Bermuda.com Guide - December 2013
-
Upload
bermudacom-ltd -
Category
Documents
-
view
219 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Bermuda.com Guide - December 2013
Crisson_Guide_132x194_0813.indd 2 13.08.13 17:21
guıde
FREEShopping, sightseeing, dining, culture FREE
DECEMBER 2013
Christmas in Bermuda
You’ll love our boat parade
DISCOVER THE UNIVERSAL FRAGRANCE
F R E S H , C R I S P , C I T R U S B E A U T Y
2 bermuda.com guide
PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH
Christmas carols at City Hall, Hamilton. See our Christmas calendar of events, pages 42-47
Co-publisher & advertising manager: Lisa Beauchamp, [email protected] Tel: 278-1850
Co-publisher & editor-in-chief: Tony McWilliam, tmcwilliam@ bermudasun.bm Tel: 278-1860
Design & Layout: Creative Circle Media Solutions
Accounts: Donna Vesely Tel: 278-1831
Delivery: Lloyd Somner
Cover photo: The Christmas Boat Parade on Hamilton Harbour, by Tony McWilliam
Contributors: Amanda Dale, Lisa Greene, Simon Jones, Sarah Lagan, Nicola Muirhead, Alison Outerbridge, Kageaki Smith, www.moongateproductions.com
bermuda.com guidePublished by The Bermuda Sun a subsidiary of MediaHouse© Bermuda.com Ltd.Printed by Island Press Ltd.
Web: www.bermuda.comInformation and services contained in the guide are believed to be correct at the time of printing; however, prices and times may be subject to change without notice. The Bermuda Sun Limited makes every effort to ensure accuracy but accepts no liability for errors or omissions. Reproduction in whole or in part by permission of the publisher only.
n Artsoverview 12 & 13shows 47local products 33–35
n Businessour economic ‘miracle’ 18–19
n EventsChristmas in Bermuda 5&8 calendar 42-47
n Food & drinkbest places to eat 36-39
n NatureNational Parks 10–11our harmless critters 14
n PeopleMinister’s welcome 4
n Practicalitieshealth, customs etc 23-25
n Religion our abundant churches 16–17
n Shoppingflex the plastic 26-35
n Sightseeingtours 20–21
n Sports & activitiesgolf, tennis, etc 22
n Transportationairlines 23 buses 23 ferries 24 taxis 25
n Weatherwhat to expect 25
contents
FOR EVERY SPECIAL OCCASION
55 FRONT STREET aNd 16 QUEEN STREET, HaMILTON CLOCKTOWER MaLL, dOCKYaRdaLL MaJOR HOTELS • TEL (441) 295 2351
© d
. yu
rma
n 2
013
20733 DY-Crisson_ML350.indd 1 8/16/13 12:50 PM
4 bermuda.com guide
welcome to bermuda
ON BEHALF OF the Government and the people of Bermuda, welcome to
our island home.
Known around the world for our beautiful beaches, stunning turquoise
water, world-class golf and warm, friendly people, Bermuda has been a
favourite vacation destination for generations of travellers.
Let us show you that Bermuda is so much more. We invite you to enjoy
unexpected treasures, such as boutique shopping, island-inspired cuisine,
vibrant arts and cultural activities and our rich history. During your stay,
I hope you have an opportunity to explore some of our finest features,
such as the 17th century Town of St. George, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, the City of Hamilton and the Royal Naval Dockyard.
However you choose to enjoy your Bermuda vacation, I am certain you
will have a memorable experience.
Once again, welcome and I hope you have a wonderful stay. We look
forward to welcoming you back to our shores very soon.
Sincerely,The Hon. Shawn G. Crockwell JP, MP Minister of Tourism Development and Transport
BERMUDA DOES Christmas well, and if you love the holidays, you will love
December in Bermuda. Options are plentiful and the moderate tempera-
ture makes the Island an ideal destination for indoor and outdoor activi-
ties. The calendar is filled with special events, unique traditions, music,
entertainment, great food and healthy exercise. Most importantly, Bermuda
affords the perfect backdrop for celebrating quality time with loved ones.
The holiday season kicks off on the first Friday of December with the Bermuda National Trust’s Christmas Walkabout in St George’s. The entire town is alight with Christmas cheer, open shops and historic properties, with mulled wine flowing and carolling and music playing at picturesque locations around the town. Look for Sea Cadets strolling through the streets with the evening’s schedule of activities.
This is just the first of many special events of the season — see our Calendar,
pages 42-47. Here are some highlights:The Bermuda Musical and Dramatic
Society (BMDS) puts on a traditional English ‘Pantomime’ at Daylesford The-atre, Hamilton, complete with fairytale characters, true love, a cross-dressing Dame, slapstick antics and plenty of au-dience participation. Don’t be surprised if the entire audience starts booing loudly at the “evil baddy” and shouting for the hero to “look behind you!” Bril-liant sets, extraordinary costumes, song
cover story
A great time to be here
PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH
Christmas glow: Lights and decorations transform Front Street into a fairyland.
Continued on page 8
bermuda.com guide 5
6 bermuda.com guide
A
B C
E
H
Y X
I
VU
WT
Q
SR
O P
NML
KJ
DF
G
To F
ort H
amilt
on
city sights Bermuda’s capital city, Hamilton, is
bermuda.com guide 7
Cit
yof
Ham
ilton
Wal
kway
ofH
isto
ry
A S
ELF
GU
IDED
TO
UR
OF
SOM
E H
ISTO
RIC
SIT
ES O
F H
AM
ILTO
N
AH
NT
BI
OU
CJ
PV
DK
QW
EL
RX
FM
KEY
SY
G
The
City
Hal
l C
hurc
h St
reet
in fr
ont
of C
ity H
all
Cor
ner o
f D
undo
nald
and
C
ourt
Str
eets
The
1937
Rec
orde
r B
uild
ing
C
ourt
Stre
et b
etw
een
Vict
oria
and
Chu
rch
Stre
ets
Prom
inen
t His
toric
al
Com
mer
cial
Bui
ldin
gs
best
vie
wed
from
sou
th
side
Sou
th s
ide
of F
ront
St
. opp
osite
Cha
ncer
y Ln
.
St T
here
sa’s
C
athe
dral
C
orne
r Ced
ar
Aven
ue a
nd A
ngle
St
reet
A d
etou
r may
be
ta
ken
at th
is p
oint
to
For
t Ham
ilton
Co
rner
of K
ing
an
d Vi
ctor
ia S
treet
s
Cen
otap
h an
d C
abin
et B
uild
ing,
Fr
ont S
treet
opp
osite
C
enot
aph
The
Berm
uda
Natio
nal L
ibra
ry a
nd
the
Berm
uda
Hist
oric
al
Soci
ety
Mus
eum
C
orne
r of Q
ueen
an
d R
eid
Stre
ets
East
ern
gate
of
Vict
oria
Par
k
on C
edar
Ave
nue
Dr E
.F. G
ordo
n Sq
uare
on
Dun
dona
ld S
tree
t
Ale
xand
ria L
odge
, th
e ol
dest
func
tioni
ng
Frie
ndly
Soc
iety
Lod
ge
Cour
t Stre
et b
etwe
en
Chur
ch &
Rei
d St
reet
s
Old
Yac
ht C
lub
Step
s on
Fro
nt
Stre
et
The
Cen
tre
Ju
nctio
n of
Nor
th a
nd
Angl
e St
reet
s
Man
ches
ter
Uni
ty H
all
Vict
oria
Stre
et a
t Jo
ell’s
Alle
y
The
Sess
ions
Hou
se
and
Mag
istr
ates
C
ourt
Cor
ner o
f Pa
rliam
ent a
nd R
eid
Stre
ets
The
Arc
ade
C
orne
r of R
eid
and
Burn
aby
Stre
ets
Ala
ska
Hal
l C
orne
r of A
ngle
and
C
ourt
Stre
ets
St P
aul A
ME
Chu
rch
C
orne
r of V
icto
ria
and
Cou
rt St
reet
s
Free
mas
ons
Hal
l C
orne
r of R
eid
Stre
et
and
Cha
ncer
y La
ne
The
Ang
lican
C
athe
dral
of t
he
Mos
t Hol
y Tr
inity
C
orne
r of B
urna
by
and
Chu
rch
Stre
ets
Ret
urn
to C
ity H
all.
Beg
in a
t City
Hal
l.
Ced
ar A
venu
eHi
stor
ical
Res
iden
tial
Bui
ldin
gs
Cor
ner o
f Dun
dona
ld
and
King
Stre
ets
Cus
tom
Hou
se
War
ehou
se, 1
794
Cor
ner C
ourt
an
d Fr
ont S
treet
s
Cor
ner o
f Fro
nt a
nd
Que
en S
tree
ts, a
de
tour
may
be
take
n w
estw
ard
to A
lbou
y’s
Poin
t & B
arr’s
Bay
Par
k
Attra
ctiv
e an
d ra
re
1800
’s b
uilt
build
ings
, ou
tsid
e st
airc
ases
and
ve
rand
ahs C
orne
r of
Ellio
tt an
d Pr
ince
ss
Stre
ets
Reco
mm
ende
d ro
ute
For a
full
desc
riptio
n of
the
hist
oric
al lo
catio
ns id
entifi
ed v
isit
ww
w.ci
tyha
ll.bm
/ham
ilton
-rout
e-m
apPo
ints
A -
Y on
Map
city sightsantipode to Perth, Western Australia
8 bermuda.com guide
cover story Some stores give you free eggnog
and dance. This year the production is Sleeping Beauty (Dec 5-14) – you may find the evil queen has a deep voice and five o’clock shadow.
The spectacular Christmas Boat Pa-rade on December 7 will have up to 100 boats decorated to the hilt and twinkling in Hamilton Harbour with Christmas music blaring for all the onlookers at every vantage point imaginable. Make a reservation early at a location with a view of the harbour.
Markets appear on the weekends leading up to Christmas and provide a tempting array of local produce, crafts, baked goods and one-of-a-kind gifts. Get up early on Saturday morning and head to Pier 6 on Front Street in Hamilton for the City Market where you will find farmers’ produce, locally made jewellery and all things home-grown and home-made. On Sunday afternoons the Olde Towne Market springs up on Water Street, St George’s, and vendors display an eclectic variety of goods, from hand crafted cedar to Moroccan leather, cloth-ing, bags and shoes plus fresh baked rum cakes and bread.
On Christmas Eve, most churches have a carolling or candlelight service to greet the midnight hour, and services on Christmas Day. If you are in the east end of the island the 11pm candlelight service at historic St Peter’s, Their Maj-esties Chappell, is truly magical.
You will discover that Bermuda celebrates ‘Boxing Day’ on December 26. Why is it called Boxing Day? You may hear several explanations, but the traditional one is that it’s when servants were given their presents, or perhaps it’s the day you box up the presents you
don’t want! Whatever the reason, it is another official holiday – but you will find a number of retail stores open to do a bit of après Christmas sale shopping. Attractions such as the Aquarium, Muse-um and Zoo, Bermuda National Museum and Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute will also be open.
The weather is mild and perfect for outdoor activities — tennis, golf and walking, and even swimming for the intrepid. You won’t find many locals swimming but there are a hearty few who swim every day of the year no mat-ter the temperature. The Walking Club of Bermuda walks every Sunday rain or shine – good to walk off those holiday pounds and enjoy seeing the beauty of the island with some of the locals. There are also numerous free tours to enjoy as part of our Rendezvous Activities – pick up the brochure at your concierge desk or the Visitor Information Centres.
Visitors to Bermuda will find every hotel has Christmas menus and special events — or maybe best of all, a quiet week to spend time with your family. Whatever you do — enjoy the Christmas spirit and long tradition of great hospi-tality in Bermuda. n
Continued from page 5
PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH
Tradition: Christmas carols at City Hall.
10 bermuda.com guide
parks
Cooper’s Island, located at the north-eastern tip of Bermuda, features a
Nature Reserve and Wilderness Area and stands as a striking example
of the restoration and protection of our precious public land.
Cooper’s Island a real gem
PHOTO BY NICOLA MUIRHEAD
Get back to nature on lush and lovely Cooper’s Island in the east end.
As one of the island’s few remaining open spaces, it acts as an important buffer zone for the critically important offshore Nature Reserves, protecting in-digenous species of plants, animals and marine life.
This historical and biologi-cally rich open space of approxi-mately 12 acres was handed back to the Bermuda Government by NASA (who ran a tracking station at the site) in September, 2001.
The site has a colourful history. Cooper’s Island was first mentioned when Governor Moore was faced with
the problem of famine in 1612, caused by the accidental introduction of rats from a captured Spanish grain ship. The rats destroyed all crops and stored food.
The Nature Reserve is heavily wooded and supports a variety of habitats including salt-water marsh, beach, dunes, rocky coastline, sea grass beds, upland coastal and uplands hillside. You might see turtles, cahows,
queen conch and tropicbirds (our em-blematic longtails). Healthy sea grass beds found here are critical to fish
Continued on next page
bermuda.com guide 11
By LISA GREENE | Our National Parks, spread over 108 sites and 1,609 acres, range from tiny, secluded gardens to long, beautiful beaches with pink sand.
Some favourites of mine include the 16-mile long Railway Trail, Hog Bay Park, Spittal Pond Nature Reserve and Ferry Point Park.
Many sections of the Trail provide an ‘off the beaten track’ experi-ence for walkers, joggers or those on bicycles. A paved stretch runs for nearly two miles from Somerset Village to Somerset Bridge, with glimpses into backyards and views of bays and the Great Sound. Paths off the trail lead to Gilbert Nature Reserve, the large Heydon Trust Estate (with its exquisite little chapel), panoramic Scaur Hill Fort, and down to the water’s edge. Rock cuts from the original railway, and thick vegetation, create welcome shady areas.
Less than a mile further south along the Middle Road from Somerset Bridge
is the 32-acre Hog Bay Park, one of our best birding locations. Walking paths skirt agricultural fields and meander through woodlands and hillsides before arriving at a secluded shoreline with spectacular views.
Spittal Pond, a 64-acre reserve, on the south shore in Smith’s Parish, is our best birding spot. Here the rugged shoreline and woodland surrounding a brackish pond support a large variety
of migratory and resident species. Clamber over the rocks and look for Sally lightfoot crabs at the water’s edge or parrotfish feeding in surging water, and watch waves ‘boiling’ over reefs. Along this shore you can also find ‘Portuguese Rock’, bear-ing a carved inscription from visiting sailors dated 1543.
Out east is Ferry Point Park, a scenic 64 acres perfect for walking, jog-
ging or cycling, with historic features such as the Martello Tower, Ferry Island Fort and an old lime kiln.
These are just a few of the many locations maintained by our Govern-ment’s Department of Parks; it’s your turn now to discover your favourite. n
parksEndemic plants include Bermuda moss
PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH
Verdant: Ferry Point Park
Grab a picnic, take a stroll
populations as they produce oxygen for fish and animals.
There are five picturesque beaches within the reserve; Turtle Bay, Long Bay, Well Bay, Fort Hill Bay and Soldiers Bay.
The entrance to Cooper’s Island is gated and fenced and controlled ve-
hicular access allows only wheelchairs, emergency and service vehicles. Take a walk into this uniquely preserved site — it’s truly worth every step.
• Information supplied by the Depart-ment of Parks. Please assist them by adhering to Nature Reserve etiquette.
Continued from previous page
12 bermuda.com guide
By SARAH LAGAN | Our small island is packed with art galleries,
studios and museums. Our art hot spots include:
n Bermuda National GalleryA repository for important works of art, The Bermuda National Gallery addresses social issues through its exhibitions, too. Current shows are Eyes on the World (photojournalism about human rights) in partnership with the Alexia Foundation; Women Artists in the Bermuda National Gallery Collection; Impressions of Ber-muda: The David L. White Gift to the BNG; and Meredith Andrews: Portraits of Power. City Hall & Arts Centre, Hamilton. Tel. 295-9428. www.bng.bm
n BNG EastThe Bermuda National Gallery’s new satellite location, BNG East, is located in a characterful National Trust property in St George’s. It showcases local artists both past and present, plus international artists. BNG East, 1 Bridge Street, St George’s. Tel. 297-9428. www.bng.bm n Bermuda Society of ArtsKnown affectionately as ‘the people’s gallery’, BSoA’s contributors range from pro artists to schoolchildren and prisoners. Four separate galleries, hosts 50 shows a
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MASTERWORKS COLLECTION
A Masterworks treasure: Front Street, Hamilton, by American painter Frederick James (1915-1985).
Immerse yourself in the arts
arts
bermuda.com guide 13
year. City Hall & Arts Centre, Hamilton. Tel. 292-3824. www.bsoa.bm n National Museum of BermudaExhibitions and displays range from Ber-muda’s Defence Heritage, The Slave Trade and The Royal Navy Collections. Ship-wreckIsland: Sunken Clues to Bermuda’s Past celebrates Bermuda as the shipwreck capital of the Atlantic. Local artist Graham Foster’s epic historical mural is a must see. Dockyard. Tel. 234-1418. www.bmm.bm n Bermuda Arts Centre at DockyardHere you might meet Bermuda’s artists who are residents, including Jonah Jones, Christopher Marson, Christopher Grimes and Chesley Trott. Also enjoy the ever-changing collections by the Plein Air Paint-ers of Bermuda. Dockyard. Tel. 234-2809. www.artbermuda.bm
artsGeorgia O’Keefe painted in Bermuda
MasterworksThe Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art is home to an impressive collection of over 1,400 pieces of Bermuda inspired art. Some by such famous names as Georgia O’Keefe, Marsden Hartley, Winslow Homer and Albert Gleizes are part of the Permanent Collection. There is a constantly evolving showcase of local artists, and visiting artists in residence who paint Bermuda’s dynamic landscapes. Prints and original local art are on sale in the Arrowroot Gift Shop. Homer’s Café serves baked goods, soups, paninis, gluten free products and afternoon tea. Location: Botanical Gardens, Paget. Wheelchair accessible with ramps and elevator. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm & Sun 11am-4:30pm. Admission $5, free for members and under 12s. Closed public holidays. Tel. 299-4000. www.bermudamasterworks.com
The Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art is home to an impressive collection of over 1,200 pieces of Bermuda inspired art; some by such famous names as Georgia O’Keeffe, Winslow
Homer and Albert Gleizes. The museum shop sells prints and original local art; a perfect
keepsake to take home! To learn about Bermuda’s cultuBermuda’s culture and history there is no
better stop on your vacation itinerary.
We also offer a range of bakery
products that are gluten free
Sandwiches, paninis, salads, quiche, soup, hot lunches, baked goods, specialty coffees, afternoon tea and even picnic baskets to go!
299.400004
Located in the beautiful Botanical Gardens, five minutes from Hamilton, the museum is on three major bus rou tes (1,2,&7) and is
clearly sign posted from all entrances.
Sunday 11:00am - 4:30pm
Sunday 11:00am - 4:30pm
14 bermuda.com guide
wildlife
Birds aplenty — and no snakes!
By ANDREW DOBSON | Like most other things in Bermuda — groceries,
cars, shipwrecked settlers — our wildlife was largely imported, either
accidentally or on purpose. There are hundreds of feral cats and thousands
of feral chickens island-wide — but no feral dogs. We have a few rats, of course, but no
snakes. Spiders are abundant but gener-ally harmless. The occasional poisonous spider arrives on imported lumber but they rarely bother people. Mosquitoes aren’t a problem and there are few bugs to worry about. To find the mildly ven-omous nine-inch centipede, you would have to turn over a lot of rocks in St. David’s Parish.
Try to avoid the Portuguese man-o-war, a purple jellyfish that sports long tentacles and causes a painful sting. Sharks are rare in Bermuda waters and there are no records of shark attacks.One of our most intriguing creatures is the common whistling frog. Their ‘gleep-gleep’ chorus is particularly vigorous after rainfall on warm evenings and you’ll be amazed that a frog little bigger than your thumbnail can be so audible.
Easier to spot on wet evenings are enormous cane toads, introduced to control cockroaches.
Birds are plentiful; about 375 species have been recorded in Bermuda and 20 are resident. Many migrate through the island and more than 100 species are present during the winter, including a variety of ducks, herons and egrets.
For more, visit www.audubon.bm n
PHOTOS BY TONY MCWILLIAM
Above: The ubiquitous Great Kisakadee is a tyrant flycatcher while the Mourning Dove, below, is named for its plaintive call.
DISCOVERA PART OFBERMUDA
AND STILLGROWING
THAT’S OVERMILLION30YEARS OLD
Visit www.caves.bm for more details.The Crystal Caves are a world of delicate splendour with magnificent crystal stalactites and stalagmites, each surrounding a clear lake. Come see the Crystal & Fantasy Caves, an exquisite world that Mother Nature began over 30 million years ago.
