Beautiful Bermuda

Travel writer Yvonne Trueman recently enjoyed a short break in Bermuda. She received an invitation from a friend from the past who was holidaying there with her family of four adopted Balinese children. “Come on out,” she said, so Yvonne did! This is what she found …

Bermuda is a truly magical island with lush green vegetation and colourful flowers due to the abundant rainfall. But where is it? It is a misconception that it is in the Caribbean; in fact, it is situated in the northern Atlantic Ocean, far north of the group of Caribbean islands. 

It’s just one-and-a- half hours flying time from New York and around seven hours from London. This idyllic island has been labelled in the past as one of the most remotest islands to be found but with modern air transport solace can be found from a busy city metropolis life in the shape of a beautiful, colourful island with a deep historical past.

Who discovered Bermuda? When Christopher Columbus left Lisbon in his attempt to prove that his ships would not fall off the end of the map but sail on – little did he know what was ahead. 

In 1492 he almost certainly passed by enroute to the west and it’s thought, quite possibly, that Columbus might have sailed right past again on his triumphant return home too.

It is also thought that Bermuda was named after Juan de Bermudez who sailed past in 1506 and charted the island into a publication. However, legends suggest an Irish monk named St Brendan, who explored the Atlantic in the mid-Sixth Century may have found it first.

The island is relatively small but shaped like a shrimp,with inland roads and seas, making it a paradise for yachting enthusiasts. And indeed Bermuda attracts many wealthy yacht owners, apart from being a haven for banking and affluent home owners.

However, Bermuda, like a lot of islands, was originally a volcano, which erupted mysteriously from the sea a million years ago, and accounts for the very fertile soil giving rise to colourful flora and vegetation. The proximity of the Gulf Stream produces not only the world’s most northern living coral reef but also a humid sub-tropical climate.

Bermuda is described as being more British than Britain. Filled with small country lanes winding through villages, neat, manicured homes and gardens, you could be forgiven of thinking you were in Devon or Cornwall.

Although the island is small because of its unusual shape, the road system consists of some 400 miles of interweaving country lanes, and interlocking inlets – it’s easy to become disorientated. For visitors arriving for holidays there is no car hire facility. However, the taxi service is adequate and for private hire there are scooters which everyone seems to jump on and scoot around on quite happily.

Cruise ships arrive every week bringing scores of visitors and tourists who aim for all the souvenir shops for their gifts to take away.

Water sports are in abundance with water skiing, diving centres and deep water fishing trips available. The main attraction of Bermuda, however, is the weather.

Beautiful sunny days, clear skies and deep turquoise-coloured seas. The sandy beaches are safe for bathing and families are encouraged to enjoy them. When stepping off your aircraft the first thing you notice is the beautiful, clear air, not a sign of any pollution. 

Bermuda’s annual rainfall however is 59-65 inches and is vital to the locals who depend on this rainfall for their drinking water. Every house has its own catchment facility.

The economy of the island is tourism and banking. The government has maintained a strict policy of balance. Also, the Bermudan workforce is a diversity of nationalities, the total population is only in the region of 65,000.

Travelling through the island, English town names are everywhere and Hamilton, the capital, named after a past governor of the island.

The Docklands area is steeped in history. It was originally built for the British Navy at the start of the 1812 war and started the blockade of the American coast. It was from this imposing fortification here that British warships set out to crush the fledgling United States. Britain succeeded in burning Washington DC so charring the new presidential mansion, so that it had to be white-washed, hence its name today of the White House.

It has been said that Bermuda island has more golf courses per square mile than any other country which takes up 17 per cent of open space and sporting no less than eight courses. Golf tournaments are held early March through to December and include the Bermuda Open for professionals at Port Royal Golf Course and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf held annually.

Bermudans’ motto ‘Quo fata ferunt, Whither the fate leads us’ is totally appropriate for an island people living in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. With their strong island fortitude and resolute attitude, they have learned over the years the art of survival.

What impact would Columbus have made today had he landed at Bermuda on his way west? Would his influence have made any difference to the island as it now stands, it’s a fascinating thought.