Bermuda is a little over 600 miles due East of North Carolina. It was discovered in 1609 when a ship that had been dispatched to help the settlers in Jamestown shipwrecked on the island. Thankfully there were enough cedar trees to build new boats and make it home and claim the island for England. The written account of the shipwreck is said to have inspired Shakespeare to write The Tempest.
During the American Revolution, Bermuda was used as England's gunpowder depot, but the Bermudians sold it all to the Americans and helped us win our independence! It was home to Britians Royal Naval Atlantic fleet until 1951.
What a great way to connect three countries.
Bermuda has the prettiest beaches and some of the best snorkeling I think I've seen anywhere, including Hawaii, the Great Barrier Reef and the Carribean. They have more shipwrecks that any other island becuase it's outlined by coral reef. We got to go see two shipwrecks on our snorkel trip - one an old paddle-wheel, carrying bottles of penicilin (sp?), one of which was brought up for us to see, the other dumped it's load of concrete sacks across the ocean floor and looked like an instant paved highway.
There is very little crime, though more than we initially anticipated after hearing about a rash of purse snatches by modpeders, because there is no unemployement (not sure how they manage that) and there is no income tax. Banks use the island for offshore shelter from taxes. We might consider living here if Bill could get a job. You can't look for one while you're there. You have to find one before you go. We hear they're in need of lawyers, bankers and teachers. We saw an ad in the paper for a global IT director for HSBC, which Bill applied for.
The hotel we stayed at was right on the water, but their beach had been washed out by hurricanes in previous years. Which was okay. We bought an unlimited bus pass and got around the island like the locals. Horseshoe Bay was just a few stops down the road. The first day we went, there were no cruiseships visiting the island, so we had the place practically to ourselves. The water is aquamarine blue and the sand is make of pink coral. It's coarsely ground, so it falls quickly to the bottom and you can see everything in the water, including huge parrot fish very close to shore. There are NO sharks, but the do have barracuda.
Every night we walked down to our non-existent beach, listened to the whistling tree frogs and watched some of the most beautiful sunsets.
We'd probably get tired of just beach, but we didn't get tired of the friendly, laid-back people and island style. They don't even where long trousers to work. They wear Bermuda shorts, long socks and dress shoes. The old folks from the cruises fit right in.
Now, I've got to finish packing for a week in Florida. We leave this afternoon to visit some friends. Our bodies are golden tan (Brendan got a little over-baked), and any stress from the move is melting away. I'm glad Bill planned all of these trips this summer. We would definitely get tired of staring at each other trapped in the trailer because of constant rain. But I am ready to settle into a routine. Brendan registers for school when we get back and then we have to buy clothes and supplies.