HOW TO FIND US: BUS ROUTES 1/3/10/11 | JUST OFF WILKINSON AVE
8 Crystal Cave Road, Hamilton Parish CR 04, Bermuda | 441-293-0640 | [email protected]
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
447_2 - Bermuda Guide - full page - P_1 - cm.pdf 1 1/5/12 3:12 PM
16 bermuda.com guide
faith
TO REALLY GET A FEEL for Bermuda, take a look at the island’s
churches, or better still attend a service or a social event organised by a
church.
With such a high concentration of churches, and the wide range of
beliefs catered for, visitors should have little trouble finding a church that
suits them.
Within this diversity of faith, Anglicanism has a strong presence, along
Our abundant churches
PHOTO BY WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
The elegant St Mark’s Church is set in lovely grounds in Smith’s Parish
bermuda.com guide 17
faith52% of worshippers here are Protestant
with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Roman Catholicism, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witness’s, Methodists, Brethren Churches, and the Salvation Army.
Church organizations often come together to help deal with social problems and are also active in relief aid abroad, with the Cornerstone Foundation one of the first to offer assistance in Haiti.
Many of Bermuda’s older churches are like mini museums. Visit the 400 year-old St Peter’s Church in St George’s, the oldest Anglican church in continuous use outside the British Isles, and marvel at its elegant simplicity.
In Pembroke is St John’s Church built in the 1620s; overlooking Harrington Sound is Holy Trinity Church, with a nave built around 1670; and St Anne’s Church in Southampton, one of the oldest parish churches in Bermuda, was started by our early settlers and rebuilt in 1717.
Visit the neo-Gothic Bermuda Cathe-dral that dominates Hamilton and climb its tower to get panoramic views of the city and adjoining parishes. Also in Hamilton
is St Theresa’s Cathedral: this Catholic church, built in the 1930s, has one of the largest weekly attendances on the island; and tiny Heydon Chapel, located in Sandys and set in a 44-acre park, is perfect for quiet reflection.
There are so many charming churches set in the unique Bermuda landscape. Among them, overlooking the ocean, is the beautiful St James Church in Sandys Parish.
The island’s legacy of slavery is represented by The Cobbs Hill Method-ist Church in Warwick — built in 1827 by slaves and free blacks as a place for them to worship and is on Bermuda’s African Diaspora Heritage Trail.
It is people who really make a church, and the religious community here wel-comes visitors. It is a good way to feel part of the community and to experience Bermuda on a level you never thought possible.
Contact churches for opening times and for a complete list of places of worship visit bermuda.com. n
PHOTO BY NICOLA MUIRHEAD
Road to salvation? Bethel AME Church in Hamilton Parish.
18 bermuda.com guide
business brief
BERMUDA, CONTRARY TO the famous song, is not another world: it is
two other worlds. Along with the joys of the ‘sun, sea and sand’, the island
is one of the world’s leading financial services economies, deriving much
of its income from insurance, banking, fund and trust services. How on
earth did that happen?
The seeds were sown in the 1930s, with the world in a Great
Depression. A local banker (Jack Tucker) and a lawyer (Reginald Conyers)
invented a type of company that enabled foreigners to do business from
Bermuda while simultaneously protecting local interests.
It took a while for the idea to catch on. That’s no surprise. Who would
equate an island with few natural resources, 800 miles from anywhere,
with economic opportunity?
How tiny Bermuda became a hub of international business
PHOTOS BY NICOLA MUIRHEAD
A mix of talented locals and international high fliers run our international business sector.
bermuda.com guide 19
business brief1973: Bermuda Stock Exchange opened.
In the early 1960s, an American called Fred Reiss did exactly that.
He spotted that Bermuda suited his plan to offer international companies the chance to insure themselves and cut out the middle men, taking advantage of the island’s lack of income or corporation taxes. Today, ‘captive’ insurance compa-nies, as Reiss called them, number more than 5,000 around the world. Bermuda remains their number one home.
Banking for the super-wealthy had been a Bermuda specialty since the 1920s. As more people around the world became rich in the 1960s and 70s, Bermuda’s banks expanded — a little. We have only four banks. At its core, what Bermuda sells to business is its crystal-clean reputation.
Having really been a secret for the few, Bermuda made international headlines late in 1992, following Hurricane Andrew, the world’s costliest catastrophe. Andrew bankrupted a number of the big global insurance companies and caused others to close their doors. A crisis arose. Without insurance, banks won’t lend. That kills world trade, as we’ve seen in the past couple of years.
Enter the ‘big cats’. Soon after Andrew, eight catastrophe reinsurance companies — reinsurance is coverage that insurance companies buy to spread their risk — were formed in Bermuda, with $4 billion in capital. The business world went back to normal, but Bermuda would never be the same again. Follow-ing disasters in 2001 (the events of 9/11) and 2005 (Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma), waves of new giant insurance
and reinsurance companies formed in Bermuda. More than 30 companies with $1 to $10 billion in capital now call the island home.
In the process, Hamilton gradu-ally became an important world centre of finance. One tall building (by our standards) followed another. Executive homes were built. All the trappings of the big city were added to the island experience.
Gradually, business replaced tourism as Bermuda’s bread and butter. GDP soared. Incomes soared. Prices soared. Accurately described as a “fishing vil-lage” as late as the mid-1950s, Bermuda became a hotbed of creative financial thinking and a repository of wealth.
Today, more than $1 trillion calls the island home. Bermuda is to insurance what Silicon Valley is to computers, except that we still have the sun, sea and sand that make the island such a lovely place to do business. n
‘Bermuda is to insurance what Silicon Valley is to computers.’
20 bermuda.com guide
Let locals guide youBy ALISON OUTERBRIDGE |
The cooler months in Bermuda
bring opportunities to explore
cultural, historic and natural attrac-
tions islandwide with charismatic
locals who love to share the unique
charm of their island. The Department of Community and
Cultural Affairs hosts Rendezvous Activi-ties, a programme of daily events. This includes a guided walking tour in the City of Hamilton and a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Town of St George’s, with a greeting from the town’s mayor. In the west end there is a south shore eco-walk at Warwick Long Bay and a tour of the Royal Naval Dockyard. There is also a tour of the Paget Railway Trail with a focus on plants and herbal remedies used by the first settlers. See
ALL-INCLUSIVEINTERACTIVE
ISLAND ECO-TOURS
O F B E R M U D A L T D
Visit Bermuda’sOne and Only Jungle
Snorkel with Tropical Fish
Experience Cave Swimming
Stroll Along Secluded Beaches
TELEPHONE: [email protected]
MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE AT:www.bermudahiddengems.com
SUMMER EXCURSIONS
WINTER EXCURSIONS
Summer all-inclusive trips include Tom Moore’s Jungle & cave exploring,
St. David’s Head, St. David’s Lighthouse, & snorkelling at Cooper’s Island.
Winter all-inclusive trips include Tom Moore’s Jungle, Fort Hamilton, and The Vines in Southlands. Should be
physically fit for walking rough terrain.
PHOTO BY NICOLA MUIRHEAD
Byways Tours visit historic Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse.
tours Lemongrass is boiled and taken by
pages 42 & 43 for the Rendezvous Activi-ties schedule.
Heidi Cowen, a sixth generation Bermudian, runs Byways Tours and shares her passion for nature and history in 5 to 6 hour tours that include a visit to Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, where her grandfather was the keeper. Heidi uses an eight-seater van and tours include a picnic lunch. She also caters to families, offering a shorter tour with stops to feed fish, climb forts, look for caves and visit turtles. Tel. 535-9169 or visit www.bywaysbermuda.bm.
The adventurous visitor will enjoy a day out with Ashley Harris in her brightly painted Hidden Gems of Bermuda Ltd tour van. Ashley translates her love of nature into a 5-hour tour with stops at nature reserves and a fort; it includes a packed lunch, snacks and water. Flashlights are provided for the visit to Tom Moore’s Jungle, a lush reserve with underground caves and natural fish ponds. Fort Hamilton above the capital offers panoramic views and a moat filled with exotic plants. Last stop is at Southlands, a unique
property filled with pristine woodland and a banyan grove. Tel. 704-0999 or visit www.bermudahiddengems.com n
bermuda.com guide 21
toursBermudians to reduce fevers
PHOTO BY NICOLA MUIRHEAD
Hidden Gems includes the lush Southlands property on its tour itinerary.
Our golf courses:Belmont Hills, Warwick, tel. 236-6400Turtle Hill Golf Club, tel. 239-6952Mid-Ocean, Hamilton Parish, tel. 293-0330Ocean View (9 holes), Devonshire, tel. 295-9092Port Royal, Southampton, tel. 234-0974Riddell’s Bay, Warwick, tel. 238-1060Rosewood Tucker’s Point, Hamilton Parish, tel. 298-6970
For kids, Bermuda Fun Golf is a terrific new facility for all ages at Dockyard while on Middle Road, Southampton, you’ll find the equally enjoyable Bermuda Golf Academy (open seven days a week, 9am-
10pm. Sun & Mon close at 9pm).
It’s a 300-yard driving range with 30 bays, 25 covered. PGA pros are available for lessons, and an Adventure Mini Golf course meanders around ponds and waterfalls. There’s a bar, café and restaurant, too. Tel. 238-8800.
Other sporting activities include deep sea fishing, cycling and bowling. See www.bermuda.com for details.
22 bermuda.com guide
sports
THIS TIME OF YEAR is ideal for tennis and golf — the humidity is low and though you might see the odd shower, the climate is conducive to outdoor fun.
It’s a sporty island
bermuda.com guide 23
n AirlinesAir Canada Reservations: Tel: 1-888-247-2262. Flight Info: Tel: 293-1777. American AirlinesTel: 1-800-433-7300. Flight Info: Tel: 293-1420 AirTran 1-800-AIR-TRAN (247-8726) or 678-254-7999. British Airways Reservations: Tel: 1-800-247-9297. Airport customer service: Tel: 293-1944. Continental Airlines Reservations: Tel: 1-800-231-0856. Flight Info: Tel: 293-3092. Delta Airlines Reservations: Tel: 1-800-221-1212. Flight Info: Tel: 1-800-325-1999.
JETBLUE Tel: 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583). Flight Info: Tel: 293-3608. U.S. Airways Reservations: Tel: 1-800-622-1015. Flight Info: Tel: 293-3073. WestJet Tel: 1-888-WESTJET (937-8538).
n AirportL.F. Wade International Airport (tel: 293-2470) is located in St. George’s at the east end of the island. Allow 30 minutes from the city of Hamilton by taxi. Check-in two hours before departure.
n BanksNormally open from 9am to 4pm, Mon-Fri. There are many ATMs across the island. ATMs dispense Bermuda dollars which are on a par with US dollars.
n BusesAll routes serving Hamilton arrive and leave the Bus Terminal on Washington Street, next to City Hall. Fares are reasonable and passes are available for up to three
The Bermuda essentialsINFORMATION PROVIDED HERE is subject to change. For the latest, visit our website: www.bermuda.com. The Bermuda Sun newspaper is also a good resource: www.bermudasun.bm
PHOTO BY TONY MCWILLIAM
Our taxi cabs are comfortable, safe — and often colourful.
practicalities
24 bermuda.com guide
practicalities Use pink bus stops for travel into Hamilton
months. Tokens, tickets and passes can be used on buses or ferries and can be bought at Hamilton Ferry Terminal, Hamilton Bus Terminal, hotels, post offices and the Dockyard Visitor Information Centre. Cash fares require exact change as dollar bills are not accepted. Tel: 292-3851 • www.bermudabuses.bm
n Business HoursStores normally open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Many grocery stores open 1-5pm on Sunday, most other stores are closed on Sundays.
n CarsNo car rentals are available in Bermuda but you can rent scooters and pedal bikes.
n CommunicationsBermuda’s well-developed telecommunica-tions infrastructure provides modern tele-phone, fax, Internet, cellular and cellular-roaming services.
n ConsulateThe U.S. Consulate is located on Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, tel: 295-1342. Open Mon to Fri 8am - 4:30pm.
Consular services are provided on an appointment basis only. For details, visit the Consulate’s website: http://hamilton.usconsulate.gov or contact [email protected]. For after-hours life or death emergencies for American citizens only, contact the duty officer at (441) 335-3828.• Honorary Consuls for other countries are also represented in Bermuda — see the telephone directory for listings.
n Country CodeU.S. & Canada — dial 1 plus area code plus no. U.K. — dial 011 plus 44 plus area code plus no. Caribbean — dial 1 plus area code plus seven digits. International — dial 011 plus country code plus area code plus no.
n Currency & Credit CardsThe Bermuda dollar is equal in value to the U.S. dollar; both are legal tender. Traveller’s cheques and credit cards are accepted at most shops, restaurants and hotels.
n Dress CodeThe dress code in Bermuda is conserva-tive. Bathing suits and bare chests are not acceptable, except (for men) at beaches and pools. Casual wear is acceptable in restaurants at lunchtime. Some upscale restaurants require men to wear a jacket in the evening. Check the dress requirements when making reservations.
n EmergencyCall 911 and specify whether you need police, the fire service or an ambulance.
n EtiquetteIt is customary to greet islanders with a ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’ or ‘good evening’ — Bermuda prides herself on civility.
n FerriesAll ferries depart from the Hamilton Ferry Terminal on Front Street. Regular ferries cross Hamilton Harbour and faster catamarans visit Dockyard. A route between Dockyard and St. George’s operates in the summer months. Transportation tickets, tokens and passes valid for buses and ferries are available at the Hamilton Ferry Terminal, Hamilton Bus Terminal, hotels, post offices and the Dockyard Visitor Information Centre. Cash fares require exact change as dollar bills are not accepted. Scooters are allowed on some routes. Tel: 295-4506 • www.marineandports.bm
n HealthNo inoculations are required for Bermuda. There are no poisonous insects or mammals.
n HospitalKing Edward VII Memorial Hospital (tel. 236-2345) is a first-rate facility located on Point Finger Road in Paget Parish. An associate of the American Hospital Association. Air-lifts can be arranged to the U.S. or Canada.
bermuda.com guide 25
practicalitiesand blue for heading away from the city
n InternetMost hotels and many guest houses provide Internet access. In the city of Hamilton, access is free at the Bermuda Library on Queen Street and the Main Post Office on Parliament Street. Public Inter-net access is also available in Hamilton, Dockyard and St. George’s by purchasing a TBI Wi-fi Zone coupon. Some cafes provide wi-fi access to customers.
n MailThe General Post Office is located at 56 Church Street Hamilton (tel: 297-7893), with eight sub-offices islandwide.
n ReligionChurches are ubiquitous here. Anglican, Catholic, African Methodist Episcopal and Seventh Day Adventist are among the major faiths. See pages 16 & 17 — and the church listings in Friday’s Bermuda Sun newspaper.
n ScootersYou can rent scooters by the day or week, if you are 18 or older. Helmets, provided by the rental companies, are mandatory.
n SmokingSmoking is banned from all enclosed public spaces including restaurants, bars, shops, theatres or any enclosed workspaces.
n TaxisCabs are safe and comfortable. Rates are relatively high but controlled by law. Taxis may be hired for sightseeing tours.
n Time DifferencesNew York — one hour behind Bermuda Los Angeles — four hours behind London — four hours ahead Toronto — one hour behind Daylight Savings Time comes into effect from the second Sunday in March through to the first Sunday in November.
n TippingIn most cases, a service charge or gratuity has been added to the bill. Where the gratu-ity has not been added, 15% is about right.
n TV/Radio/MediaThree main local channels screen a nightly news bulletin — VSB (channel 11), ZBM (9) and ZFB (7). A government station, CITV, is on channel 2 and there’s a handful of local radio stations. The quality of local program-ming varies considerably. The Bermuda Sun, which publishes this guide, provides news seven days a week on its website www.bermudasun.bm and publishes a newspaper on Wednesdays and Fridays.
n WaterTap water is safe to drink, unless you are in-structed otherwise. Bermuda has no rivers, streams or reservoirs; all our water comes from rain or wells. Roofs are painted with a limestone wash that purifies rainwater.
n WeatherBermuda’s sub-tropical climate is generally mild and humid, but summer and winter temperatures vary considerably. The aver-age annual temperature is 76ºF. Monthly averages: January 65ºF, water 66ºF; April 67ºF, water 68ºF; July 80ºF, water 81ºF; October 75ºF, water 76ºF. In an average year we see rain on 171 days and sunshine on 200 days.
n WildlifeSee page 14 n
PHOTO BY NICOLA MUIRHEAD
Our white roofs capture rainwater that we store in tanks and use to drink.
26 bermuda.com guide
Take home quality items that will last
You’ve already proved you have good taste by choosing to visit Bermuda so
it’s fitting that our stores exude quality. There are bargains to be had — you’ll find
hefty price differentials with the U.S. on jewellery, watches, perfume, silverware,
porcelain and crystal. And you’ll enjoy additional relief at the cash register —
there’s no sales tax.
Many stores are in the City of Hamilton, but the Clocktower Mall at Dockyard,
on the western tip of the island, boasts quality gift stores and boutiques. And
the historic town of St. George’s — at the east end of Bermuda — also has a lively
shopping scene.
Goods made here or produced exclusively for local stores include pottery,
jewellery, paintings and prints, pottery, rum, honey, condiments, cedar ware,
Bermuda shorts, scarves, fragrances and pillows.
Browse the following listings for details. n
go shopping
FILE PHOTO
Need gifts to take home? The Dockyard Craft Market has plenty of genuine, local souvenirs.
bermuda.com guide 27
The Bermuda PerfumeryThe Bermuda Perfumery is located at historical Stewart Hall in the heart of St. George’s, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since 1928, The Bermuda Perfumery has crafted fine fragrances for men and women under the brand Lili Bermuda. All the perfumes represent Bermuda’s natural beauty and are made on premises at Stewart Hall. The Perfumery welcomes visitors for a free tour of its operations and to sample its unique fragrances.
Lili Bermuda loves creating new and original fragrances, but always stays true to the essence of Bermuda. Its latest creation, “Calypso” is a great unisex fragrance, which captures the lively rhythms of the Island’s music and lifestyle. Calypso is a fresh blend of sparkling neroli and bergamot. Its heart reveals fruity notes of Bermuda loquats, aromatic notes of the south shore seagrass and white musk. Calypso is part of the “Water Collection”, which is a collection of
fun and easy unisex fragrances. The Perfumery’s internationally
acclaimed line also includes exclusive creations inspired by our beautiful Island’s botanicals. Modern women will love Coral, Pink, and Lily, and men will not want to leave Bermuda without a bottle of our famous fragrances 32° North and 64° West.
The Perfumery is passionate about the art of perfume making and continues to innovate by using both traditional and modern techniques to produce exceptional perfumes. You are welcome to come to Stewart Hall and experience Lili Bermuda for yourself. The Bermuda Perfumery, Stewart Hall, 5 Queen Street, St. George’s GE 05Tel: 293-0627. Fax: 293-88101-800-527-8213 (toll free in US/Canada)[email protected]. Winter hours 10am to 4pm. Closed Sundays and Public Holidays.
PHOTO BY NICOLA MUIRHEAD
Warm and welcoming: The staff at The Perfumery will help you find that perfect gift.
go shoppingU.S. dollars can be used in Bermuda
28 bermuda.com guide
The Island ShopThe Island Shop features exclusive and original hand-painted ceramics by Barbara Finsness that capture the colourful archi-tectural and natural features of Bermuda. There are fine linens that feature her origi-nal embroidered designs and a huge array of different gift items.
The Island Shop is a ‘must visit’ during your stay for gift selections found nowhere else in the world! They will gift-wrap or mail your purchases if desired. Check out their online store at www.islandexports.com. Winner of ‘The Best in Bermuda’ in retail giftware by The Bermudian magazine.
Barbara features her original and printed artwork in the upper gallery of her Front Street store, and some can also be seen in her Southampton and St. George’s locations.Queen Street, Hamilton, tel: 292-5292.Somers Wharf, St. George’s, tel: 297-1514Fairmont Hotel, Southampton, tel: 238-5999
go shopping Locally made products are ‘Bermudiana’
PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH
Unusual gifts will catch your eye at The Island Shop.
30 bermuda.com guide
go shopping Bermuda’s capital city, Hamilton, is
Bermuda Fragrance CollectionBermuda Blue, Bermuda Breeze & Ber-muda Heat fragrances are designed to capture the essence of this beautiful island paradise.
