Bermuda - A Tiny Island with Gigantic Views

From the deeply turquoise-azul waters that greeted us as we arrived at our first port of call- the Royal Naval Dockyard, to the pristinely landscaped streets, quiet beaches and breathtaking views of Bermuda… our first visit to this gorgeous country will absolutely not be the last.  If there was anything we would change about the experience, it would only have been to have had more time to explore and soak in all that this island offers to its visitors.

A rich history, beautiful beaches and tourism may be the attraction for most who visit, but there is an undeniable siren song that calls to those who initially sought employment opportunities in fields such as tourism, journalism, finance, etc., and then made Bermuda their home. We were blessed to have experienced the island for the first time from one such resident of Bermuda, Tim from Bermudaful Minibus Island Tours.

As we wound our way through the narrow and sometimes harrowing roads, of which there are only three main connecting routes throughout the island, Tim spoke of the many eccentricities that makes Bermuda uniquely pricey and challenging while maintaining a quaint authenticity to both its original inhabitants and those who did not choose to come here as slaves, but whose cultural and ethnic flavors and influence now make this island the deeply rich and real place that it is. We stopped first to feed Breen fish, a stop intended to entertain the youngest of the tour participants but certainly triggered the feelings of nostalgia and childhood joy that most of us revel in its re-experiencing…and then at Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse- where Tim shared the map of Bermuda and began to dive into the history of this intriguing island society with those of us whom chose not to climb the lighthouse stairs.

As for our favorite stops on the tour, it is truly hard to decide between the sea-turtles (who swam directly up to us), the banyan tree stand that appeared a Narnia-like magical forest adventure (given more time to explore), Fort Scaur with all of its dampened, historical ghosts or the private and gorgeous beaches like Elbow Beach, that made us wonder how this gem was still so seemingly “undiscovered” by the throngs of cruisers and tourists currently on the island.

If pressed to choose, we would surely need to spend much more time soaking in all of these experiences and many more… which we absolutely intend to do as soon as possible.  We too may have heard Bermuda’s siren song… it’s hard to imagine anyone being able to not hear its call…

Whether it’s the plush greenery of the royal palms, banyan trees and pops of color and fragrance provided by Oleander bushes and indigenous fruits, the expression of individuality expressed through the limestone rooved homes with their unique color palettes, the multicultural history and brightly authentic flavors, or the simple pleasures of a minimally populated beach along with beautifully clear blue-green waters and fantastic hilltop views overlooking the island…Bermuda is a port of call that we will seek again and again