Bermuda - Day 2 - New Year's Eve

Today we spent the day touring the city of Hamilton. This is the center for shopping and trade in Bermuda. We took the scenic bus tour on the way to Hamilton through the southern part of the islands – through Smith and Devonshire Parishes. On the way back, we took a different bus that went along the northern coast up through Flatts Village. The terrain is very hilly – JB misses his bike tremendously. If only it would have folded to fit in our suitcase! The roads are very narrow and everyone drives tiny cars (understandably!). The speed limit is 20 mph throughout the islands, but most people drive a little faster. But they do respect cyclists – a change from back home. The city of Hamilton is considered “in-town.” Either you’re heading into town or out of town. On the plane from Atlanta to Bermuda, we sat next to a Bermudian who gave us some pointers for our trip. When I asked her where she lived, she said, “in-town.” I didn’t understand until she explained that Hamilton is the in-town. There are lots of shops and restaurants in Hamilton and I found offices for 3 of the Big 4 Accounting firms – E&Y, Pricewaterhouse & Deloitte. So, if we ever decided to move here, I’m guessing I might be able to find work. There is no income or sales tax here – very interesting – I’m still trying to figure out how the government is supported. We visited a lot of the historic sights in Hamilton today including:

• City Hall
• Perot Post Office – established in 1821 and named after Bermuda’s first postmaster general, it is still operating.
• Bermuda Cathedral – the seat of the Anglican church in Bermuda

• St. Andrews Presbyterian Church – the oldest church in Hamilton. It is pink! Can you imagine Farmer Baptist Church being painted pink!

• Sessions House – home to Bermuda Assembly and the Supreme Court

• Cabinet House – home of the Bermuda Senate. The Bermuda Senate doesn’t have legislative power but acts as a debating forum.
• Fort Hamilton - built in the 1870s to protect the harbor and form a line of defense for the navy to the west

• and of course, the mall and shopping district. We found some very interesting jewelry and Christmas ornaments (to add to my collection).

We did a lot of walking, but had a blast seeing the sights and meeting the folks of Bermuda. Everyone is incredibly nice. The website that JB found which said not to wear blue jeans in Bermuda must have been written before the days of Levi Strauss, because jeans are common here during the day. We came back to our resort for dinner and to watch the fireworks across the bay at St. George’s. Happy New Year!