Each embrace much that is uniquely Bermuda….reflecting our beautiful ocean, clean air and the aroma of natural fruits & flowers. The latest of our dynamic col-lection is Bermuda Heat — celebrating the richness of Bermuda days into nights with sweet scents of bergamot, pear, sea lily & sandalwood.
Bermuda Blue — a fresh citrus, with jasmine, lotus, and a nuance of crisp sea spray.
Bermuda Breeze — a fruity floral, hinting of wild berries & mandarin, with a touch of jasmine.
Take home a piece of Bermuda. Take home Bermuda Blue, Breeze & HEAT.
Available through select stores across the Island and on-line including:Gibbons Company, Reid St., Hamiltonwww.gibbons.bm Peniston Brown, St. GeorgePerfume Shop, DockyardCarole Holding Shops – The Fairmont hotels & DockyardBrown & Co., Front St., Hamilton www.brownandco.bm A.S. Cooper, Front St., Hamilton, branch and hotel stores www.ascooper.bm Distributed by P.D.L. LimitedTel: (441) 292-1710 [email protected]
Bermuda Post OfficeEvery year the Bermuda Philatelic Bureau compiles a collection of commemora-tives and arranges them into an attrac-tive presentation package. This collection continues the Bermuda Post Office’s efforts to portray all facets of Bermuda’s heritage, culture and history.
PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH
Ah… the sweet scent of Bermuda! The Bermuda Blue & Bermuda Breeze fragrances capture the essence of our island.
Continued on page 30
bermuda.com guide 31
jewelleryantipode to Perth, Western Australia
PHOTO BY NICOLA MUIRHEAD
As well as its flagship stores in the city, Crissons has a beautiful outlet in the Clocktower Mall, Dockyard.
Crisson JewellersThe biggest Jeweller in Bermuda, the
Crisson name stands for quality and value.The fabulous array of jewellery and
watches reflect the style, sophistication and taste of our discerning customers. When you explore our exciting collections, we are sure you will agree that a visit to Crisson is the crowning moment of your Bermuda shopping experience.
Along with the wonderfully eclectic collection of hand-selected pieces from all parts of the world, Crisson are Bermuda’s exclusive source for famous designers including David Yurman, Roberto Coin, Marco Bicego, John Hardy, Kabana, Nanis, Pandora, Marah Lago Larimar, and Rebecca . As for diamonds of distinction, Crisson has Bermuda’s largest collection of spectacular cuts from Cento, Memoire, A. Jaffe and Endless Diamonds.
When it comes to timepieces, Cris-son is definitely the place! Crisson are the officially authorised Rolex retailers
in Bermuda. You will also find Tag Heuer, Ebel, Raymond Weil, Movado, Tudor, Philip Stein, Christian Dior, Frederique Constant and Fendi. There are also collections from Seiko, Rue du Rhone, Swiss Army, Citizen, Casio, Luminox, Fruitz, Rotary, Guess, Ber-ing, WeWood and Michael Kors.
Our main store is on Front Street in Hamilton, with another on Queen Street.
There’s also a store in the Clocktower Mall at Dockyard. If you are staying in one of Bermuda’s major Hotels, you’ll find a Crisson store there as well. Each of these boutique-style stores features pieces selected from our main collections in Hamilton. The shopping experience is relaxed and intimate, and the quality, value and prices are the same whichever store you choose to visit.
Crisson Jewellers, 55 Front Street & 16
Queen Street, Hamilton; Clocktower Mall,
Dockyard, and all major hotels.
Tel: 295-2351 • www.facebook.com/
crissons • www.crisson.com
32 bermuda.com guide
shopping There is no sales tax in Bermuda
The Bermuda Philatelic Bureau also ser-vices orders for current issues of Bermuda’s commemorative and definitive stamps and, for the convenience of collectors, provides a standing order account service with a minimum deposit of thirty dollars. In addi-tion, they maintain a mailing list to provide details of new stamp releases to customers. 56 Church Street, Hamilton. Tel: 297-7807
HERA Boutique Bermuda’s latest boutique features classic, but stylish, quality merchandise for the Ladies (sizes 6 to 18)
Our collections speak to women of all ages with their updated yet understated appeal.
Additionally, selections from Europe and North America are chosen for their versatil-ity and timeless practicality.
Visit Hera Boutique today, you’ll be glad you did! Old Cellar, 47 Front Street, Hamilton Open Tues-Sat, 10am – 5pm, Wed 10am - 4pm. Tel: 232-4372.
Tel. 441.232 .4372
Address The Old Cellar Walker Arcade47 Front Street
Hamilton, Bermuda HM 11
Open Tuesday through Saturday 10am -5:00pmSunday 1pm -5pm (Seasonal)
or by appointment outside of store hours
HERAB O U T I Q U E
Bermuda’s newest Boutique for Ladies featuring classic and stylish European and American-made clothing and accessories.
Find stylish, quality clothes for the discerning shopper at HERA Boutique.
PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH
Continued from page 30
bermuda.com guide 33
B E R M U D A
Available at Fine Bermuda Retailers and Galleries | www.alexandramosher.comResident artist at the April Branco Gallery, Washington Mall, Reid Street
Bermuda Reef Collection Hand crafted in Sterling silver & pink Bermuda sand
BERMUDIAN ARTIST Alexandra Mosher draws from the island’s natural beauty to create extraordinary and unique pieces of jewellery.
She incorporates our pink coral sand, sterling sliver and gold into her handcrafted designs.
“I developed a love for craft at a very young age,” she told us, “often creating sculptures out of found objects.”
Alexandra studied
jewellery design at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and launched her line in 2005.
Her work is elegant, highly collectible and available at the Alexandra Mosher Studio Gallery in the Washington Mall, Hamilton. Tel: 236-9009. Email studio@ alexandramosher.com.
Alexandra also ships internationally: see www.alexandramosher.com n
Artist draws from nature to craft unique jewellery
made in bermuda
34 bermuda.com guide
made in bermuda
Bermuda an inspiration for handcrafted designs
By LYNN MORRELL | As an artist I try to capture the beauty of what delights me. My lovely little island is a constant source of inspiration for my jewellery: Longtails swoop-ing over the south shore, the tiny whistling frog outside my kitchen door, my grand-mother’s cottage.
I trained in a fine jewellery workshop with several master goldsmiths, one of
whom is now my husband.I work mainly in sterling silver as I
love to wear it myself and the stones I choose are mostly semi-precious and cabochon cut.
My jewellery is simple, clean-lined and very easy to wear. It
can be found at The Craft Market in Dockyard, Brown and Co. Front Street, Hamilton and Seaglass, Water Street, St. Georges. n
bermuda.com guide 35
made in bermuda
My passion shines through in every handcrafted item
By JENNIFER RODRIGUES | Making jewellery has been a passion of mine for many years. Initially it was way of relaxing and creating beautiful things to add to my own jewellery box.
In recent years I have moved in the direc-tion of wire wrapping and sculpting. Having attended the Wil-liam Holland School of Lapidary Arts, my work now encompasses
silversmithing, hammered cold forging and the cutting, shaping and polishing of beautiful gemstones. I wrap them in
either sterling silver or 14KT gold filled wire.
For many of my pieces I use the beautiful pink sand of Bermuda and handcraft it into works of art.
Locations: Bermuda Craft Market in Dock-yard & My-Sereni-Tea, Reid St, Hamilton. n
EMAIL: [email protected]
bermuda.com guide 37
Eating out here is a treat
food & drink
Chatham House Bermuda’s leading specialty tobacco shop, established in 1895. Offering a marvellous selection of fine tobaccos and gifts for
visitors, satisfaction is guaranteed. Our ex-tensive range includes English Briar pipes, and a selection of Havanas such as Punch, Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, Upmann, Montecristo, Cohiba and Bolivar — all at good savings over U.S. prices.Corner of Front and Burnaby Streets, Hamilton. Tel: 292-8422
Somerset Country SquireEnjoy lunch or dinner at Somerset Country Squire, overlooking Mangrove Bay, in Sand-ys Parish, while you chat with the locals about Bermuda. Local cuisine includes fish chowder, seafood, locally caught lobster when in season. Our Sunday Bermuda tradi-tional “codfish and potato breakfast” has all the trimmings, banana, boiled egg with avocado pear (when in season). Whether
Our island is small but it offers many dining options. Casual dress is acceptable at most restaurants,
though some upscale eateries require a jacket and tie. And it’s best to make reservations. The dollar signs (see key at left) offer a rough
guide to prices. Visit www.bermuda.com for updated information.
Restaurant price ranges per person$ Under $20$$ $20-$40 $$$ $40-$50$$$$ Over $50
Lunch: Monday - Friday
Dinner: Monday - Saturday
Closed: Sundays
87 Front Street, Hamilton(upstairs above Port O Call)
Tel: 295-9150
www.pearl.bm Take Out Available
Lunch: Monday - Friday
Dinner: 7 days a week
87 Front Street, Hamilton
Tel: 295-5373
www.portocall.bm Private Dining Room
Lunch: Monday - Friday
Dinner: Monday - Saturday
Closed: Sundays
Chancery Lane, Hamilton
Tel: 296-8546
www.bistroj.bm
Open: Monday - Saturday,
7:00am - Late
Closed: Sundays
10 Dundonald Street, Hamilton
Tel: 295-0857
www.ten.bm Take Out Available
Contemporary
Café
Sushi
Casual
F O U R R E S T A U R A N T S O N E M O U T H W A T E R I N G S T A N D A R D
you’re a party of one or a group, you’ll enjoy our service and food. Serving Monday through Wednesday from 3pm to 10pm, and Thursday through Sunday from noon to 9pm. 10 Mangrove Bay Rd., Somerset. Tel: 234-0105. Lunch $$ Dinner $$
Port O CallAmid the hustle and bustle of front Street, Port O Call is an oasis of fine cuisine. This intimate restaurant is one of the most popu-lar spots for lunch or dinner in Bermuda. The innovative award winning contemporary menu features fresh local fish, homemade pastas and the best Bermuda produce - all at pleasantly modest prices.
Experience a comfortable casual atmo-sphere with professional service whilst you enjoy our signature dishes. Combine with our extensive Wine Spectator award winning wine list featuring over 40 fabulous wines by the glass, and you are sure to have a meal to remember.
Dine inside or on our al fresco harbour
view terrace - either way you are sure to love the experience of superb service and a masterful menu in an elegant setting. 87 Front Street, Hamilton, Bermuda. Tel: 295 5373. Lunch and Dinner $$-$$$
PortofinoFor over 35 years we’ve been Bermuda’s favorite Italian restaurant. From a quick, deli-cious pizza, to homemade pastas and exotic dishes, all will delight in our bustling Italian atmosphere. Prices are right and we offer al fresco dining. Winner of the ‘City of Hamilton Food Festival 2012’ — People’s Choice Award for Best Restaurant. Trip Adviser Certificate of Excellence for 2012. Lunch is served weekdays 11:30am to 2pm. Dinner is served 7 days a week 6pm to 11pm. Reservations recommended. Our take-out service is avail-able Monday through Friday from 11am to 10pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 4pm to 10pm. Bermudiana Road, just off Front Street, Hamilton. Tel: 292-2375. Take-out: 296-0606. Lunch $, Dinner $$
Lunch: Monday - Friday
Dinner: Monday - Saturday
Closed: Sundays
87 Front Street, Hamilton(upstairs above Port O Call)
Tel: 295-9150
www.pearl.bm Take Out Available
Lunch: Monday - Friday
Dinner: 7 days a week
87 Front Street, Hamilton
Tel: 295-5373
www.portocall.bm Private Dining Room
Lunch: Monday - Friday
Dinner: Monday - Saturday
Closed: Sundays
Chancery Lane, Hamilton
Tel: 296-8546
www.bistroj.bm
Open: Monday - Saturday,
7:00am - Late
Closed: Sundays
10 Dundonald Street, Hamilton
Tel: 295-0857
www.ten.bm Take Out Available
Contemporary
Café
Sushi
Casual
F O U R R E S T A U R A N T S O N E M O U T H W A T E R I N G S T A N D A R D
food & drinkHave you tried conch stew yet?
bermuda.com guide 39
MONDAYVISITOR GOLF TOURNAMENT *Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton
CITY OF HAMILTON GUIDED WALKING TOUR 10:00 a.m.
SESSIONS HOUSE TOUR City of Hamilton 11:00 a.m.
SKIRLING CEREMONY Fort Hamilton, City of Hamilton 12 noon
BERMUDA COOKERY DEMONSTRATION Fort Hamilton, City of Hamilton 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
TUESDAYBOTANICAL GARDENS TOUR Paget10:30 a.m. Berry Hill entrance 12 noon Visit ‘Camden’
SOUTH SHORE ECO WALKING TOUR Warwick Long Bay, South Road, Warwick10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
BERMUDA GOMBEY REVUE City Hall & Arts Centre, City of Hamilton 4:00 p.m. On the lawn in front of City Hall
W EDNESDAYVISITOR GOLF TOURNAMENT *Ocean View Golf Course, Devonshire
FORT ST. CATHERINE*Coot Pond Road, St. George’s9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ~ Reduced admission on Wednesdays
THE BERMUDA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCES TOUR Ferry Road, St. George’s10:00 a.m.
HISTORICAL HOUSE TOURS * ‘Verdmont’ 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ‘The Globe Hotel’ 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.‘Tucker House’ 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT & TOUR IN THE UNESCO TOWN OF ST. GEORGE 10:30 a.m. Guided tour 11:45 a.m. Mayor greets visitors12 noon Ducking of the ‘town gossip’
BOTANICAL GARDENS TOUR Paget10:30 a.m. Berry Hill entrance
THURSDAYVISITOR GOLF TOURNAMENT *Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton
SOMERSET BOAT TOUR & SLIDE SHOWMangrove Bay, Somerset 10:00 a.m.
BERMUDA NATIONAL GALLERY TOURSCity Hall & Arts Centre, City of Hamilton10:30 a.m.
CHIT CHAT*Dolphin Quest, Royal Naval Dockyard12:00 noon
HANDS ON CRAFTBermuda Craft Market, Royal Naval Dockyard 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
DISCOVERING THE ROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Meet in front of Cooperage3:20 – 4:00 p.m. Meet in Victualling Yard
FRIDAYHISTORICAL HOUSE TOUR *‘Verdmont’, Smith’s 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
BOTANICAL GARDENS TOUR Paget10:30 a.m. Berry Hill entrance 12 noon Visit ‘Camden’
TOM MOORE’S JUNGLE ECO TOUR Blue Hole Hill Park, Hamilton Parish2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
SATUR DAYTHE CITY MARKET Bulls Head Car Park, City of Hamilton 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
HISTORICAL HOUSE TOURS * ‘The Globe Hotel’ 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.‘Tucker House’ 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT & TOUR IN THE UNESCO TOWN OF ST. GEORGE 10:30 a.m. Guided tour 11:45 a.m. Mayor greets visitors12 noon Ducking of the ‘town gossip’
DOLPHIN SHOW*Dolphin Quest, Royal Naval Dockyard1:00 p.m.
SU NDAYROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD TOUR 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Meet at the Anchor Fountain
DOLPHIN DEMONSTRATION*Dolphin Quest, Royal Naval Dockyard1:00 p.m.
HANDS ON CRAFTBermuda Craft Market, Royal Naval Dockyard 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
TASTE OF BERMUDA CALYPSO SUNDAYSBermuda Craft Market, Royal Naval Dockyard 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
A WALK ON THE RAILWAY TRAIL TO THE HERBAL GARDENSPaget 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
DAILYBERMUDA AQUARIUM, MUSEUM & ZOO*North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish
BERMUDA NATIONAL GALLERYCity Hall & Arts Centre, City of Hamilton
DOCKYARD GLASSWORKS & THE BERMUDA RUM CAKE COMPANYRoyal Naval Dockyard
FORT ST. CATHERINE & MUSEUM*Coot Pond Road, St. George’sSee Wednesday for reduced admission day
MASTERWORKS MUSEUM OF BERMUDA ARTBotanical Gardens, Paget
TALKING ABOUT BERMUDAA free lecture series featuring a variety of topics, each one held in a cultural venue and on weekdays during November 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. All lectures are held from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Full schedule included in the Bermuda Rendezvous Activities brochure.
RESOURCES FOR ENQUIRIES:• Dept of Community & Cultural Affairs, 292-1681• Department of Tourism, 292-0023• www.GoToBermuda.com
NOTE: Some activities are weather dependent and may not be available on public holidays. Refer to the brochure for full details.
* Indicates a fee or admission is required.
Information correct at press time, October 2013 and is subject to change without notice.
November 1, 2013 until March 31, 2014 While visiting Bermuda, experience our wonderful culture through our daily Rendezvous Activities. Most activities listed are FREE, unless otherwise indicated. See the Rendezvous
Activities brochure for full details of all activities, and prices where applicable.
lots to see and doRENDEZVOUS ACTIVITIES
BERMUDA
MONDAYVISITOR GOLF TOURNAMENT *Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton
CITY OF HAMILTON GUIDED WALKING TOUR 10:00 a.m.
SESSIONS HOUSE TOUR City of Hamilton 11:00 a.m.
SKIRLING CEREMONY Fort Hamilton, City of Hamilton 12 noon
BERMUDA COOKERY DEMONSTRATION Fort Hamilton, City of Hamilton 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
TUESDAYBOTANICAL GARDENS TOUR Paget10:30 a.m. Berry Hill entrance 12 noon Visit ‘Camden’
SOUTH SHORE ECO WALKING TOUR Warwick Long Bay, South Road, Warwick10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
BERMUDA GOMBEY REVUE City Hall & Arts Centre, City of Hamilton 4:00 p.m. On the lawn in front of City Hall
W EDNESDAYVISITOR GOLF TOURNAMENT *Ocean View Golf Course, Devonshire
FORT ST. CATHERINE*Coot Pond Road, St. George’s9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ~ Reduced admission on Wednesdays
THE BERMUDA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCES TOUR Ferry Road, St. George’s10:00 a.m.
HISTORICAL HOUSE TOURS * ‘Verdmont’ 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ‘The Globe Hotel’ 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.‘Tucker House’ 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT & TOUR IN THE UNESCO TOWN OF ST. GEORGE 10:30 a.m. Guided tour 11:45 a.m. Mayor greets visitors12 noon Ducking of the ‘town gossip’
BOTANICAL GARDENS TOUR Paget10:30 a.m. Berry Hill entrance
THURSDAYVISITOR GOLF TOURNAMENT *Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton
SOMERSET BOAT TOUR & SLIDE SHOWMangrove Bay, Somerset 10:00 a.m.
BERMUDA NATIONAL GALLERY TOURSCity Hall & Arts Centre, City of Hamilton10:30 a.m.
CHIT CHAT*Dolphin Quest, Royal Naval Dockyard12:00 noon
HANDS ON CRAFTBermuda Craft Market, Royal Naval Dockyard 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
DISCOVERING THE ROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Meet in front of Cooperage3:20 – 4:00 p.m. Meet in Victualling Yard
FRIDAYHISTORICAL HOUSE TOUR *‘Verdmont’, Smith’s 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
BOTANICAL GARDENS TOUR Paget10:30 a.m. Berry Hill entrance 12 noon Visit ‘Camden’
TOM MOORE’S JUNGLE ECO TOUR Blue Hole Hill Park, Hamilton Parish2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
SATUR DAYTHE CITY MARKET Bulls Head Car Park, City of Hamilton 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
HISTORICAL HOUSE TOURS * ‘The Globe Hotel’ 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.‘Tucker House’ 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT & TOUR IN THE UNESCO TOWN OF ST. GEORGE 10:30 a.m. Guided tour 11:45 a.m. Mayor greets visitors12 noon Ducking of the ‘town gossip’
DOLPHIN SHOW*Dolphin Quest, Royal Naval Dockyard1:00 p.m.
SU NDAYROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD TOUR 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Meet at the Anchor Fountain
DOLPHIN DEMONSTRATION*Dolphin Quest, Royal Naval Dockyard1:00 p.m.
HANDS ON CRAFTBermuda Craft Market, Royal Naval Dockyard 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
TASTE OF BERMUDA CALYPSO SUNDAYSBermuda Craft Market, Royal Naval Dockyard 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
A WALK ON THE RAILWAY TRAIL TO THE HERBAL GARDENSPaget 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
DAILYBERMUDA AQUARIUM, MUSEUM & ZOO*North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish
BERMUDA NATIONAL GALLERYCity Hall & Arts Centre, City of Hamilton
DOCKYARD GLASSWORKS & THE BERMUDA RUM CAKE COMPANYRoyal Naval Dockyard
FORT ST. CATHERINE & MUSEUM*Coot Pond Road, St. George’sSee Wednesday for reduced admission day
MASTERWORKS MUSEUM OF BERMUDA ARTBotanical Gardens, Paget
TALKING ABOUT BERMUDAA free lecture series featuring a variety of topics, each one held in a cultural venue and on weekdays during November 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. All lectures are held from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Full schedule included in the Bermuda Rendezvous Activities brochure.
