Added: 07/22/2005 |
Real Taste of Bermuda Island VacationsIf you've decided that Bermuda sounds like the perfect place to relax, feel free to plan your this-year island vacation. Bermuda has everything you need - beaches and resorts, restaurants, and sightseeing.
Settling into Bermuda is relatively easy. First-timers soon learn that Bermuda isn't one island, as is commonly thought, but a string of islands linked by causeways and bridges -- at least the 20 or so that are inhabited. The other islands can be reached by boat.
Bermuda is a prosperous island characterized by neat, trim houses that are a source of great pride to their owners. There won't be a casino at your megaresort -- Bermuda has no casinos -- and you'd better have your fill of Big Macs before you leave home. There are some fast-food joints, but nothing like those on the U.S. mainland, or even in the Bahamas. There's a sense of order in Bermuda, and everything seems to work efficiently, even when the weather's hot.
Even though a large number of people live on this small island, you should never feel crowded. There are no billboards or neon signs, and relatively few cars to spoil the rolling countryside. Most houses seem to fit quite naturally into the landscape.
Bermuda consists of nine parishes (or counties). From west to east, they are Sandys (pronounced sands), Southampton, Warwick, Paget (which has the greatest concentration of hotels), Pembroke (home to the City of Hamilton), Devonshire, Smith's, Hamilton (not to be confused with the City of Hamilton), and St. George, which includes the U.S. naval air base and the little island of St. David's. Pembroke, which encloses the capital city of Hamilton, is the largest parish in population; St. George has the largest land area.
Because of Bermuda's small size, it's easy to get to know the island parish by parish. There's much to see, whether you travel by bike, ferry, bus, or taxi. You'll need plenty of time, though, because the pace is slow. Cars and other motorized vehicles, such as mopeds, must observe the maximum speed of 24kmph (15 mph) in the City of Hamilton and St. George, and 32kmph (20 mph) in the countryside. The speed limits are rigidly enforced, and there are severe penalties for violations.
If you're visiting for the first time, you may want to follow the traditional tourist route, basically the equivalent of visiting New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. The Aquarium, Devil's Hole, and cruise-boat outings are all popular for first-time visitors. For travelers on a second, third, or fourth visit to Bermuda, a different experience unfolds. Once you've done all the "must-sees," you'll want to walk around and make discoveries on your own. The best parishes for walking are Somerset, St. George, and the City of Hamilton.
But don't fill your days with too much structured sightseeing. You'll also want time to lounge on the beach, play in the water or hit the links, and to enjoy moments like sitting by the harbor in the late afternoon, enjoying the views as the yachts glide by. Absorbing Bermuda's beauty at your own pace and stopping to chat with the occasional islander will give you a real taste of Bermuda.
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