boat ramp:

St. George's, BDA

Some accidents happen for a reason, and the shipwrecked founding of St. George's is a welcomed accident. 

The ship was Sea Venture. Set forth from England to the Americas, it became caught in a storm, tossed ashore, and thus was the founding of the Town of St. George.

Entering the city by way of the water is still most common (and beautiful) today.

Fresh off the Ferry awaits White Horse Pub for all of your Rum Swizzle needs. Sit out back on the deck, kick back, and relax, or...

Take delight in all of the fish!

But watch out, they'll jump! Especially if you toss them a treat...

Like Hamilton, St. George's offers fine shopping, including one of my favorites, The Island Shop.

The Town of St. George is lathered in rich history. From its early founding, despite much by mistake, to the impact the island has had, both on locals and visitors alike. St. George's respects and epitomizes this history, displaying both in model and reenactment form.

Hamilton, BDA

Pulling up to Hamilton ocean side from the Ferry, one might think they have pulled up into paradise. And truly, from my personal opinion, it may be pretty close.

Just looking and walking around the city of Hamilton is a joy in itself. 

Pictured above is Front Street, Hamilton, BDA.

Well preserved, like most things Bermudian, is one of Bermuda's first post offices, named for William Perot who began his postmaster days by unofficially greeting ships at port, tucking their letters under his hat, and riding them around town to each recipient.

This Salvation Army is a perfect example of Bermudian architecture, and care and quality.

And you don't get much more Bermuda than this... scooters lined up outside the big banks and financial institutions. Just your typical Bermudian commuter.

The Original Swizzle Inn and Cup Match

The Original Swizzle Inn, Bailey's Bay, BDA

Speaking of swizzles... now is the time of year when the serious swizzles present themselves. This year, August 1st and August 2nd mark the official two-day celebration of Bermuda's Cup Match.

So what exactly is Cup Match? Two days of non-stop camaraderie... Okay, really it's an annual Cricket match between St. George's (the West Side) vs. Somerset (the East Side).

For the occasion, locals have been fermenting swizzle batches for months, some even up to a year! They tend to be darker than your average swizzle, and much more potent. Spectators, beware... seriously.

Bermuda, again

There are many things that attract visitors to the island of Bermuda. 

For me, there is a long list of favorite things:

 - the swoon worthy uniform of short pants and tall socks, 

 - lovely pink sand beaches with the bluest water, 

 - amazing fish chowder with sherry peppers sauce, 

 - swizzles and dark 'n stormys, galore!

 - and of course the Bermudian Accent, which I have yet to perfect: a mix between British, Caribbean, Jamaican, and just all around goodness (literally, the Bermudians are just good people).

The list of course goes on... But aside from my own personal draws, there is a history that brings many tourists to the island, starting with is the chance to see the world's smallest drawbridge:

The bridge is intended for a sailboat's mast to make its way through the passage and into the harbor. It measures less than two rulers in length (22 inches), and works! It's adorable.

Another popular attraction is the Unfinished Church:

Bermuda

My husband and I went to Bermuda for the first time on our honeymoon. We loved it so much that we went back that next year for our anniversary, and every anniversary thereafter we have always had the debate as to whether or not we would splurge on another trip to the lovely island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I am happy to say that come our anniversary this year, we are going back!

Long Bay at Cambridge Beaches

Bermuda was founded by accident, but what a lucky accident it was. In 1609 a fleet of ships set sail from England with an intention to dock in Jamestown, VA, but during the journey, the fleet was sent asunder by a dreadful storm at sea. Be it fate, or luck, all 150 passengers aboard the flailing ship made it onshore without the loss of a single life. Nowadays that can be taken as quite ironic since the island of Bermuda is the top point of what outlines the Bermuda triangle, an infamous area of the Atlantic Ocean known for the disappearance of those that brave to venture into the region. Ultimately, the British presence of the early inhabitants can be still felt throughout the island today, and is visible in the territory's flag:

Which brings us to the Bermuda shorts. Yes, people do, to this day, wear Bermuda shorts with tall socks. Where did this come from and why do they do it? Well, the British began to use this newly discovered island as a vacation destination due to its continually satisfactory climate, as opposed to the common seasonal rains found in England. But, as they started to vacation in Bermuda, this was still at a time where men were not supposed to show their bare legs, but it was too hot to walk around all day in pants. So, they cleverly cropped their pants to a knee length, and then pulled up their trouser socks to cover the bare portion. The look is then finished with a sports coat and tie. It was, and still is, considered suitable attire for a male in a Bermudian's professional or fine dining environment.