RESOURCES FOR ENQUIRIES:• Dept of Community & Cultural Affairs, 292-1681• Department of Tourism, 292-0023• www.GoToBermuda.com
NOTE: Some activities are weather dependent and may not be available on public holidays. Refer to the brochure for full details.
* Indicates a fee or admission is required.
Information correct at press time, October 2013 and is subject to change without notice.
November 1, 2013 until March 31, 2014 While visiting Bermuda, experience our wonderful culture through our daily Rendezvous Activities. Most activities listed are FREE, unless otherwise indicated. See the Rendezvous
Activities brochure for full details of all activities, and prices where applicable.
lots to see and doRENDEZVOUS ACTIVITIES
BERMUDA
42 bermuda.com guide
events n Santa ParadeDecember 1Christmas floats, majorettes, music and entertainment, plus Santa Claus himself, take to the streets of Hamilton. 5pm. Free. Tel. 292-3163.
n Olde Towne MarketDec 1, 8, 15 and 22Street market featuring Bermudian arts and crafts, toys, clothing, jewellery, gifts, Bermuda cedar and baked goods. Water Street, St George’s. 2-6pm. Free. Tel. 296-6185.
n Harness racingDec 1, 7, 16, 26, 29Watch a Bermudian tradition at the Driving Horse & Pony Club race at the National Equestrian Centre, Vesey Street, Devonshire. 6pm. Admission $8 adults, $6 seniors, and children under-12 free. Tel. 536-3301 or 234-0485. www.bef.bm
n Chewstick Neo-Griot LoungeDec 1, 8, 15, 22Open-mic jam session with Bermuda’s best musical and spoken word talent. 8pm-1am. Free before 9pm, $10 after. Chewstick Neo-Griot Lounge & Café, corner of Court
Christmas in paradise
Compiled by Amanda Dale. Listings are subject to change. For the latest, contact the numbers provided/websites or visit www.bermuda.com. To submit a listing, e-mail [email protected] or call 278-1854.
PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH
Hundreds of people will turn out for the Santa Parade on Sunday, December 1.
what’s on
bermuda.com guide 43
GOVERNMENT OF BERMUDAMinis tr y of F inanceBermuda Post Office
The Bermuda Post Office is pleased to offer “Bermuda’s Folklife Part IArts of Celebration: Gombeys”, a series of four stamps. This commemorative features Bermuda’s iconic gombey troupes.These stamps will be released on 18 July 2013. First Day Cover $7.00, cost per set $4.75. Available at the Bermuda Philatelic Bureau.
For more information please e-mail [email protected]
Go
mb
eys
BERMUDA 35
GO
MB
EYS
BERMUDA 125
GO
MB
EYS
BERMUDA 150
GO
MB
EYS
BERMUDA 165
what’s onBest view of Boat Parade is Front Street
and Elliott Streets, Hamilton. Tel. 292-2439. http://chewstick.org
n Wine tastingDec 5‘Holiday Decadence’ celebrates 60 years of the Bermuda Society of Arts. Champagne, wines and handmade chocolates. 5:30pm. Members $70, non-members $75. BSoA gallery, City Hall, Hamilton. Tel. 292-3824.
n Christmas marketDec 5, 12, 19Local arts and crafts, music, entertain-ment and food in the Jack King Building, Botanical Gardens, Paget. 6-9pm. Free. Tel. 236-5902.
n PantomimeDec 5-14The Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society presents Sleeping Beauty at the Daylesford Theatre. 6:30pm and 8:30pm. December 7, 8, and 14 have matinees at
2pm and 4pm, but no 8:30pm perfor-mance. Tickets $40 from www.bmds.bm or www.express.bm
n Christmas WalkaboutDec 6Annual Bermuda National Trust Christmas Walkabout through the historic streets and homes of St George’s. Music and entertain-ment, festive food and drinks. Regimental Musical Display in King’s Square at 8:30pm. 6:30-8:30pm. Free. See www.bnt.bm
n City MarketDec 7, 14, 21, 28Fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, crafts and handmade gifts. 8am-1pm. Free. Pier Six terminal, Front Street, Hamilton. Tel. 292-1234.
n Christmas Boat ParadeDec 7Boats decorated with colourful Christmas
44 bermuda.com guide
what’s on Our Parliament mirrors the UK system
lights parade around Hamilton Harbour. 6:30pm. Free. Tel. 295-0530. www.bermudaboatparade.bm
n Goodwill Golf TournamentDec 9-13The oldest Pro-Am tournament in the world. Teams from the US, Canada and the UK compete in a 72-hole Stroke Play contest. • Port Royal Golf Course • Riddell’s Bay Golf & Country Club • Mid Ocean Club/Tucker’s Point Club. Spectators free. For information tel. 295-9972 or e-mail [email protected]. www.bermudagoodwill.bm
n North Village Band ConcertDec 13Christmas concert at Queen Elizabeth Park (Par-la-Ville), Hamilton. 5:30-6:30pm. Free. Tel. 292-1681.
n Masquerade ballDec 13Young members of the Bermuda National
Gallery are invited to a Winter Masquerade Ball. 5:30-7pm. Student members free, non-members $10. Bermuda National Gallery, City Hall, Hamilton. Tel. 295-9428.
n BalletDec 13-14In Motion School of Dance presents The Nutcracker Holiday Spectacular. 7pm plus matinee at 2pm, December 14. Ruth Seaton James Centre, CedarBridge Acad-emy, Devonshire. Tickets $40 from www.ptix.bm
n Christmas DayDec 25Join islanders in Santa hats drinking champagne on Elbow Beach. See the Bermuda Sun for information on Christ-mas services and sporting activities on Boxing Day.
n New Year’s EveDec 31 Check the Bermuda Sun’s Calendar list-
PHOTO BY TONY MCWILLIAM
Champagne on the beach has become a Christmas Day tradition for many expatriates.
bermuda.com guide 45
what’s on
ings for NYE parties and events across the island.
n GolfMondays and ThursdaysBi-weekly visitors’ golf tournament at Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton. $110 per person including cart (18 holes). Prizes. 8:30am-12noon. Book at 234-0974.Wednesdays (Closed Christmas Day)Ocean View Golf Course, Devonshire, hosts a weekly tournament with prizes. $50 for 18 holes, including cart. Book at 295-9093.
n Afternoon High TeaWednesdays and SaturdaysSweet P hosts afternoon tea featuring local produce at The Bermuda Perfumery, Stewart Hall, 5 Queen Street, St George’s. 1-5pm, $28. For reservations call 705-2390 or e-mail [email protected]
tours n Walking Club of BermudaSundaysDec 1: Gibb’s Hill lighthouse, Southampton (reverse route)Dec 8: A-1 grocery store, Valley Road, Paget (across from St Paul’s Church)Dec 15: Admiralty House, PembrokeDec 22: Bridge Club, Paget Close, Poman-der Road, PagetDec 29: John Smith’s Bay, Smith’s ParishAll walks free, average distance six miles. Meet at 7am. Tel. 737-0437 or see www.walk.free.bm
n St George’sWednesdays and SaturdaysLearn key moments in the island’s history on this walking tour. Meet at the Town Hall, King’s Square, 10:30am. Free.
n St George’s Historical Re-enactmentsWednesdays and Saturdays12noon in King’s Square. Free.
Our first film festival was in 1997
PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH
All aglow: Albuoy’s Point in Hamilton.
n St Peter’s Church toursMondays to SaturdaysBuilt from Bermuda Cedar in 1612, St Peter’s Church is the oldest Anglican church in continuous use outside Britain. The graveyard also reveals the impact of slavery. 10am-4pm, free. Sunday Worship 11:15am. St Peter’s Church, York Street, St George’s.
n Fort St CatherineMondays to FridaysStone artillery fort and museum, at St Catherine’s Beach, St George’s. The early settlers built the first wooden fort here in 1612 and it was renovated and in use until the late 19th century. 10am-4pm. Admis-sion $7, seniors $5 and children $3. Tel. 297-1920.
n Carter HouseWednesdays and Saturdays17th century house detailing the history
46 bermuda.com guide
of the early settlers and St David’s Island. Southside Road, St David’s. 10am-4pm. Free, donations welcome. Call first. Tel. 293-5960.
n National Museum of BermudaOpen daily 10am-4pm, last admission 3pm. Adults $10, seniors $8, children under-13 free. Royal Naval Dockyard. Tel. 234-1418, e-mail [email protected]. www.bmm.bm
n Bermuda Historical Society MuseumMondays to Fridays400 years of Bermuda history at the Library building on Queen Street, Hamilton, 10am-1pm. Free. Tel. 295-2487
n Verdmont MuseumWednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays Antiques including cedar furniture and portraits. Adults $5, children $2, open 10am-4pm. Verdmont Lane, Smith’s. Tel. 236-7369. www.bnt.bm
n Tucker House MuseumWednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays18th century merchant’s house, St George’s. Adults $5, children $2. Open 11am-3pm. St. George’s. Tel. 297-0545. www.bnt.bm
n Bermuda National Trust Museum at Globe HotelMondays to SaturdaysBermuda’s role in the American Civil War. Adults $5, children $2. Open 10am-4pm. St. George’s. Tel. 297-1423. www.bnt.bm
n Camden HouseFridaysThe official residence of the Premier in the Botanical Gardens, Paget. 12-2pm. Free. Tel. 236-5902.
n Bermuda National Gallery Fine Arts TourThursdaysTake a guided tour of the national art
what’s on Spend an afternoon on the beach
bermuda.com guide 47
collection. 10:30-11:30am. Free. At City Hall, Hamilton. Tel. 295-9428. www.bng.bm
n Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute TuesdaysThis 2pm guided tour takes you through the wonders of the ocean. Adults $12.50, seniors $10, children aged 6-17 $6.50, children under-five go free. For more information go to www.buei.org
n Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences TourWednesdaysHour-long tour of this marine research centre, 10am. Free. Biological Lane, Ferry Reach, St. George’s. Tel. 297-1880. E-mail [email protected]. www.bios.edu
arts n Bermuda National GalleryArtwork by renowned local and interna-tional artists.Free. Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm, and Saturday, 10am-2pm. City Hall, Church Street, Hamilton. Tel. 295-9428. ww.bng.bm
n Bermuda Society of ArtsDec 1-11: Scott Stallard/Alex Allerdyce/Charles Knights/Colour Explosion 3 by Karl SternathDecember 13-31: Members’ Winter Show/Rebecca Little/Josianne Tailhardat/Nahed EidFree. Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm, and Saturday, 10am-2pm. City Hall, Church Street, Hamilton. Tel. 292-3824. www.bsoa.bm
n Masterworks Museum of Bermuda ArtDec 1-31: Art in Bermuda:Bermuda Art — the 6th Annual Charman Prize Exhibition 2013. December 1-24: Morning Walks, St George’s — photos by Gill Outerbridge,
Homer’s Cafe.December 13-24: Elliott Wilson — Artist in Residence.Masterworks is open Monday to Sat-urday, 10am-4pm, and Sunday 11am-4:30pm, $5 admission, free for members and children under-12. Wheelchair ac-cessible, with Homer’s Café for refresh-ments. Botanical Gardens, Paget. Tel. 299-4000. www.bermudamasterworks.com
n Bermuda Arts Centre at DockyardDec 1-31: Merry Christmas! Juried ‘Small Works Show’ with art for purchase.Daily, 10am-5pm. Free. Maritime Lane, Royal Naval Dockyard. Tel. 234-2809. www.artbermuda.bm
what’s onthat adjoins Fort St Catherine
PHOTO BY WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
A Christmas tree graces Hamilton’s City Hall.
32 bermuda.com guide
historic treasures
FROM THE EARLY sixteenth-
century, spanish ships returning
from their colonies in Central and
south america embarked on the
hazardous task of shipping their
precious cargo from the new World
back to the old. they used bermuda
as a landmark, but some ended up
stricken on our outer reefs.
Many ships carried silver and
gold, mined and minted into coin-
age in Mexico, bolivia and Peru and
Every handcrafted piece bears the weight of history
Photos by KaGeaKi sMith
Master Jeweller Tim Palmer crafts coins into unique keepsakes.
One of the exquisite coins that has been fashioned into a keepsake by Walker Christopher Goldsmiths.
bermuda.com guide 33
historic treasuresJuan Bermudez found Bermuda in 1505
destined for the Spanish treasuries of Cadiz and Seville.
Surviving crewmen were sometimes able to salvage their cargo but storms and hurricanes took their toll on many ‘treasure ships’ well before they caught sight of Bermuda.
Salvaging from wrecks was tough. But Richard Norwood, hired as a diver in a futile search for Bermuda pearls, invented the Bermuda Tub in 1612. This primitive diving bell, made from a weighted wine cask, could be lowered over a wreck site and enabled a diver to stay underwater for 45 minutes.
In 1641, it was used to recover silver from The Concepción, which came to grief north of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic), carrying tons of silver and gold.
In 1715, the Spanish Plate Fleet sank in a hurricane off Florida. While the Spanish were salvaging, their base camp was raided by privateer Henry Jennings, who fled with 120,000 pieces of eight. He retired to Bermuda to live the life of a gentleman.
Sea salvaged coins still have strong appeal; the law forbids you from keeping anything found at a wreck but you can find pieces of eight and gold doubloons for sale on Hamilton’s Front Street.
Master Jeweller Tim Palmer of Walker Christopher Goldsmiths sets gold and silver treasure coins into handcrafted jewellery. While silver coins or “cobs” tarnish and become encrusted in coral (they are often found in clusters), gold coins remain the same as the day they went to the bottom of the ocean.
Owning a significant old coin puts you in touch with the past, as coins bear the weight of history. n
34 bermuda.com guide
history
By Lance FurBert | For an island of just 21 square miles, we pack
in a lot of history. Bermuda’s superb historic sites and museums help
tell our unique story but also help unravel the extraordinary saga of the
development of English settlements in the New World.
Here are some of our best historic sites.
Step back in time
n national Museum of BermudaThe largest collection of artifacts and weapons in Bermuda. See slave artifacts, jewellery, silver coins, pottery, boats and large muzzle loading guns. Dockyard. Open daily 9:30am–5pm (last admission 4pm). tel: 234-1418
n national trust MuseumThe Globe Hotel on the northwest corner of King’s Square in St. George’s was built in 1700 by Governor Samuel Day. It houses the Bermuda National Trust Museum, which features the exhibit ‘Rogues & Runners —
Bermuda and the American Civil War’. For opening times, tel: 236-6483
n VerdmontA delightful Georgian style historic home at the top of Collector’s Hill, Smith’s Parish. A superb collection of antique Bermuda cedar and mahogany furniture. For opening times, tel: 236-6483
n Bermuda Historical Society MuseumLocated in Par-la-Ville Park, Hamilton, it was the home of Bermuda’s famous
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Discover how our ancestors lived at the St George’s Historical Society Museum, Printery & Garden, located at the corner of Featherbed alley and Duke of Kent Street, St George’s.
National Treasure
Royal Naval Dockyard, SandysTel. 441-234-1418 • www.bmm.bmOpen every day 9:30am–5pm (last admission 4pm)
Bermuda Maritime Museum is now theNATIONAL MUSEUM OF BERMUDA,home to 500 years of Island cultureand history. Explore exciting exhibitsin our historic military buildings—and watch for many more as we grow!
I n c o r p o r a t i n g B E R M U D A M A R I T I M E M U S E U M
NATIONALMUSEUMOFBERMUDA
Bermuda.com 1/2 ad:Layout 2 3/1/10 10:43 AM Page 1
postmaster William Bennett Perot. Exhibits include model of ships plus early Bermu-dian coins and silver. For opening times, tel: 295-2487
n tucker HouseTucker House, on Water Street, St. George’s, was the home of Henry Tucker, President of the Governor’s Council. Artifacts and por-traits of the famous Tucker family include Thomas Tudor Tucker, the longest serving treasurer of the U.S.. Joseph Hayne Rainey, the first African American elected member of the U.S. House of Representatives, once ran a barber’s shop here. For opening times, tel: 236-6483
n Fort St. catherineOverlooks Gate’s Bay, St. George’s, the landing place of the Sea Venture castaways in 1609. Features dioramas that highlight our early history, a restored magazine, weapons of all types (from pistols to large muzzle loading guns), and an audiovisual
presentation on our forts. Open Mon- Fri, 10am-4pm, tel: 297-1920
n St. Peter’s church, their Majesties chappellThe oldest Anglican Church site in continu-ous use outside of the British Isles. The first church on the site was built by Governor Richard Moore in 1612. Some headstones in the churchyard date back more than 300 years. Duke of York Street, St. George’s. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm, Sunday ser-vice 11.15am, tel: 297-2459
n St. George’s Historical Society Museum, Printery & GardenLocated in Mitchell House, which dates from 1730 and is filled with original cedar furnishings, artwork and a working replica of a Gutenberg printing press. The kitchen garden and above ground water tank dem-onstrate features of 18th Century Bermuda architecture. Open 10am-4pm, Mon-thurs and Saturday. tel. 297 0423.
historyBermuda is the oldest British colony.
bermuda.com guide 35
36 bermuda.com guide
for children
By terrI MeLLO | Sure, Bermuda is great for honeymooners and couples.
Pink-sand beaches and turquoise water provide the perfect backdrop for a
romantic getaway for two.
And then there are the rest of us, the ones with whiny toddlers or easily-
bored grade-schoolers in tow. What can Bermuda offer us? The answer?
Lots. Here are a few mom-tested suggestions.
Our child-friendly island
PHOTO By TERRI MELLO
Don’t worry, he won’t bite: a toddler and a cow get acquainted at the border of Spittal Pond nature reserve in Smith’s Parish.
bermuda.com guide 37
for childrenOur main beaches have lifeguards
n Spittal Pond nature reserve Located on a spectacular stretch of shoreline in Smith’s Parish and kids love wandering along the winding trails, over the rocks and through the woods. you’ll see cows too, grazing at the entrance. Great picnic spot.
n Bermuda aquarium, Museum & Zoo (BaMZ)A must, whatever your age. Gaze at sharks and barracuda in the dramatic North Rock Tank, get close to giant tortoises and dip into the touch pool. Leave time for the playground before you go (it’s just past the alligator and yes, it’s real!) Tel: 293-2727
n DockyardTake the fast ferry from Hamilton. At Snorkel Park, kids can swim, splash in the fountains or use the playground. Dolphin Quest (tel: 234-4464) is a short walk away.
n Botanical GardensAn ideal spot to burn energy, five minutes from Hamilton. Explore the gardens and greenhouses, palm groves and grassy hills. Kick a football, throw a Frisbee, bring a picnic.
PHOTO By WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
Why not revive a fad and give your hula hoop a twirl on the beach?
38 bermuda.com guide
for children Give the children a sweet treat at
n BeachesNext to famous Horseshoe Bay Beach in Southampton is what’s locally known as Baby Beach. Turn right as you walk onto Horseshoe and you’ll find this beautiful cove, shallow and calm and perfect for little ones. Another kid-friendly beach is Tobacco Bay in the east end. Perfect for snorkel-ling and swimming with shallow water and protective rocks. Bathrooms and refresh-ments available.
n Bermuda underwater exploration Institute (BueI)Explore the ocean without getting wet! Stop in the seashell room and then take a simulated submarine dive to the lower level. Bring along a handful of American quarters for the little merry-go-round on the lower level. Tel: 292-7219
n PlaygroundsNo matter where you are, there’s a play-ground nearby. A few favourites include Shelly Bay (there’s also a kid-friendly beach here), Warwick Long Bay, Clearwa-ter Beach (St. David’s) and Parson’s Road (Pembroke).
n Palm Grove GardensThis free attraction near Ariel Sands Resort in Devonshire is rarely busy and offers beautiful scenery as well as an aviary with parrots.
n tiny tots at MasterworksThe Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art (in the Botanical Gardens) offers art classes for tots on Wednesday from 9.45-10.30am & 10.45-11.30am. Bring along your baby, tod-dler or preschooler for some art fun, story
PHOTO By WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
Gorgeous John Smith’s Bay in Smith’s Parish is big enough to give your kids plenty of space but small enough to easily keep an eye on them.
for childrenBailey’s Bay Ice Cream Parlour
bermuda.com guide 39
time and games. Members $7 / non-mem-bers $10. No sign up necessary, just drop in. Tel. 299-4000 for more details.
n at night…We have three movie theatres and they often play animated features and other child-friendly movies. The Speciality Cin-ema and Grill (tel: 292-2135) and Liberty Theatre (292-7296) are in the city of Ham-ilton, Neptune Cinema (also 292-7296) is in Dockyard and Southside Cinema (297-2821) is in St. David’s.
