We slept like logs for ten hours. It was a very
different Bermuda we woke up to the following morning. With the storm of the
previous day over, the skies were once more clear and bright, more the weather
that one would expect. Welcome to Bermuda! Eager to see the island we set off
for Hamilton, the capital, straight after breakfast. Taking the local bus it was
possibly one of the prettiest journey’s we have made in quite some time. I soon
realised that perhaps the best has been saved for last. This island the last one
we visit on this side of the Atlantic, is quite beautiful. The bus route takes
you on the coastal road, past little white sandy coves and inlets, the houses
with immaculately kept gardens, their uniform concrete roofs dazzlingly white in
the morning sunshine. I don’t recall ever have seen such a concentration of
beautiful homes. In spite of the fact that they have such a shortage of water
the island is very green, a real surprise to us. They suffer from a real lack of
water and after many months without rain they were in drought conditions, so of
course after yesterday’s torrential downpour the locals were delighted. The
place oozes prosperity and the respect that the Bermudan people have for their
island paradise is evident everywhere you go. Not a scrap of litter, all so
clean and tidy it was another world to us on our long sojourn up through the
Caribbean chain. But there is a price to be paid for all its loveliness,
everything is very expensive indeed. The golf courses, of which there are many,
are way beyond our budget. The colour of the water is spectacular, (I didn’t say
that yesterday!) We wandered the streets of Hamilton, the capital, their fine
government buildings, churches pristine, until it all got too busy with cruise
ship passengers, when we retreated to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club for a get
together with everyone from A Lady except. Stephen, who has had to return to
Ireland on business for several days. Linda and Tom treated us all to a lovely
lunch. They are leaving tomorrow, back to New York. We took the longer scenic
route back home. After sun downers we hopped on the bus again to Swizzles
restaurant for dinner. Our waitress was from Glasgow. The Scots and the Irish
are absolutely everywhere! The Bermudans have been exceptionally welcoming and
friendly towards us, so much so that when David and I went out walking this
morning, Sunday, we were greeted several times over with “Happy Mother’s Day”
and not just from the ladies but the younger population also. It feels so good
to be here.
Susan
Mackay