See the Bermuda Sun newspaper for movie listings.
If food’s the priority, kid-friendly eater-ies include LaTrattoria, Rosa’s Cantina (both on the city) and The Speciality Inn, 10 minutes outside the city in Smith’s Parish. n
PHOTO By TERRI MELLO
right next to famous Horseshoe Bay Beach is ‘baby beach’ — a tiny cove ideal for toddlers who enjoy a paddle.
PHOTO By WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
Gorgeous John Smith’s Bay in Smith’s Parish is big enough to give your kids plenty of space but small enough to easily keep an eye on them.
40 bermuda.com guide
sports & activities
IF YOu’re tHe SPOrtY tYPe, you’ll find plenty to do on the island.
Here’s a guide to what’s out there. See Bermuda.com for detailed listings.
Lots to do for active visitors
n GolfBermuda has more golf courses per square mile than any other country in the world. Some clubs are private, but many hotels can arrange tee times for their guests.
From an enticing par-3 executive course to a championship-level course given the seal of approval by the PGA of America, Bermuda is a golfer’s paradise. All our courses are blessed with beautiful scenery. Be sure to toss a camera in your golf bag.
If you want to get the kids involved, there is a mini golf course in Southampton for young families (tel. 238-8800) and a brand new mini golf course at Dockyard (see next page).Our golf courses:Belmont Hills, Warwick, tel. 236-6400Fairmont Southampton, tel. 239-6952Mid-Ocean, Hamilton Parish, tel. 293-0330
Ocean View (9 holes), Devonshire, tel. 295-9092Port royal, Southampton, tel. 234-0974riddell’s Bay, Warwick, tel. 238-1060rosewood tucker’s Point, Hamilton Parish, tel. 298-6970
n tennisMost courts are attached to hotels. Another option is the government-run tennis sta-dium, which has clay and hard courts. It’s on Marsh Folly Road, a 10-minute walk from Hamilton centre. Open 8am-10pm Mon-Fri, 8am-7pm Sat-Sun. Courts are $10 an hour (double it under floodlights). Tel: 292-0105.
n Deep sea fishingWith the deep ocean just offshore, Bermu-da offers world class fishing. Lots of pros are ready to take you out — among them, Baxter’s reef Fishing, tel: 234-2963.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
Short and spectacular: the Fairmont Southampton resort boasts 18, par-3 holes.
bermuda.com guide 41
sportsBabe Ruth golfed in Bermuda
Mini golf a big new attractionBy DOn BurGeSS | It’s nice to claim to be the best in the world, but not everyone can back it up.
Hogan Lindgren designed a mini golf course in Denmark which drew international acclaim. But he says the one he designed right here on the island — Bermuda Fun Golf — is even better.
“The world championship of mini golf was played there in Denmark,” he told us, “and they voted it the best mini golf course in the world — but this is best. Bermuda can be proud to say it has the best mini golf course in the world.”
Owner John Burcher said opening up a fun golf course has been a dream of his for five years.
The course features 18 holes; six are based on Mr Burcher’s favourite holes in Bermuda, six on famous holes in the US and the final six on holes in Scotland.
Mr Lindgren said each hole is an homage to the original hole rather than an exact miniature: “But if you play the hole, you can recognize it from the original,” he says.Bermuda Fun Golf: www.fungolf.bm. e-mail: [email protected]. tel: 400-Putt
n Water sportsyou can rent everything from kayaks, Bos-ton whalers and windsurfers to Hobie Cats and Jet Skis.
Bermuda is the shipwreck capital of the Atlantic and a mecca for SCUBA divers. See Bermuda.com for full listings
See pages 43 & 44 for snorkelling and pages 46 & 47 for shipwrecks.
n cyclingOur coastal roads and the route of the old railway trail are great for bikers. you can hire bicycles at Smatt’s cycle Livery, tel: 295-1180 and Oleander cycles tel. 295-0919. Will cost you roughly $50 a day.
n BowlingFor a rainy day or a family evening out, have fun at Warwick Lanes in Warwick, tel: 236-5290.
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Internationally renowned designer Hogan Lindgren said Bermuda Fun Golf is probably the best mini golf course in the world.
Hartley’s reef SafariHaving some advantages over scuba diving and many over snorkeling, helmet diving is the safest and easiest way to explore the marine environ-ment. The undersea walk was started by Bronson Hartley in the 1930s. Off Somerset, his son Gregory continues the tradition of training and taming fish in the wild. Hold Leroy the snapper or Barack the grouper and see Diana the angelfish swim through a hoop. The helmet works like a glass turned upside down. your head stays dry, and you can safely wear glasses or contact lenses. Just breathe, walk and have fun. Tel: 234-2861. www.hartleyber-muda.com. [email protected]
42 bermuda.com guide
Breathtaking beaches are Bermuda’s most enduring attraction, from
aquamarine pools and sandy bays to the famous pink sand of the south
shore.
Pack your sunscreen, hats, towels and and use our guide to hit one or
more of the island’s top ten beaches.
Our glorious top ten
PHOTO By WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
Small but idyllic: John Smith’s Bay, in Smith’s Parish, is a perfect family beach.
beaches
10 John Smith’s Bay: Off the beaten track in Smith’s parish, this popular locals’ beach is a little less crowded than the south shore destinations but still boasts soft sand and great swimming and snorkelling. The Harrington Hundreds grocery store is just a few minutes away by moped if you want to make your own picnic. L, B
9 cooper’s Island nature reserve: A tiny peninsula on the eastern edge of the island, only recently opened to the
public, Cooper’s Island is actually a series of small coves connected by almost a mile of walking trails. The larger but less picturesque (it’s all relative) Clearwater Beach is right next door. B
8 West Whale Bay: Named for the humpback whales that migrate past Bermuda in April and May each year, this is as good a place for whale watching as anywhere on the island. The grassy cliff-top that borders this Southampton beach is a great spot for a picnic.
KeY: Bathrooms - B rentals - r café - c Lifeguard - L
7 Snorkel Park: A great beach for families, out west in vibrant Dockyard. There are inflatables for the kids to rent, great snorkelling for dad and beach loungers for mum. L, B, c, r
6 Warwick Long Bay: To truly grasp the beauty of Bermuda’s south shore, walk the length of Warwick Long Bay and clamber across the rocks, or take a detour over the sand dunes to Jobson’s Cove and Chaplin Bay. On a quiet day you will see more Longtails than fellow tourists. B, r (seasonal)
5 Shelly Bay: A parents’ dream beach, Shelly Bay boasts warm, shallow water, a soft sandy bottom and backs on to a playground and sports field. A favourite for kids and novice swimmers — and close to the bus stop. c, B
4 church Bay: Swim with shoals of brightly coloured parrot fish among the pristine coral reef that pierces the water just yards from shore at this small south shore bay, widely revered as Bermuda’s
best beach for snorkellers. r, B
3 elbow Beach: A half-mile of white sand boasting stunning views of the Atlantic, Elbow Beach, in Paget, is a playground for joggers, kiteboarders, beach volleyball players and SCUBA divers. There’s even a shipwreck within swimming distance of shore. you can join in the fun or just hire a deckchair and sit back and watch. c, B, r
2 tobacco Bay: Famous for its stunning volcanic rock formations — natural sculptures that emerge from the glassy water — this picturesque, sheltered cove is also a snorkellers’ dream. A short walk from the old town of St. George. c, B, r
1 Horseshoe Bay: A crescent of soft, pink sand, lapped by clear blue water, fringed by sand dunes and bordered by sandstone cliffs, garnished with swaying palms — Horseshoe, in Southampton Parish, is the a must for every Bermuda visitor. c, B, r, L n
beachesSand glimmers pink at twilight
PHOTO By WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
ranked no.6, Warwick Long Bay on the south shore is stunningly beautiful.
bermuda.com guide 43
44 bermuda.com guide
By aManDa DaLe | Bermuda is a
chain of more than 150 islands, islets
and rocks, the coralline limestone
peaks of an ancient volcano.Here lie some of the most pristine
coral reefs in the world, setting the stage for world class snorkelling. The beautiful but shallow reefs are responsible for more than 400 shipwrecks, spanning five centuries.
you can expect to swim in waters of 24-30 degrees Celsius with a visibility of 25 metres in the summer months (May to October).
you will find superb snorkelling all the way around this 21 square mile island, but here are some of the best spots.
n church Bay, SouthamptonIt can be a little tricky wading in across the rocks, so wait until you are almost waist-
deep in the water before you put your fins on. you will be rewarded by the variety of fish in and around the boiler reefs.
n Pompano Beach club, SouthamptonMost South Shore beaches offer excellent snorkelling just a short hop from the water’s edge. But if you are feeling adventurous, hire a kayak at Pompano Beach Club and paddle out to the outer raft across the sandbar. Tie up and swim out to the adjacent reef to experience some beautiful snorkelling.
n tobacco Bay, St George’sThis sheltered, sandy bay is ideal for fami-lies. Its rocky outcrops and ancient coral formations are buzzing with marine life.
n Snorkel Park, royal naval DockyardThe park has a sheltered bay and is ideal for families. Under the walls of the fort you will find hard and soft corals, juvenile fish and maritime relics. There are musket balls
snorkel
FILE PHOTO
Snorkellers don’t have to go deep to enjoy our beautiful coral reefs.
Grab some fins!
bermuda.com guide 45
snorkelYou might see a spotted eagle ray
dating to the nineteenth century and cast iron cannons, dating from 1550 to 1800.
n the constellationSnorkelling and dive operators can take you to Western Blue Cut to see two of our most famous shipwrecks.
The Constellation was the inspiration for Peter Benchley’s novel The Deep, which was made into a film in 1977.
This 192 ft four-masted schooner (built in 1918) served as a cargo vessel in World War II and was en route from New york to Ven-ezuela in 1943 when she was swept onto the reefs and sank, in ten metres of water. Her cargo included bags of cement, cases of Scotch whisky and thousands of drug ampoules, many containing opium and mor-phine. The ampoules have all been removed but you can still see other relics such as china cups, ceramic tiles and bottles.
n the MontanaJust 15 metres from the Constellation lies the Montana, built to run the Union blockade
of the Confederate states in the US Civil war. The 236ft paddle wheel steamer sank in 1863 and now sits in three pieces with her bow relatively intact and her paddle wheels and forward boiler still discernable.
n the VixenHMS Vixen was a Royal Navy gunboat, scuttled in 1896 to block a narrow channel off Daniels’s Head, Somerset, to prevent possible torpedo attacks. She sits in eight metres of water with a protruding bow and is home to many different species of fish. This popular site is accessible only by boat.
Fed by the waters of the Gulf Stream, Bermuda has many of the fish species found in the western Atlantic and Carib-bean, including parrotfish (stoplight, blue and midnight varieties), yellowtail snapper, coneys, bluehead and creole wrasse, rock beauties, the puddingwife, squirrelfish, foureye butterflyfish, damselfish, sergeant majors, trumpetfish and spiny lobster. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a turtle. n
46 bermuda.com guide
shipwrecks Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse was only the
Smiths Parish
Hungry Bay
Elbow Beach
Surfside BeachMarley Beach
Coral Beach
Hungry B
ay
Grape B
ay
Elbow
Beach
Warw
ick Long
Bay
Horseshoe
Bay
West Whale
Bay
WhitneyBay
Church Bay
John S
mith's
Bay
Turtle BaySpanish P
oint
ParkAdmira
lty
House
Park
Tobacco Bay
Gates’ Bay
CITY OFHAMILTON
Town ofSt. Georges
Royal NavalDockyard
Airport
SpanishPoint
Flatts Bridge
CASTLE HARBOURHARRINGTON
SOUND
GREATSOUND
LITTLESOUND
Tucker's Town
Coney Island
Belmont
HawkinsIsland
Crystal Caves
N
ES
W
Somerset Long Bay Mangrove
Bay
Bailey'sBay
Devil'sHole
NonsuchIsland
Castle Island
FortPopple
Smith’sIsland
GatesFort
FortCunningham
Fort St. Catherine
SANDYS PARISH
SOUTHAMPTON PARISH
WARWICKPARISH
PEMBROKEPARISH
PAGETPARISH
SMITH’SPARISH
DEVONSHIREPARISH
HAMILTONPARISH
ST GEORGE’SPARISH
HAMILTONHARBOUR
Rockaway
Martello Tower
Achilles’ Bay
12
38
37
’
Atlantic Ocean
13
16
14
15
1718
20
19
2321
22
24
25
26
27
29
28
3031
32
3334
35
36
1
2
3
44
45
46
786
9
10
11
43
42
4849
50
51 52
53
5
39
41 40
4
Clearwater Beach Shelly BayBeach
Bermuda’s shipwrecksthere are some four hundred wrecks to be found off Bermuda. The earliest date from the first quarter of the 16th century when the island became a landmark for Spanish ships sailing back to Spain from the New World.
Both the old and more recent wrecks, scattered throughout the 200-square-mile reef system that surrounds the island, are protected by law against any unauthorized interference.
The more popular dive sites are easily accessed from the island by boat, with an average depth of between 30
1. Drydock2. Ramona3. H.M.S. Vixen4. Minerva5. Hunters Galley6. Mary Celeste7. Virginia
Merchant8. King9. Hermes
10. Minnie Breslauer
11. Pollockshields12. Apollo13. Kate14. Grotto Bay
Barges15. Warwick16. H.M.S.
Cerberus
17. Katherine18. Pelinaion19. Zovetto or
Rita Zovetto20. Sea Venture21. Wychwood22. Colonel William
G. Ball23. Richard P. Buck24. Avenger
25. Beaumaris Castle
26. Collector27. Iristo28. Elda29. Taunton30. Eagle31. Manilla Wreck32. Cristobal Colon33. Curlew
bermuda.com guide 47
second cast iron lighthouse ever built. shipwrecks
and 50 feet. Listed here are some of the better known wrecks, highlighted in the map above. Note that some wrecks are known by two, three or even four different names.
For further information, visit the scuba diving pages on our website: www.bermuda.com.
Stories of the seaFive must-visit Bermuda wrecks:
n the Pelinaion (18) – This Greek steamer
became a victim of WWII. The British had
blacked out St. David’s lighthouse to stop
the Germans from spying on Bermuda. But
the ship crashed on the reef, where it still
lies scattered.
n the cristobel colon (32) — This Spanish
luxury liner is the biggest of Bermuda’s
wrecks at 499ft long. Its remains are spread
across the North Shore reef.
n the Hermes (9) – Extremely popular
among divers as it is one of the few wrecks
in Bermuda that remains fully intact. It lies
in 80 foot of water off the South Shore.
n the constellation (41) – Jaws author
Peter Benchley based his follow-up novel
‘The Deep’ around this wreck, which sank
on the South Shore carrying a cargo of
morphine and whisky to Venezuela during
WWII.
n the H.M.S. Vixen (3) – If you don’t want
to take on the challenge of scuba diving,
the Vixen lies half submerged in shallow
waters off Daniel’s Head, Somerset, and is
easily accessible by snorkellers.
Local dive operators
triangle Diving, Grotto Bay, near the air-
port, Tel: 293-7319 www.trianglediving.com
Fantasea Bermuda, Albuoy’s Point,
Hamilton, Tel: 236-1300 [email protected]
Blue Water Divers, Robinson’s Marina,
Somerset, Tel: 234-1034 & Elbow Beach
Hotel 232-2909 www.divebermuda.com
Don’t want to get wet?Visit the Bermuda underwater
exploration Institute in Hamilton,
the national Museum of Bermuda in
Dockyard and the replica of the
Deliverance in St. George’s.
34. Madiana35. Alert36. San Pedro37. Caraquet38. Mark Antonio39. Montana40. Lartington41. Constellation42. Santa Ana43. L’Herminie
44. Frenchman45. Lord Amherst46. Darlington47. Mussel48. San Antonio49. Blanch King50. Caesar51. Airplane52. North Carolina53. Triton Ferry
Smiths Parish
Hungry Bay
Elbow Beach
Surfside BeachMarley Beach
Coral Beach
Hungry B
ay
Grape B
ay
Elbow
Beach
Warw
ick Long
Bay
Horseshoe
Bay
West Whale
Bay
WhitneyBay
Church Bay
John S
mith's
Bay
Turtle BaySpanish P
oint
ParkAdmira
lty
House
Park
Tobacco Bay
Gates’ Bay
CITY OFHAMILTON
Town ofSt. Georges
Royal NavalDockyard
Airport
SpanishPoint
Flatts Bridge
CASTLE HARBOURHARRINGTON
SOUND
GREATSOUND
LITTLESOUND
Tucker's Town
Coney Island
Belmont
HawkinsIsland
Crystal Caves
N
ES
W
Somerset Long Bay Mangrove
Bay
Bailey'sBay
Devil'sHole
NonsuchIsland
Castle Island
FortPopple
Smith’sIsland
GatesFort
FortCunningham
Fort St. Catherine
SANDYS PARISH
SOUTHAMPTON PARISH
WARWICKPARISH
PEMBROKEPARISH
PAGETPARISH
SMITH’SPARISH
DEVONSHIREPARISH
HAMILTONPARISH
ST GEORGE’SPARISH
HAMILTONHARBOUR
Rockaway
Martello Tower
Achilles’ Bay
12
38
37
’
Atlantic Ocean
13
16
14
15
1718
20
19
2321
22
24
25
26
27
29
28
3031
32
3334
35
36
1
2
3
44
45
46
786
9
10
11
43
42
4849
50
51 52
53
5
39
41 40
4
Clearwater Beach Shelly BayBeach
48 bermuda.com guide
fishing
ISTOCK PHOTO
Whether you’re a novice or a veteran, our expert fisherman will maximize your chances of scoring a spectacular catch.
You can land a beauty!FOr nOVIce FISHerMen looking for an exciting family day out or
experienced anglers hoping to hook a monster marlin, the deep ocean
surrounding Bermuda is a fertile hunting ground. More than 20 charter
firms offer day-trippers the chance to try their luck.
Two volcanic sea-mounts, Challenger and Argus Banks, several miles
offshore, are the focus of attention for the small fleets of boats that idle
out of pretty harbours every morning. Here, the powerful Atlantic currents
push baitfish over steepling banks, attracting swarms of big-game fish.
Schools of tuna and wahoo offer rich pickings for anglers of all
abilities. Other fish often caught on deep sea trips include amberjack,
mahi mahi, bonito, little tunny and rainbow runner.
Local fishermen know their turf and will guide you to the best spots.
Some will let you keep your catch, but they are not obliged to do so. Boats
are equipped with rods, tackle, bait, life-saving gear and toilets. Typically
you’ll supply your own refreshments.
Charter prices for deep-sea outings, usually around $800 for a
bermuda.com guide 49
www.bermudareeffishing.com
fishingMany record gamefish are caught here.
half-day or $1,000-$1,200 for the day (roughly $200 per person) cover gear, skipper and crew and if fish are biting, a couple of fresh tuna or wahoo steaks.
Along with amateurs fishing for fun, our waters also attract big-time anglers hunting the biggest, baddest fish in the ocean – the wild blue marlin.
Fierce, acrobatic and sometimes weighing in excess of 1,000lbs, marlin are the toughest fish to land — the Holy Grail for hardcore sports fishermen. Almost all marlin are released.
For every fisherman that leaves with his Kodak moment there are more who travel home with nothing but memories and tall stories of the ones that got away.
Either way — most leave firmly hooked on Bermuda. n
For more on fishing charters visit: www.bermuda.com
Baxter’s reef Fishing‘Life on the ocean wave’ is guaranteed to be great fun with Capt. Baxter aboard his 32–foot Cape Islander ‘Ellen B’. Apply the catch and release method or take your catch home for supper! ‘Ellen B’ is well equipped to accom-modate the whole family, complete with ample awning on hot days and complimentary sodas. The captain, with more than 20 years experience on the spectacular Barrier Reef, will display his expertise and show even the ‘amateurs’ how to catch a fish! you may enjoy a half-day or a full-day fishing. Parties of up to ten can be arranged. Capt. Baxter is always happy to oblige smaller parties by joining up with other small groups. Departing daily. Mangrove Bay public dock in Somerset. tel: 234-2963 or 334-9722. www.baxtersreeffishing.com
50 bermuda.com guide
nature
By LISa Greene | Our National Parks, spread over 108 sites and 1,609
acres, range from tiny, secluded gardens to long, beautiful beaches with
pink sand.
Some favourites of mine include the 16-mile long Railway Trail, Hog
Bay Park, Spittal Pond Nature Reserve and Ferry Point Park.
Our splendid national Parks
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
explore the lush paths and wide vistas of Ferry Point Park near St George’s.
Many sections of the Trail provide an ‘off the beaten track’ experience for walkers, joggers or those on bicycles. A paved stretch runs for nearly two miles from Somerset Village to Somerset Bridge, with glimpses into backyards and views of bays and the Great Sound. Paths off the trail lead to Gilbert Nature Reserve, the large Heydon Trust Estate (with its exquisite little chapel), panoramic Scaur Hill Fort, and down to the water’s edge. Rock cuts from the original railway, and thick vegetation, create welcome shady areas.
Less than a mile further south along
the Middle Road from Somerset Bridge is the 32-acre Hog Bay Park, one of our best birding locations. Walking paths skirt agricultural fields and
meander through woodlands and hillsides before arriving at
a secluded shoreline with spectacular views.
Spittal Pond, a 64-acre reserve, on the south shore in Smith’s Parish, is our best birding spot. Here the rugged shoreline and woodland surrounding a brackish pond support a large variety of migratory and resident species. Clamber
continued on next page
cOOPer’S ISLanD, located at the north-eastern tip of Bermuda, features a Nature Reserve and Wilderness Area and stands as a striking example of the restoration and protection of our precious public land.
As one of the island’s few remaining open spaces, it acts as an important buffer zone for the critically important offshore Nature Reserves, protecting indigenous species of plants, animals and marine life.
This historical and biologically rich open space of approximately 12 acres was handed back to the Bermuda Government by NASA (who ran a tracking station at the site) in September, 2001.
The site has a colourful history. Cooper’s Island was first mentioned when Governor Moore was faced with the problem of famine in 1612, caused by the accidental introduction of rats from a captured Spanish grain ship. The rats destroyed all crops and stored food.
The Nature Reserve is heavily wooded and supports a variety of habitats including salt-water marsh, beach, dunes, rocky coastline, sea grass beds, upland coastal and uplands hillside. you might see turtles, cahows, queen conch and tropicbirds
(our emblematic longtails). Healthy sea grass beds found here are critical to fish populations as they produce oxygen for fish and animals.
There are five picturesque beaches within the reserve; Turtle Bay, Long Bay,
Well Bay, Fort Hill Bay and Soldiers Bay.The entrance to Cooper’s Island
is gated and fenced and controlled vehicular access allows only wheelchairs, emergency and service vehicles. Take a walk into this uniquely preserved site — it’s truly worth every step.
• Information supplied by the Department of Parks. Please assist them by adhering to nature reserve etiquette.
bermuda.com guide 51
natureEndemic plants include Bermuda moss
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Spectacular ocean views abound on cooper’s Island
Discover glorious cooper’s Island
over the rocks and look for Sally lightfoot crabs at the water’s edge or parrotfish feeding in surging water, and watch waves ‘boiling’ over reefs. Along this shore you can also find ‘Portuguese Rock’, bearing a carved inscription from visiting sailors dated 1543.
Out east is Ferry Point Park, a scenic
64 acres perfect for walking, jogging or cycling, with historic features such as the Martello Tower, Ferry Island Fort and an old lime kiln.
These are just a few of the many locations maintained by our Government’s Department of Parks; it’s your turn now to discover your favourite. n
continued from previous page
52 bermuda.com guide
n airlinesair canada Reservations: Tel: 1-888-247-2262. Flight Info: Tel: 293-1777. american airlinesTel: 1-800-433-7300. Flight Info: Tel: 293-1420 airtran 1-800-AIR-TRAN (247-8726) or 678-254-7999.
British airways Reservations: Tel: 1-800-247-9297. Airport customer service: Tel: 293-1944. continental airlines Reservations: Tel: 1-800-231-0856. Flight Info: Tel: 293-3092. Delta airlines Reservations: Tel: 1-800-221-1212. Flight Info: Tel: 1-800-325-1999.
You’ll find these facts useful during your stay
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Our ferries are fast and comfortable.
practicalities
BerMuDa IS unIque in many ways and for those who have never
visited before, it’s useful to have a little guidance on what makes our
island tick.
Here’s a handy list of things you might want to know.
Information provided here is subject to change. For the latest, visit our
website: www.bermuda.com. The Bermuda Sun newspaper is also a useful
resource: www.bermudasun.bm
bermuda.com guide 53
practicalitiesShark oil barometers forecast weather
JetBLue Tel: 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583). Flight Info: Tel: 293-3608. u.S. airways Reservations: Tel: 1-800-622-1015. Flight Info: Tel: 293-3073. WestJet Tel: 1-888-WESTJET (937-8538).
n airportL.F. Wade International Airport (tel: 293-2470) is located in St. George’s at the east end of the island. Allow 30 minutes from the city of Hamilton by taxi. Check-in two hours before departure.
n BanksNormally open from 9am to 4pm, Mon-Fri. There are many ATMs across the island. ATMs dispense Bermuda dollars which are tied at par with US dollars.
n BusesAll bus routes serving Hamilton arrive
and leave the Bus Terminal on Washing-ton Street. (Refer to number 48 on the Hamilton map on page 24. See page 57 for schedule).
Cash fares require exact change. Dollar bills are not accepted.
Adult cash fare is $3 up to 3 zones, $4.50 for longer journeys. Tokens are $2.50 for 3 zone trips and $4 for longer trips. Transportation passes are available: one-day pass $12, two days $20, three days $28, four days $35, seven days $45 or one month, $55.
For children (aged 5-16) cash fare is $2 and transportation passes range from $6 per day up to $22.50 for seven days. Children under five ride free.
Tokens, tickets and passes can be used on buses or ferries and can be bought at the ferry terminal, the central bus terminal, hotels, post offices and the Dockyard Visi-tor Information Centre. (The fares listed here, correct at press time, are subject to change). Tel: 292-3851 • [email protected]
GOVERNMENT OF BERMUDAMinis tr y of F inanceBermuda Post Office
The Bermuda Post Office is pleased to offer “The 60th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation”, a series of six stamps. These stamps will be released on 21 February 2013.
First Day Cover sets $5.50, cost per set $3.10, FDC souvenir sheet $4.00, souvenir sheet $2.50.Available at the Bermuda Philatelic Bureau.
THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OFQueen Elizabeth II’s Coronation
For more information please e-mail [email protected]
n Business HoursStores normally open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Many grocery stores open 1-5pm on Sunday, most other stores are closed on Sundays.
n carsNo car rentals are available in Bermuda but you can rent scooters and pedal bikes.
n consulateThe U.S. Consulate is located on Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, tel: 295-1342. Open Mon to Fri 8am - 4:30pm. Consular services are provided on an appointment basis only. For details, visit the Consulate’s website: http://hamilton.usconsulate.gov or contact [email protected]. For after-hours life or death emergencies for American citizens only, contact the duty officer at (441) 335-3828.• Honorary Consuls for other countries are also represented in Bermuda — see the telephone directory for listings.
n communicationsBermuda’s well-developed telecommunica-tions infrastructure provides modern tele-phone, fax, Internet, cellular and cellular-roaming services.
n country codeu.S. & canada — dial 1 plus area code plus no. u.K. — dial 011 plus 44 plus area code plus no. caribbean — dial 1 plus area code plus seven digits.
n currency & credit cardsThe Bermuda dollar is equal in value to the U.S. dollar; both are legal tender. Traveller’s cheques and credit cards are accepted at most shops, restaurants and hotels.
n Dress codeThe dress code in Bermuda is conserva-tive. Bathing suits and bare chests are not acceptable, except (for men) at beaches and pools. Casual wear is acceptable in
54 bermuda.com guide
practicalities Topless sunbathing is against the
bermuda.com guide 55
practicalitieslaw here in Bermuda
restaurants at lunchtime. Some upscale restaurants require men to wear a jacket in the evening. Check the dress requirements when making reservations.
n emergencyCall 911 and specify whether you need police, the fire service or an ambulance.
n etiquetteIt is customary to greet islanders with a ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’ or ‘good evening’ — Bermuda prides herself on civility.
n FerriesAll ferries depart from the terminal on Front Street, Hamilton. Regular fer-ries cross Hamilton Harbour and faster catamarans visit Somerset, Dockyard and, and in the summer months, St. George’s.
Transportation tickets, tokens and pass-es valid for buses and ferries are available at locations including the ferry terminal, bus terminal, post offices and hotels. Cash is not accepted on the ferries. Scooters are allowed on some routes.
n HealthNo inoculations are required for Bermuda. There are no poisonous insects or mam-mals but be wary of the Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish that carries a painful sting. Guard against sunstroke and sunburn with hats, sunblock and plenty of water.
n HospitalKing Edward VII Memorial Hospital (tel. 236-2345) is a large, first-rate facility owned and operated by the Bermuda Government and located on Point Finger Road in Paget Parish. An associate of the American Hospi-tal Association. Airlifts can be arranged to the U.S. or Canada.
n InternetMost hotels and many guest houses provide Internet access. Also, there are a handful of locations where you can go online in the city of Hamilton including the Bermuda
Library on Queen Street and the Main Post Office on Parliament Street, where access is free. Public Internet access is also avail-able in St. George’s and Dockyard. Many cafes provide wi-fi access to customers.
n MailThe General Post Office is located at 56 Church Street Hamilton (tel: 297-7893), with 12 sub-offices islandwide. Airmail leaves and arrives daily. Rates for airmail postcards to North America are 70¢; Europe 80¢; Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand 90¢.
Stay in touchGoing on holiday is more fun when you can share it with the ones you love! Send messages, post pictures, and talk to your friends and family back home while you perfect your tan on our pink sand beaches.
If you are here for a short trip, roaming is your best option. Choose to roam with the network trusted by over 11 million people in 31 coun-tries: Digicel. If your phone does not automatically connect to the Digicel network, you can set it up manually using your network options in a few short steps.
If you are spending more than few days on our lovely island, you may consider purchasing a local pre-paid SIM card to limit your roaming charges. Digicel prepaid SIM cards are available in both Digicel stores in Hamilton (Church Street and Court Street) and in over 100 dealer loca-tions across the island. If you have a BlackBerry device, you may activate a temporary data plan on your Digicel prepaid SIM card.
For more information, please visit www.digicelbermuda.com or call us at +1 441 500 5000.
56 bermuda.com guide
practicalities We have ample rainfall but no
n nightlifeSee pages 81-83 and 94-95
n Public Holidays 2013Bermuda Day | Friday, May 24 national Heroes’ Day | Monday, June 17 emancipation Day (Cup Match, day one)
| Thursday, August 1 Somers Day (Cup Match, day two) | Friday,
August 2 Labour Day | Monday, September 2 remembrance Day | Monday, November 11 christmas Day | Wednesday,
December 25 Boxing Day | Thursday, December 26
n religionChurches are ubiquitous here. Anglican, Catholic, African Methodist Episcopal and Seventh Day Adventist are among the ma-jor faiths. See the church listings in Friday’s Bermuda Sun newspaper.
n Scootersyou can rent scooters by the day or week, if you are 18 or older. Helmets, provided by the rental companies, are mandatory.
n SmokingSmoking is banned from all enclosed public
spaces including restaurants, bars, shops, theatres or any enclosed workspaces.
n taxisCabs are safe and comfortable. Rates are controlled by law at $6.40 for the first mile and $2.25 for each additional mile for 1-4 passengers. Rates increase after midnight, Sundays and public holidays with a 25% surcharge for 1-4 passengers and a 50% surcharge for 5-6 passengers. Taxis may also be hired for sightseeing tours at $40 per hour with a minimum of 3 hours.
n time Differencesnew York — one hour behind Bermuda Los angeles — four hours behind London — four hours ahead toronto — one hour behind Daylight Savings Time comes into effect from the second Sunday in March through to the first Sunday in November.
n tippingIn most cases, a service charge or gratuity has been added to the bill. Where the gratu-ity has not been added, 15% is about right.
n tV/radio/mediaThree main local channels screen a nightly
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
renting a scooter is fun but can be tricky if bikes are new to you. Be sure you can handle it before you leave the rental shop. a road accident would ruin your trip.
bermuda.com guide 57
practicalitiesrivers or lakes
news bulletin — VSB (channel 11), ZBM (9) and ZFB (7). A government station, CITV, is on channel 2 and there’s a small handful of local radio stations. The quality of local programming varies considerably. The Bermuda Sun, which publishes this guide, provides news seven days a week on its website www.bermudasun.bm and publishes a newspaper on Wednesdays and Fridays.
n WaterTap water is safe to drink, unless you are instructed otherwise. Bermuda has no rivers, streams or reservoirs; all our water comes from rain or wells. Bermuda roofs are painted with a limestone wash that purifies the water as it trickles down into underground tanks. Electric pumps send the water up to the tap.
n WeatherBermuda’s sub-tropical climate is generally mild and humid, but summer and winter tem-peratures vary considerably. The average an-nual temperature is 76ºF. Monthly averages: January 65ºF, water 66ºF; April 67ºF, water 68ºF; July 80ºF, water 81ºF; October 75ºF,
water 76ºF. In an average year we see rain on 171 days and sunshine on 200 days.
n WildlifeOne of our most intriguing creatures is the common whistling frog. Their ‘gleep-gleep’ chorus is particularly vigorous after rainfall on warm evenings and you’ll be amazed that a frog little bigger than your thumbnail can be so audible. Easier to spot on wet evenings are enormous cane toads, intro-duced to control cockroaches.
Birds are plentiful; about 375 species have been recorded in Bermuda and 20 are resident. There are hundreds of feral cats and feral chickens – but no feral dogs. We have a few rats, of course, but no snakes.
Spiders are abundant but generally harmless. The occasional poisonous spider arrives on imported lumber but they rarely bother people. Mosquitoes aren’t a problem and there are few bugs to worry about. Try to avoid the Portuguese man-o-war, a purple jellyfish that sports long tentacles and causes a painful sting. Sharks are rare in Bermuda waters.
route Fare Leaving Hamilton’s centralBus Schedule number Zone Bus terminal (time past the hour)
Airport 1, 3, 10, 11 14 00 15 30 45Aquarium 10 11 3 00 15 30 45
Belmont Hotel 8 3 00 15 30 45Botanical Gardens 1, 2, 7 3 00 15 30 45
Caves (Crystal and Leamington) 1, 3 14 15 45Dockyard 7, 8 14 00 15 30 45
Elbow Beach 2, 7 3 00 15 30 45Gibbs Hill Lighthouse 7 3 00 15 30 45
Grotto Bay Hotel 1, 3, 10, 11 14 00 15 30 45Horseshoe Bay Beach 7 3 00 15 30 45
Hospital 1, 2, 7 3 00 15 30 45Mangrove Bay (Somerset) 7, 8 14 00 15 30 45
National Museum of Bermuda 7, 8 14 00 15 30 45Bermuda Perfumery 1, 3, 10, 11 14 00 15 30 45
John Smith’s Bay Beach 1 3 15 45Fairmont Southampton Resort 7, 8 3 00 15 30 45
Town of St. George 1, 3, 10, 11 14 00 15 30 45
58 bermuda.com guide
weddings
By aManDa DaLe | Whether you want to celebrate your wedding on a
private beach, a yacht or in a spectacular cave, Bermuda has it all.
Whatever the setting, the island is one of the most romantic places in
the world in which to say ‘I do’.
With stunning backdrops of pink sand beaches, a turquoise ocean and
lush flora and fauna, you can be sure that your big day will be colourful,
vibrant and memorable.
More than half of all marriages in Bermuda involve couples from
overseas.
The island’s hotels can offer you a destination wedding with a
difference, and most have packages which include the reception and
honeymoon accommodation.
If you are passionate about the environment, the Fairmont
Southampton Resort offers Eco-Chic Weddings on a private beach with an
organic wedding cake and the chance to plant your own Bermuda Cedar
tree.
Marry him in BermudaWWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
bermuda.com guide 59
weddingsOur Moon Gates originated in China
w e d d i n g sp o r t r a i t s
e v e n t s
300-5005 / 536-9843
you can tie the knot under a moongate overlooking the waterfront at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.
Alternatively, Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa offers Magical Sunset Weddings on a private beach.
If you want to declare your commitment overlooking the ocean, The Reefs Resort & Club has a wooden deck above the spectacular South Shore.
Or for something completely different, why not hold your reception among the ancient limestone formations of Grotto Bay Beach & Tennis Club’s caves, in an Exotic Cave Wedding?
‘Bermuda’s celebration yacht’ — the UberVida catamaran, can also provide an exclusive setting amid the aquamarine waters of Paradise Lakes.
On such a beautiful island as Bermuda, choosing your venue is probably going to be your toughest decision.
Aside from stunning beaches, there are also scenic locations with commanding views, such as Gibbs Hill Lighthouse and the Commissioner’s House at Dockyard.
The Bermuda National Trust can also provide historic houses and elegant gardens in which to hold your nuptials.
When it comes to tradition,
Bermudians usually have two wedding cakes. The bride has a fruit cake with silver icing, to symbolize a fruitful marriage, while the groom has a pound cake with gold icing, to bring prosperity.
A Bermuda Cedar sapling is placed on top of the bride’s cake and the couple will plant this in a secret location, to symbolize the growth of their bond and love.
PHOTO By KELLy WINFIELD
60 bermuda.com guide
It is also considered good luck for the
couple to kiss under a moongate.Arranging a wedding in Bermuda is
easier than you might think. you just need to complete a Notice of
Intended Marriage and post this back to the Registrar General, with a $341 fee.
The marriage license will be valid for three months and you just need two witnesses over-18 to attend the service.
If you need help in organizing the wedding, the island has an abundance of talented wedding consultants, photographers, florists, caterers, jewellers and live entertainers.
The Department of Tourism can also offer you a financial incentive. Its ‘So Much More Rewards’ programme provides cash rewards for each overseas visitor you bring to the island, for a party of 15 or more.
The rewards range from $25-50 per person, depending on numbers. So,
weddings To marry here you will need two
Your ‘fairytale’ wedding car If you want a classic, timeless wedding, a vintage car will set the wheels in motion.
In Bermuda you can hire the Branford Elite, an elegant touring car that captures the romance and style of the Jazz Age. Based on the classic Ford Model A (1928-31), the Branford Elite was custom-built in the UK and has been imported by ‘Bermudaful Moments’.
Elizabeth Mayne and Roberta Pachai are the women behind the enterprise.
“This car has that vintage, classic look,” Mrs Mayne told us, “and we will also have a chauffeur dressed for the occasion, in suit and cap.”
Bermudaful Moments will also decorate the vehicle in ribbons and rosettes to reflect your bridal party’s colour scheme.
The car’s cream leather seats take up to six passengers and the roof hood folds down to allow the bride and groom to be visible.
Ms Pachai said: “This is a fairytale wedding car. It will look glamorous and beautiful on your wedding photos.”www.bermudafulmoments.com
WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
bermuda.com guide 61
if 30 guests attended your wedding you could earn $900 towards your celebrations.
For more information go to: www.somuchmorerewards.com.
For more details on getting married in Bermuda, see: www.gotobermuda.com/specialty-travel/weddings
to contact the uberVida, e-mail [email protected]
weddingswitnesses who are over 18
WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
Contact Liz: 333-5886 or Roberta: 505-1419www.bermudafulmoments.com
62 bermuda.com guide
Postcards from the past
nostalgia
POSTCARDS FROM THE COLLECTION OF STEPHEN HAyWARD
These postcards from the 1930s and ‘40s paint a charming picture
of the Bermuda of yesteryear. Writer Gill Outerbridge helps bring
them to life by penning imaginary messages from a besotted visitor.
Dear Martha,
I cannot believe that I am here in
Bermuda! It is such a paradise!
The voyage to Bermuda was
exciting and our ship docked
in the city — we disembarked
right on Front Street! My friends
conveyed me by carriage to my
guesthouse. The local people use
bicycles and little donkey carts.
Your living sister, Ethel
bermuda.com guide 63
Dear Martha,Can you believe they have horseracing
here? We took the train from Front Street to
Shelly Bay and walked to the Race Track.
There was a huge crowd of locals cheering
and the horses tore around the white coral
track. I won a bet of four shillings on one
of the races. I gave it to a carriage driver to
take us back to catch the train home!
Dear Martha,There is a wonderful little train here that runs through the islands and makes 40 stops along the way. We alighted near Devils Hole and there were dozens of carriages waiting to collect us. There you get to ‘fish’ with a line but no hook. The pool is full of giant fish and turtles and I thought for sure I could haul a huge
snapper right up but he let go and fell back with a splash!
Dear Martha,Today we set off at dawn for an expedition to St George’s. We trotted along white coral roads shaded with cedar trees with vistas of glorious blue and turquoise water in the little bays and coves. We crossed the Causeway which had to be rebuilt after a hurricane destroyed it. Before it was built you had to drive the carriage onto a barge to be pulled across to St George’s! Imagine!
64 bermuda.com guide
shopping
YOu’Ve aLreaDY PrOVeD you have good taste by choosing to visit Ber-
muda so it’s fitting that our stores exude quality. There are bargains to be had
— you’ll find hefty price differentials with the U.S. on jewellery, watches, perfume,
silverware, porcelain and crystal. And you’ll enjoy additional relief at the cash
register — there’s no sales tax.
Many stores are in the City of Hamilton, but the Clocktower Mall at Dockyard,
on the western tip of the island, boasts quality gift stores and boutique shops.
And the historic town of St. George’s — at the east end of Bermuda — also has a
lively shopping scene.
Goods made here or produced exclusively for local stores include pottery,
jewellery, paintings and prints, pottery, rum, honey, condiments, cedar ware,
Bermuda shorts, scarves, fragrances and pillows.
Browse the following listings for details.
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
the Irish Linen Shop — which specializes in luxury goods from all over the world — is one of Front Street’s colourful, landmark stores.
take home quality items that will last
For over 30 years the Original Bermuda Collection has featured timeless designs based on the island’s unique flora, fauna, landmarks and traditions. This collection of locally made treasures will serve as a lovely remembrance of your “Bermuda Experience”. These original, 18 karat gold pieces are hand crafted in Bermuda and sold exclusively by Astwood Dickinson.
BermudaThe Original
A D I V I S I O N O F A . S . C O O P E R & S O N S L T D .
83-85 Front Street, Hamilton, Bermuda 441.292.5805 www.astwooddickinson.com
bdacollection_BDAcom final.indd 1 2/26/13 10:30 AM
66 bermuda.com guide
go shopping Bermuda Triangle: One of the world’s
Astwood DickinsonHome of the Original Bermuda Collection18 kt Gold Jewellery handmade in Bermuda.Since 1904, Astwood Dickinson has built an outstanding reputation as the finest
jewellery store in Bermuda. As exclusive agents for the world’s
most prestigious jewellery collections and watches, Astwood Dickinson is the perfect place to find a lasting reminder of your Bermuda experience.
In our on-site workshop we handcraft the Original Bermuda Collection. Here you will find beautiful 18 kt gold designs of the island’s unique flora, fauna, landmarks and traditions that make an everlasting remembrance of your Bermuda vaca-tion. The Original Bermuda Collection is also available online at www.astwooddick-inson.com .
Astwood Dickinson also offers exclusive jewellery collections from Tiffany & Co., Hearts on Fire, Links of London and Baccarat. Our watch brands include Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Cartier, OMEGA, TAG Heuer, Gucci, and Tissot. 83-85 Front Street, Hamilton. Tel: 292-5805Walker Arcade Boutique, Front Street, Hamilton. Tel: 292-4247
HERA Boutique Bermuda’s latest boutique features classic, but stylish, quality merchandise for the Ladies (sizes 6 to 18).
Our collections speak to women of all ages with their updated yet understated appeal.
Additionally, selections from Europe and North America are chosen for their versatil-ity and timeless practicality.
Our European vendors hail from the UK, Portugal, Italy and Germany (Betty Barclay).
Our North American labels, which are not available in department stores, include paperwhite, A’NUE LIGNE, J’Envie and Elliot Lauren, proudly Made In the USA!
Visit Hera Boutique today, you’ll be glad you did!Old Cellar, 47 Front Street, HamiltonTel: 232 4372 between 10am & [email protected]
HERAB O U T I Q U E
Bermuda’s newest Boutique for Ladies featuring classic and stylish European and American-made clothing and accessories.
Tel. 441.232 .4372email [email protected] Book heraboutiquebermuda
WeB www.herabermuda.comaddress The Old Cellar Walker Arcade
47 Front StreetHamilton, Bermuda HM 11
sTore hours:mon. ClOSEd | Tues. 10AM -5pM
Wed. 10AM- 4pM | Thurs. 10AM- 5pMFri. 10AM- 5pM | saT. 10 AM -5pM
sunday - ClOSEd
arrangemenTs may Be made For privaTe shopping evenTs.
appoinTmenTs Welcomed ouTside oF sTore hours
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Attention to detail helps jewellers Astwood Dickinson to sustain en excellent reputation.
bermuda.com guide 67
Bermuda Blue & Bermuda BreezeTake in the sea air, the aroma of natural fruits & flowers all around us......Bermuda Blue and Bermuda Breeze fragrances em-brace much that is uniquely Bermuda.
Bermuda Blue delicately captures the natural citrus, jasmine and lotus in the air with a nuance of crisp sea spray.
Bermuda Breeze hints more of natural fruits, such as wild berries & mandarin, with a touch of jasmine – creating a lovely fruity floral.
Packaging reflects the brilliant blues and greens of the local water, the immense blue sky, amid a pink sandy beach - captur-ing the essence of this beautiful island paradise.
Take home a piece of Bermuda. Take home Bermuda Blue and Bermuda Breeze.
Available through select stores across the Island and on-line including:Gibbons Company, Reid St., Hamiltonwww.gibbons.bm Peniston Brown, St. George
Perfume Shop, DockyardCarole Holding Shops – Southampton Fairmont & DockyardBrown & Co., Front St., HamiltonA.S. Cooper, Front St., Hamilton, branch and hotel storeswww.ascooper.bm Distributed by P.D.L. LimitedTel: (441) 292-1710 [email protected]
The Irish Linen Shop Step inside our historic cottage shop and be inspired! Luxury products from all over the world have been an Irish Linen Shop trade-mark for over 60 years. Our exquisite table linen collection from Le Jacquard Francais, Bodrum, Settings by Mona, and Karen Lee Ballard along with our amazing selection of table accessories from Deborah Rhodes and Dransfield and Ross will create an unforget-table table setting. Hand embroidered linen from Madeira and double damask from Ireland are still time-honoured traditions at The Irish Linen Shop.
go shoppingmost heavily-sailed shipping lanes
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
For true local fragrances such as Bermuda Blue & Bermuda Breeze, head to Gibbons Company on Reid Street, one of our best-loved department stores.
68 bermuda.com guide
Beautiful home fragrances from Antica Farmacista, Dayna Decker, Lafco and the oldest candle maker in France, Cire Trudon will delight your senses. Don’t stop until you experience our bath and body products from Baudelaire and Rain of South Africa. you deserve it!
Wait: The world of Michael Aram and Mariposa are the perfect solution when searching for a gift that will delight the recipient for years. Our home décor selec-tions from Zentique, Oomph, and Roost will transform your home and your outlook.
you’ll love the children’s boutique at The Irish Linen Shop. It’s the place to find beautiful hand smocked dresses from Chan-tal and the classic styles of Papo d’Anjo from Portugal. Later, dream away on the finest Egyptian cotton bedding from yves Delorme, Sferra, Matouk, Peter Reed and Dans Nos Maisons. It’s all here, waiting for you at The Irish Linen Shop, where fine living begins. 31 Front Street, Hamil-ton. Tel: 295-4089; Fax: 295-6552; e-mail: [email protected]
The Bermuda PerfumeryThe Bermuda Perfumery is located at historical Stewart Hall in the heart of St. George’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since 1928, The Bermuda Perfumery has been creating and manufacturing fine ladies and gentlemen’s fragrances under the brand Lili Bermuda. All the perfumes are made on premises at Stewart Hall. The Perfumery welcomes visitors for a free tour of its operations and to sample its unique fragrances.
Lili Bermuda loves creating new and original fragrances. Its latest creation, “Alegria”, which means “Joy” in Portu-guese, is celebration of the Bermudian woman: she is modern, international and elegant. Alegria is a white chypre fragrance with a heart of frangipani, Bermuda Cedar, tuberose, patchouli and magnolia.
The Perfumery’s fragrance collection also includes exclusive creations inspired by our beautiful Island. Modern women will love Coral, Pink, and Lily, and men will not
go shopping Locally made products are ‘Bermudiana’
…So much more than juSt LinenS!
Home DécorFine GiFts
LiFe’s Luxuriesobviously you have great taste!
31 Front Street, Hamilton HM 11, BermudaHours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-6:00 P.M.
Tel: 441-295-4089
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
For that exquisite and unique gift, visit the Bermuda Perfumery in St George’s.
…So much more than juSt LinenS!
Home DécorFine GiFts
LiFe’s Luxuriesobviously you have great taste!
31 Front Street, Hamilton HM 11, BermudaHours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-6:00 P.M.
Tel: 441-295-4089
70 bermuda.com guide
go shopping Our city covers only 80 acres
want to leave Bermuda without a bottle of our famous fragrances 32° North and 64° West. The “Water Collection”, casual and unisex, will please the affluent and international traveler.
The Perfumery is passionate about the art of perfume making and continues to innovate by using both traditional and modern techniques to produce exceptional perfumes. you are welcome to visit for a free tour of their operations and to sample their exclusive and rare perfumes. The Bermuda Perfumery, Stewart Hall, 5 Queen Street, St. George’s GE 05Tel: 293-0627. Fax: 293-88101-800-527-8213 (toll free in US/Canada)[email protected]. Open Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm
The Island ShopThe Island Shop features exclusive and original hand-painted ceramics by Barbara
Finsness that capture the colourful archi-tectural and natural features of Bermuda. There are fine linens that feature her origi-nal embroidered designs and a huge array of different gift items.
The Island Shop is a ‘must visit’ during your stay for gift selections found nowhere else in the world! They will gift-wrap or mail your purchases if desired. Check out their online store at www.islandexports.com. Winner of ‘The Best in Bermuda’ in retail giftware by The Bermudian magazine.
Barbara features her original and printed artwork in the upper gallery of her Front Street store, and some can also be seen in her Southampton and St. George’s loca-tions.Queen Street, Hamilton, tel: 292-5292.Somers Wharf, St. George’s, tel: 297-11514Fairmont Hotel, Southampton, tel: 238-5999
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
There’s an impressive range of quality, Bermuda themed gifts at The Island Shop on Queen Street.
72 bermuda.com guide
go shopping U.S. dollars can be used in Bermuda
Bermuda Post OfficeEvery year the Bermuda Philatelic Bureau compiles a collection of commemora-tives and arranges them into an attrac-tive presentation package. This collection continues the Bermuda Post Office’s efforts to portray all facets of Bermuda’s heritage, culture and history.
The Bermuda Philatelic Bureau also services orders for current issues of Bermuda’s commemorative and definitive stamps and, for the convenience of col-lectors, provides a standing order account service with a minimum deposit of thirty dollars. In addition, they maintain a mailing list to provide details of new stamp releases to customers. 56 Church Street, Hamilton. Tel: 297-7807
The Phoenix StoresWith five full-service pharmacies, Phoenix
Stores have been caring for customers and assisting with their health care needs for more than 100 years. Should you need an-swers to health related questions whilst you are on vacation, visit one of their Phoenix pharmacists. Emergency prescriptions are dispensed while you wait and each store car-ries an extensive range of over-the-counter medications.
The stores also carry a wide range of health and beauty products, local and foreign newspapers and magazines, phone cards and postcards, etc.
Visit one of their locations: Woodbourne Chemist, Clarendon Pharmacy, Collector’s Hill Apothecary, Phoenix Centre, Paget Pharmacy and Dockyard Pharmacy for all your essentials.
All stores are open Monday to Saturday; three stores are also open on Sundays and holidays. Tel: 295-3838
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Many of the main stores in Hamilton are within easy reach of one another by foot. Shoppers are seen here on Reid Street, which runs parallel to Front Street.
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Impeccable personal service has been a hallmark of Crisson Jewellers for many years.
Crisson JewellersCrisson Jewellers embodies Bermuda’s
finest and most cherished traditions. A family business since 1922, the Crisson name is synonymous with quality and value.
The fabulous array of jewellery and watches reflect the style, sophistication and taste of our discerning customers. When you explore our exciting collections, we are sure you will agree that a visit to Crisson is the crowning moment of your Bermuda shopping experience.
Along with the wonderfully eclectic collection of hand-selected pieces from all parts of the world, Crisson are Bermuda’s exclusive source for famous designers including David yurman, Roberto Coin, Marco Bicego, John Hardy, Kabana, Nanis, Pandora, Marah Largo Larimar, and Rebecca . As for diamonds of distinction, Crisson has Bermuda’s largest collection of spectacular cuts from Cento, Memoire, A. Jaffe and Endless Diamonds.
When it comes to timepieces, Crisson
is definitely the place! Crisson are the officially authorised Rolex retailers in Bermuda. you will also find Tag Heuer, Ebel, Raymond Weil, Movado, Tudor, Philip Stein, Christian Dior, Frederique Constant and Fendi. There are also collections from Seiko, Swiss Army, Citizen, Casio, Luminox, Fruitz, Rotary, Guess and Michael Kors.
Our main store is on Front Street in Hamilton, with another on Queen Street.
There’s also a store in the Clocktower Mall at Dockyard. If you are staying in one of Bermuda’s major Hotels, you’ll find a Crisson store there as well. Each of these boutique-style stores features pieces selected from our main collections in Hamilton. The shopping experience is relaxed and intimate, and the quality, value and prices are the same whichever store
you choose to visit.Crisson Jewellers, 55 Front Street & 16
Queen Street, Hamilton; Clocktower Mall,
Dockyard, and all major hotels. Tel: 295-
2351 • www.facebook.com/crissons •
www.crisson.com
jewelleryCrissons is ‘guarded’ by two bronze lions
bermuda.com guide 73
By SIMON JONES | It’s not everywhere in the world a man can walk down
the street in pink shorts and matching knee-high socks and hold his head
high.
But in Bermuda, no one bats an eyelid when such colourful dressers
wend their way around town.
Bermuda shorts are a national uniform. They come in all colours,
from salmon pink to sunshine yellow.
And they are accompanied by a pair of long socks, called Bermuda
hose, pulled up to the knee. Add a navy blazer, a tie and smart shoes and
you have standard business attire here in the semi-tropics.
Don’t be fooled by the bright colours – Bermuda shorts are serious
stuff. We once passed a law that states they should not be shorter than
six inches above the knee.
PHOTO COURTESy BERMUDA DEPT. OF TOURISM
Bermuda shorts are de rigueur among the island’s businessmen, among others.
island style
74 bermuda.com guide
Bermuda shorts: A brief history
bermuda.com guide 75
what’s onisland style
Bermuda shorts trace their origins to the British Army; soldiers sported cut-off trousers to combat the tropical and desert climates they were sent to.
They were created at the turn of the 20th century by office workers in London, whose job it was to make sure the forces were suitably attired in far-flung corners of the Empire.
The look caught on and by the 1950s, most Bermudian men were happy to don a pair of comfortable shorts for work.
Although they are Bermuda shorts by name, they are not made here; typically they’re imported from the United States.
They make terrific gifts and/or mementos and who knows — you might start a trend in your hometown.
The largest selection of Bermuda shorts can be found at the English
Sports Shop, which has several branches islandwide. Its flagship store is at 49 Front Street, Hamilton, tel: 295-2672. n
Wear tasselled loafers with your shorts.
When British soldiers wore shorts on the battlefields of North Africa during WWII, little did they know the look would become fashionable in far off Bermuda.
Bermuda’s leading retailer of exclusive, Bermuda-designed
resort wear for men, women and children.
Mangrove Bay, Somerset, tel: 234-0770 49 Front Street, Hamilton, tel: 295-2672
Somers Wharf, St. George’s, tel: 297-0142
76 bermuda.com guide
By TERRI MELLO | It’s on every visitor’s shopping list — a souvenir
Bermuda T-shirt. After all, it’s the easiest way to tell the world you’ve paid
a visit to paradise.
And with our help, you can be sure Uncle Hank and little niece Nicole
will be thanking you profusely for that perfect shirt you found.
Whether you’re shopping for a co-worker, relative or yourself, choices
abound in stores across the island. But to make your life easier we’ve
chosen a few of our favourite places to find great Bermuda T-shirts.
If you’ve only got time to visit one store, Onion Jack’s Trading Post,
handily located in the middle of Hamilton’s Front Street, might just take
care of all your needs. Here you’ll find a large array of shirts in all sizes
(up to 5XL), styles and colours. They stock simple and classy, kitschy and
A Bermuda T-shirt is a must-have souvenir
PHOTOS By KAGEAKI SMITH
Onion Jack’s Trading Post not only has a broad range of T-shirts, but also lots of caps and other items that make handy souvenirs or gifts.
shopping
10% discount on purchases over $10 on presentation of this ad. Not valid for tobacco products, parking vouchers, phone cards or other specials.
shoppingHamilton became our capital in 1815.
cute, T-shirts with Bermuda maps, local flowers and birds, Bermuda cottages and even some which proclaim that you’ve survived the Bermuda Triangle. And they cater to all age groups.
Onion Jack’s VP Irene Cardwell says the biggest seller is the store’s signature logo T-shirt. “People like it because it’s so unique,” she told us. Be sure to check out the bargain bins, which offer shirts for as little as $6.95.
you can’t miss Riihiluoma’s Flying Colours on Queen Street. It’s a two-storey souvenir shop that sports an array of flags across its
storefront. Here you’ll find a dazzling collection of just about any kind of Bermuda T-shirt you could possibly
want. A.S. Cooper is a
department store with locations in Hamilton and Dockyard, where you’ll find an array of quality Bermuda T-shirts, ranging from simple and classy to colourful and cute.
Brown & Co., on Front Street in Hamilton, has a range of shirt styles bearing a Bermuda logo, with bright selections
for children and T-shirts boldly stating ‘Life is always better in Bermuda’. And who are we to disagree? n
bermuda.com guide 77
One of the colourful designs available at Onion Jack’s.
78 bermuda.com guide
made in bermuda
Washington Mall West, Reid Street, Hamiltonwww.alexandramosher.com | 441-236-9009
art jewellery inspired by Bermuda’s beauty
BERMUDIAN ARTIST Alexandra Mosher draws from the island’s natural beauty to create extraordinary and unique pieces of jewellery.
She incorporates our pink coral sand, sterling silver and gold into her handcrafted designs.
“I developed a love for craft at a very young age,” she told us, “often creating sculptures out of found objects.”
Alexandra studied jewellery design
at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New york and launched her line in
2005. Her work is elegant,
highly collectible and available island wide at AS Cooper, Bermuda Arts Centre in Dockyard, and the Alexandra Mosher Studio Gallery in the Washington
Mall, Hamilton. Tel: 236-9009. Email [email protected].
Alexandra also ships internationally: see www.alexandramosher.com n
Artist draws from nature to craft unique jewellery
bermuda.com guide 79
made in bermuda
Bermuda an inspiration for handcrafted designs
By LyNN MORRELL | As an artist I try to capture the beauty of what delights me. My lovely little island is a constant source of inspiration for my jewellery: Longtails swooping over the south shore, the tiny whistling frog outside my kitchen door, my grandmother’s cottage.
I trained in a fine jewellery workshop
with several master goldsmiths, one ofwhom is now my husband.
I work mainly in sterling silver as I love to wear it myself and the stones I choose are mostly semi-precious and cabochon cut.
My jewellery is simple, clean-lined
and very easy to wear. It can be found at The Craft Market in Dockyard and The Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard. n
made in bermuda
80 bermuda.com guide
Jewellery designer inspired by our beautiful beaches
JACQUIE LOHAN has been designing and making jewellery since her teens, having studied in her native Canada.
She opened Atlantic Jewellery Studio 12 years ago and won Best of Bermuda Gold Awards in 2005 and 2008.
Her work was even featured on a local postage stamp.
Jacquie’s Oceania Collection features local beach glass in many colours, pink coral and tiny seashells from Bermuda’s
stunning beaches, set in sterling silver. The glass is treated like a gemstone and then mixed with precious stones,
semi- precious gemstones and pearls.
Jacquie crafts both trendy and classic designs; some are bold, others sexy and quite feminine. “There is truly something for everyone” she says.
“Bermuda’s beaches offer me inspiration in a vast array of shapes and colours.” n
By SARAH LAGAN | It’s not as wild
as New Orleans, as uninhibited
as Jamaica or as high octane as
Vegas, but Bermuda’s nightlife is
fun, friendly — and varied. There’s a good choice of laid back
pubs and upscale bars and some hotels also offer live music and dancing. Most restaurants close well before midnight — but ask a local and they’ll point you to a take-out joint if you need a fried food fix in the early hours.
Looking for strip clubs or casinos? Not here. Though decorum’s a watchword, we do know how to let our hair down at night. Here’s our guide to some of the some of the best spots:
In the heart of Hamilton, the Hog Penny is the top spot for live, local bands. Enjoy rock covers by house
musician Will Black, who does a good Bon Jovi impression. From 10pm onwards the DJs take over to keep the party pumping.
The Pickled Onion on Front Street has live music every night in the summer plus open mic sessions, when everyone can join in the fun. A mixed crowd for the live music gives way to younger, party people after 10pm who take to the dance floor with DJs spinning everything from pop, rock, hip hop and R&B. When you need a little fresh air there are great views from the balcony overlooking Hamilton Harbour.
Classy Port O’ Call, also on Front Street, typically draws more mature business professionals, especially at Happy Hour on Fridays. It serves the best French fries in Bermuda and has a chic and yet welcoming atmosphere.
Enjoy a cocktail or two
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Whether it’s just for cocktails or for dinner, too, classy Port O’Call on Front Street is warm and welcoming.
bermuda.com guide 81
nightlife
82 bermuda.com guide
Food and drinks are moderately priced and service is excellent.
Nearby, Café Cairo is another lively spot overlooking the harbour. It has a lavish Middle Eastern theme; enjoy a hookah pipe with friends and sample dishes from Egypt, Lebanon or Morocco. After 10pm a young crowd flocks here to dance or chat on the balcony.
Also on Front Street is Muse, a fine dining restaurant and bistro specializing in French cuisine. It boasts a rooftop skybar overlooking the harbour.
Cosmopolitan Nightclub has an outdoor bar and open air space for dancing. It’s high energy, with DJs playing the lastest music to a mature crowd.
To sample local talent, try the Chewstick Lounge on Elliott Street. This music and spoken word venue is a strong draw for locals of all ages looking for a truly Bermudian experience.
In St George’s, The White Horse pub offers live entertainment and its nightclub, The Light, has DJs spinning the hottest music from around the world. Check out the extensive choice of special cocktails.
Just around the corner is Wahoo’s Bistro and Patio, where patrons enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail or a nightcap spill out onto the cobbled street.
Also in St George’s, The Beach House Restaurant and Bar at Blackbeard’s is a wonderful spot to enjoy a cocktail and a meal while watching the sun go down.
Out west, the lively Bone Fish Bar and Grill at Dockyard attracts a good mix of locals and tourists. It often hosts salsa dancing on the outdoor patio and occasionally live music by local artists.
Also see our pub guide, pages 94 & 95. n
Entertainment news in Friday’s Bermuda Sunnightlife
Entertainment news in Friday’s Bermuda Sun
Lunch: Monday - Friday
Dinner: Monday - Saturday
Closed: Sundays
87 Front Street, Hamilton(upstairs above Port O Call)
Tel: 295-9150
www.pearl.bm Take Out Available
Lunch: Monday - Friday
Dinner: 7 days a week
87 Front Street, Hamilton
Tel: 295-5373
www.portocall.bm Private Dining Room
Lunch: Monday - Friday
Dinner: Monday - Saturday
Closed: Sundays
Chancery Lane, Hamilton
Tel: 296-8546
www.bistroj.bm
Open: Monday - Saturday,
7:00am - Late
Closed: Sundays
10 Dundonald Street, Hamilton
Tel: 295-0857
www.ten.bm Take Out Available
Contemporary
Café
Sushi
Casual
F O U R R E S T A U R A N T S O N E M O U T H W A T E R I N G S T A N D A R D
Email: [email protected]
food & drink
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Elegant and classy, Barracuda Grill is a reliable choice for lunch or dinner.
Barracuda Grill Barracuda Grill, one of Bermuda’s most cel-ebrated restaurants, is THE place to go for outstanding seafood and chops prepared in a contemporary style, proudly winning nine Best of Bermuda Awards! Breathtakingly stylish, Barracuda features warm mahoga-ny woods, plush banquettes and a sumptu-ous but ever so comfortable dining room, suitable for power business meals or romantic tête-à-tête’s. If a little early for your reservation, join the other guests at the cozy, hip and tres chic bar with its glowing amber coloured resin topped side bar,
and enjoy cocktails and martinis by our own award winning head bartender, or one of more than 16 wines served by the glass. The Barracuda Grill’s lavish and inviting interior hints at a time of luxurious passenger ships, popping champagne corks, and refined dining, all contemporized to be thoroughly of the moment. Irresistible seafood and
chops prepared with expertise and passion take centre stage on immaculate linen covered tables. 5 Burnaby Hill (above the Hog Penny), Hamilton. Tel. 292-1609. Fax 292-8354.www.barracuda-grill.com Lunch $$ Dinner $$$
Eating out here’s a treat
bermuda.com guide 85
Our island is small but it offers an abundance of dining options. Casual
dress is acceptable at most restaurants, though some upscale eateries
require a jacket and tie. And it’s best to make reservations. The dollar
signs (see our key, below) offer a rough guide to prices. Also visit www.
bermuda.com for updated information.
Restaurant price ranges per person$ Under $20$$ $20-$40 $$$ $40-$50$$$$ Over $50
Hog Penny Restaurant and Pub The Hog Penny is Hamilton’s oldest licensed establishment, having been in business since 1957 and interestingly is the original inspiration for the Cheers pub in Boston.
Authentic is not a word used lightly at Hog Penny, and our 50-plus year history gives us a delightful patina of age that you just can’t replicate. Our record has been hard earned! Gourmet Magazine, in a De-cember 1987 article exclaimed “it was love at first sight for us, as well as the throngs who flock here”, and as Gourmet wrote, this great institution is hard to beat for a truly authentic experience.
Featuring great cuts of beef, genuine In-dian curries, to-die-for hearty pub style com-fort food that has won countless ‘Best of Bermuda’ awards, and having been featured on The Food Network’s ‘$40 A Day’, the Hog Penny continues to be a favourite spot for generations of locals and visitors alike! 5 Burnaby Hill (Just up from Front Street) Hamilton. Tel. 292-2534 Fax 292-8354 www.hogpennypub.com Lunch $$, Dinner $$
Pickled Onion Restaurant and Bar The Pickled Onion is a contemporary styled upscale but casual restaurant, with Ber-muda’s best bar and ‘see and be seen’ vibe. Our chefs won the prestigious Escoffier Cup at the 2004 Bermuda Culinary Arts Festival, and we have received accolades from Food and Wine magazine, the Washington Post and most recently Giada’s Weekend Get-aways on the Food Network.
Our style of food is North American fo-cused, with global influences, and our goal is to be the best value restaurant in Bermuda. Join us at our classy and fun Martini style bar, which is popular with local profession-als or those wanting to enjoy a night out on the town. We feature live entertainment seven nights a week in season, and are located right on Front Street overlooking
the harbour. We can’t wait to serve you! 53 Front Street, Hamilton. Tel: 295-2263. Fax 295-6291. www.thepickledonion.com Lunch $$ Dinner $$
Victoria Grill The Victoria Grill is an upscale-casual restaurant, quick service café, and cocktail bar, located at the centre of Hamilton, at 29 Victoria Street. Bespoke sophistication and urban chic exude from every each of the three distinct segments that make up the whole VICTORIA GRILL experience:
Java Jive is a quick service gourmet café featuring take away specialty coffees, fresh baked goods, unique breakfast items, and lunches to go, served with 2011 Best of Bermuda awarded customer service. Enjoy your cappuccino and Breakfast Sausage Cheddar & Egg Muffin, North Rock Chicken Wrap or Tuna Melt Panini on our street level patio, shaded by large awnings, and watch the hustle and bustle of Victoria Street, Hamilton’s financial and legal district.
Rumba°r features a 25-seat onyx stone bar and cocktail tables setting a delightful scene indoors. A covered outdoor lounge and below street courtyard beckon, with low tables and upholstered chairs and ban-quettes. Retractable roofing can be quickly deployed to cover the courtyard. Rumba°r is a perfect destination for small and large gatherings of friends, associates or business colleagues from 2 to 200. Our full menu includes delicious Kobe beef burgers, fresh crisp salads, steaks and fish entrees, and of course a wide selection of appetizers. Reserve the V.I.P. Room which, with a flick of a switch, is converted from see through glass to opaque seclusion for that privately staffed business lunch or dinner for up to 12.
Victoria Grill. The perfect place for that important business lunch or power dinner, gatherings of friends, or simply to enjoy an intimate dining experience for two. With a mix of private tables or upholstered booths in the inside dining room, and cushioned
86 bermuda.com guide
Mussel pie includes papaya, potatoes, food & drink
wicker armchairs and tables overlooking the below street courtyard on our outdoor verandah, Victoria Grill is in the very heart of Hamilton surrounded by sleek offices of International and Local Companies.
The feeling is of a classic city bistro, with numerous wines available by the glass Vic-toria Grill can seat 50 guests inside and 50 outside. With lots of street parking, Victoria Grill is open for Lunch on Monday to Friday, and dinner seven nights a week.29 Victoria Street, Hamilton. Tel. 296-5050 www.irg.bmJava Jive $, Rumbar $$, Victoria Grill $$-$$$
Frog & Onion and Dockyard Brewing Co. The Frog & Onion was created and opened in 1992 by a Bermudian (The Onion) and a Frenchman (The Frog). It is an authentic British style pub with great comfort food and tasty and unique gastro pub style dishes.
The historic building the Frog & Onion is
housed in, a cooperage, was completed in 1853 after the war of 1812. The provision-ing of wooden ships during the days of sail required that almost all provisions be packaged in barrels or casks so they could be man-handled, loaded and stored in the cargo areas of the ship. Empty water casks needed to be taken ashore in ships’ boats for refilling at the watering place. The cooperage space and adjacent Victualling yard were converted to five storehouses in the 1940s and now finds itself home to The Frog and Onion, and so continues in the vict-ualling business.
Dockyard Brewing Co is Bermuda’s only microbrewery, and has the distinction of being the only producer of any type of adult beverage that can put the “Totally Made in Bermuda” stamp on all of its products. Cur-rently featuring 5 different types of beers and ales, Dockyard Brewing is a favourite destination of locals and tourists alike who wish to sample artisanal beverages of ex-
bacon, onions, lemon juice and spices. food & drink
Continued on page 90
bermuda.com guide 87
90 bermuda.com guide
ceptional quality. The Cooperage Building, 4 Maritime Lane, Royal Naval Dockyard. Tel: 234-2900. Fax: 234-2917. E-mail [email protected]. www.frogandonion.bm. $$
Flanagan’sFlanagan’s is Bermuda’s premiere Irish pub serving the best of Irish and local fare daily for lunch and dinner. Located on Front Street, Flanagan’s has a cozy pub atmo-sphere, affordable prices and friendly ser-vice. There is elevator access and outdoor seating with views of Hamilton Harbour. For a little bit of Ireland in Bermuda where you can enjoy a pint of draft beer and the all day English breakfast in a lively environment, Flanagan’s is the place!
Its sister restaurant the Outback Sports Bar features 22 wide screen high defini-tion TVs and is Bermuda’s only true sports bar. you can watch the game from the big 63” HD TV or watch the match from your
own booth with your own personal TV and remote control. No matter what team you’re rooting for, you’ll always have the best seat in the house; it’s the best place to tailgate in Bermuda! Flanagan’s and the Outback Sports Bar are located across from the flag pole in the Emporium Building. 69 Front Street. Tel. 295-8299 www.flanagans.bm Lunch $$, Dinner $$
PortofinoFor over 35 years we’ve been Bermuda’s favorite Italian restaurant. From a quick, deli-cious pizza, to homemade pastas and exotic dishes, all will delight in our bustling Italian atmosphere. Prices are right and we offer al fresco dining. Winner of the ‘City of Hamilton Food Festival 2012’ — People’s Choice Award for Best Restaurant. Trip Adviser Certificate of Excellence for 2012. Lunch is served weekdays 11:30am to 2pm. Dinner is served 7 days a week 6pm to 11pm. Reservations recommended. Our take-out service is avail-able Monday through Friday from 11am to
food & drink A Dark ’n’ Stormy is Black Seal Rum
Continued from page 87
bermuda.com guide 91
what’s onfood & drinkmixed with ginger beer – delicious!
10pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 4pm to 10pm. Bermudiana Road, just off Front Street, Hamilton. Tel: 292-2375. Take-out: 296-0606. Lunch $, Dinner $$
Chatham House Bermuda’s leading specialty tobacco shop, established in 1895. Offering a marvellous selection of fine tobaccos and gifts for visitors, satisfaction is guaranteed. Our extensive range includes English Briar pipes, and a selection of Havanas such as Punch, Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, Upmann, Montecristo, Cohiba and Bolivar — all at good savings over U.S. prices.Corner of Front and Burnaby Streets, Hamilton. Tel: 292-8422
Somerset Country SquireEnjoy lunch or dinner at Somerset Country Squire, overlooking Mangrove Bay, in Sand-ys Parish, while you chat with the locals about Bermuda. Local cuisine includes fish chowder, seafood, locally caught lobster
when in season. Our Sunday Bermuda tradi-tional “codfish and potato breakfast” has all the trimmings, banana, boiled egg with avocado pear (when in season). Whether you’re a party of one or a group, you’ll enjoy our service and food. Serving Monday through Wednesday from 3pm to 10pm, and Thursday through Sunday from noon to 9pm. 10 Mangrove Bay Rd., Somerset. Tel: 234-0105. Lunch $$ Dinner $$
The Pink Beach ClubFor a most romantic setting make your way to the beautiful Pink Beach Club in Tucker’s Town. The Bermudiana Restaurant prepares five-course gourmet dinners in elegant surroundings with stunning ocean views. A jacket is required for gentlemen, ties are op-tional. The table d’hotel menu changes daily and we are happy to accommodate special dietary requirements. Dinner served nightly 7pm — 9:30pm. South Road, Tucker’s Town. Tel: 293-1666. Breakfast $$, Lunch $$, Dinner $$$$
92 bermuda.com guide
brunch
By MIkAELA IAN PEARMAN | Brunch in Bermuda isn’t just a meal, it’s a
way of life.
On Sundays, our restaurants are filled with friends and loved ones
catching up, laughing, drinking — and of course, eating.
It’s only semi-casual. While you don’t have to be dressed to the nines,
people do tend to make some effort. So
leave your sweats and sneakers at the
hotel.
The options are broad. If you
prefer breakfast items, places such as
Windows on the Sound at the Fairmont
Southampton start early with waffles,
Dine with the locals and enjoy a Sunday tradition
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Enjoy a cocktail before brunch on a spectacular terrace at The Reefs.
Most brunches here include freshly carved meats.
bermuda.com guide 93
brunchEnjoy a mimosa with your brunch
omelette stations, pancakes, eggs as you like them and smoothies. Plus of course the traditional Bermudian Sunday breakfast — codfish and potatoes with all the trimmings.
Other brunches are more geared towards lunch items and don’t start until noon, such as Henry VIII and The Reefs. So as well as codfish and potatoes you’ll find a carvery, macaroni and cheese, sushi, soups, salads — and of course a superb selection of desserts.
They do Sunday brunch in style at the elegant Fourways Inn, Paget. There’s a delicious spread of hot and cold dishes and terrific desserts. A large dining room is split into small sections and the staff are pleasant and knowledgeable.
At the Waterlot Inn, diners are greeted with their first course as they sit and then encouraged to partake in the buffet of salads, sushi, breads, fruit and so on. Main courses are ordered from a menu while dessert is a buffet.
Generally, beverages are not usually included, except for tea and coffee, and prices start at $30 per person plus gratuities.
Join the locals at brunch for a truly Bermudian dining experience. Note: Brunch schedules vary and reservations are often required. Always best to call ahead. n
PHOTO By WWW.MOONGATEPRODUCTIONS.COM
Brunch at At Henry VIII is fit for a king but the prices are reasonable.
Elegance personified: No-one does brunch in scruffy jeans at the classy Fourways Inn.
94 bermuda.com guide
HAMILTON’S FRONT STREET is the centre of our pub scene and the
Pickled Onion is a great starting point. With live music, good food and a
friendly atmosphere, it’s probably our most popular bar.
The Hog Penny, a cozy, oak-panelled bar that inspired the Bull and
Finch pub in Cheers, is just a few steps around the corner.
Back on Front Street, Flanagan’s, an Irish bar with an American feel,
and the Outback sports bar, which screens everything from basketball to
cricket, are worth checking out.
your handy pub guide
PHOTO By KAGEAKI SMITH
Flanagan’s has cosy décor, pleasant staff and boasts a harbourfront terrace. It’s s one of our most popular spots.
food & drink
The ‘shame’ bit kicks in if you find yourself still partying in the early hours,
having planned a ‘quiet’ night out.
food & drink
Nearby, The Beach – self-proclaimed ‘shame of Front Street’ – is a popular late-night spot. It has a good bar menu and closes late; the ‘shame’ bit kicks in if you find yourself still partying in the early hours, having planned a ‘quiet’ night out.
Bermudiana Road caters to a more sophisticated crowd. Smart shoes,collared shirts and well-padded wallets are required here, where upscale wine bars nestle between swish restaurants.
The Robin Hood on Richmond Road is a lively, British-style pub with reasonably priced food and live sports.
If you’re streetwise and like to stray off the beaten track, take a wander down Court Street, where you’ll enjoy the atmosphere in bars like the Spinning Wheel, where the DJ keeps the dance floor busy with a mix of classic soul, reg-gae and soca.
The friendly Swizzle Inn, near the airport, is always a good night out and is famous for potent rum swizzle cocktails.
North Rock Brewery on South Road, Smith’s Parish is a good spot to sample locally brewed beers — St. David’s Pale Ale is our favourite.
The Frog and Onion in Dockyard will also serve you an authentic, local pint of beer and along with the Bone Fish Bar & Grill, a terrific people-watching spot, it’s your best bet in Dockyard.
Out west, the Country Squire in Somerset has a beautiful wooden balcony overlooking Mangrove Bay and is worth a visit, while Henry VIII in Southampton is another popular spot.
Wherever you go, don’t drink and ride — leave your rental scooter at the hotel and take a bus, cab or ferry. Cheers! n
Rum swizzle is deceptively strong
bermuda.com guide 95
Rude not to.
EMPORIUM BUILDING, 69 FRONT ST.
295.8299
Flanagan’s is bermuda’s
premiere irish pub serving the best of irish and local fare daily for lunch and dinner.
Bermuda’s only true sports bar!
Two different atmospheres. One great location!
96 bermuda.com guide
the last word
By TIM HODGSON | L.F. Wade International Airport is our main portal to
the outside world and there could be no more apt tribute to the man after
whom it is named — a courteous, cultured and transformative political
figure.
Leonard Frederick Wade (1939-1996) was sometimes bemused and
occasionally exasperated by one of the occupational hazards of island
life — his fellow Bermudians’ tendency to quarantine themselves from
international developments.
Our airport bears his name
Secluded Bermuda’s proclivity for retreating back into old habits and traditional routines during a post-World War era of runaway global reform and restructuring was what drew this one-time high school teacher-turned-lawyer into the island’s political arena in the early 1960s.
A founding member of Bermuda’s first political party and its leader at the time of his unexpected death, Wade was first elected to a legislature that ran this small country as if it was a large country club. His Progressive Labour Party’s calls for making over an island which remained racially segregated, economically stratified and politically arrested were initially met by bafflement, serial stop-gap measures and an over-reliance on noblesse oblige by Bermuda’s patrician elite, rather than any long-term
remedial programmes. Bermuda stubbornly
insisted on attempting to remain a Victorian outpost well into the Jet Age.
But Wade forthrightly challenged Bermuda’s unwritten policy of being in the world but not of the world.
His personal and political mission was to encourage Bermuda to make a rapprochement with modernity, to
redress longstanding racial and socio-economic inequities not by way of violent revolution but rather through an incremental process of evolution.
And by the time of his death, he had helped to coax, cajole and occasionally arm-twist his countrymen into accepting the unavoidable fact there really were no more islands anymore — not even Bermuda. n
L.F. Wade
FINE FOODS& FRIENDLY
SERVICE
18 Queen Street, Hamilton
Phone 295-8444Email: [email protected]
www.diningbermuda.com
FABULOUS COCKTAILS
& EVENINGS WITH A ZING!
12 Bermudiana Road, Hamilton
Phone 296-3330www.diningbermuda.com
PIZZASPASTAS
DESSERTS
Washington Lane, Hamilton
Phone 295-1877Email: [email protected]
www.diningbermuda.com
AMAZING WATERFRONT
DINING & BEST SUSHI
At BUEI, 40 Crow Lane, Hamilton
Phone: 295-4207 E: [email protected]