BERMUDA: FEAR & ANXIETIES OF BEING ALONE WHILE ROAMING AROUND THE ISLAND

St. George's Town, a UNESCO Heritage Site

By Henry Libo-on, Touristang Pobre

(Note: I hold the Copyright to all my photos published on this Blog. Thank you.)

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On our third day at Bermuda Islands, there was still one place that I must visit before we go back to New York and that is the town of St. George's. After checking the schedule of the boat for St. George's, I decided to catch the 9:30 a.m. trip. I reached the terminal just in time for boarding. When I was about to give my $4.00 coins to the attendant, I remembered that my camera was left on the cruise ship. So, I disembarked from the boat and went back to the cruise ship.

On the way, I asked the lady in the Dockyard Ferry Terminal about the next trip to St. George's town and she told me that it will be at 11:15 a.m. but she suggested that there is a boat that will leave for Hamilton at around 10:00 a.m., and from Hamilton, I can take the bus to St. George's town. That way it is faster and I can see a lot of places along the way. Sounds nice, so I rushed back to the cruise ship and took my cameras. I was not walking but running. In a few minutes, I was back at the ferry terminal.

When I reached the terminal, I was one of the last very few passengers left that will board the sea craft. My heart was murmuring fast but I tried to remain calm. Once inside the boat, I searched for a seat near the door, so it is easy for me to disembark. Forty-five minutes later I arrived at Hamilton. From the ferry terminal, I walked a few blocks until I reached Church Street where the bus terminal was located. Then, I boarded the bus that goes straight to the town center of St. George's.

This is not the first time that I roam around a town or tourist destination alone, all by myself. I always keep a secret fear and anxieties. What if something happens to me on the road? So, to prepare for this, I keep a small piece of paper in my pocket where I wrote my address, cellphone number of my children, and the schedule of the ship on its way back to New York.

The marker to the St. George's Reservation Area.

It was a challenging trip since that was my first time in Bermuda and more so, in St. George's. I saw the bus schedule and there were many destinations from Hamilton to St. George's. I asked the bus captain (driver) that I was going to the Ferry Terminal of St. George's. I emphasized St. George's because I know there are other communities surrounding the town and I might end up in the wrong place. When the captain arrived at the nearest bus stop, he told me to just walk a little to reach the ferry terminal. As I went down from the bus, I was confident that no matter what happens, I am close to the ferry terminal that will go back to the Royal Naval Dockyard. I do not want to be late in going back to the cruise ship because, on that day, she will be sailing back to New York.

The monument in honor of Admiral George Somers, Founder of Bermuda.

I spent about two hours walking around the town. Wherever my feet will take me, that is where I will be going. Sounds funny but that is what I do when I am in a new place. No itinerary, no time frame, just a walking tour.

Town Hall of St. George's.

This marker is located at the main entrance of the ground floor of the Town Hall.

The ground floor of the Town Hall houses the Council's Chamber.

I never expected that the Ferry Terminal to the Dockyard is where the St. George's town proper was located. What luck! So, I was happy to move around and check the shops, restaurants, heritage sites and places, church, state house, monuments, old houses, and narrow streets.

I want to try this one, but it is difficult to do a selfie with my head in that hole, you know. I was also thinking that if I use my camera with a timer, I might find it difficult to extract my head from the hole and there's no one to help me. "Dacu gid nga sibuyas bumbay." I might miss the fast craft back to the Cruise Ship.

As I explored the different places in the town, I observed its unique architectural designs, the old buildings, houses, the shops, bars and restaurants, and even the government offices and buildings. I got the feeling that I stood in another place and time.

I learned about the history of St. George's town from the magazine - Experience Bermuda, I read that it was in 1609 when Admiral Sir George Somers got stranded on this island after his ship Sea Venture got blown off course by a storm. By 1612, Bermuda was officially established with Sir George Somers as its Founding Father. Bermuda was discovered by the Spanish Captain Juan Bermudez in 1505. Since that year, Bermuda became an island of refuge for ships.

Heritage Sites are scattered around King Street such as the statehouse, offices of the Town, and others.

Since 2000, St. George's Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For over 200 years, St. George's town remained unchanged - the houses, the buildings, the streets, the shops, and many other old things that still existed today. The town also retains its distinction as the oldest continuously-inhabited English settlement in the New World.

Bermuda Police Service.

All About Eve and other shops.

The streets at St. George's were narrow and quaint. The buildings and shops looked old fashioned.

Conscious Vibes.

Robertson's.

I found this cigar store named Churchill's. When I was in my late 30's I love to smoke cigars and the popular brand that I once smoked was Balmoral.

I was attracted by this water pump.

Limestone is abundant in Bermuda. Most buildings are built of this.

Bermuda National Gallery Building.

St. Peter's, Their Majesties Chapell at St. George's, Bermuda. Established in 1612.

Several pictures were taken inside the church.

Prince Charles' Chair.

Located on the side of St. Peter's is a graveyard with headstones as old as the town itself.

This is the curve that leads to the Ferry Terminal.

Bermuda International Airport is located at St. George's Town

Airport Terminal.

This is St. George's Town. The photo was taken on board the Norwegian Cruise Line - Breakaway on our way to New York.

St. George's Town is also the home of world-class beach resorts, hotels, bars and restaurants, golf courses, all kinds of water sports. Tourists from all over the world visit Bermuda and St. George's Town all year round. (Photo was taken on board the Norwegian Cruise Ship Breakaway.)

Copyright Photo by Henry Libo-on

After about two hours of "walking tour", I headed towards the ferry terminal. Near the terminal was a bar and restaurant with tourists dining. So, I got in and ordered a hamburger and a soda. The lady told me to buy the soda at the gas station because it is cheaper. Wow, I thanked her for that.

As I was eating, I happened to look in the direction of the ferry terminal and I saw a boat there. So, I asked the lady in the bar where that boat came from and her reply was - "the Dockyard". I turned to her again and asked her what time is that boat leaving St. George's and her quick reply was - "12:15 p.m.". When I heard that, I was as quick as the lightning, so to speak, to say thank you to her and left the bar as quick as I can.

There was a drizzle at that time but I braved it, crossed the street, and walked my way towards the ferry terminal. As soon as I got there, I quickly joined the remaining few passengers boarding the boat. Just in time that I found a seat, the boat started rolling down toward the Dockyard.

I stayed quiet in my seat and kept my cool even if I was tired, hungry, and a little wet. The scenery of the islands from the boat kept me entertained. I was lucky to have seen the islands from this vantage point. At 1:00 p.m. the boat docked at the ferry terminal at the Royal Naval Dockyard. At last, I was near the cruise ship. She can never leave Bermuda without me on board.

As I walked towards the Heritage Wharf, I noticed an empty bench with a shade just near the gate to the wharf. I sat there for a while and finished my hamburger and soda. That afternoon as I collect my composure from tiredness and hunger, I thought how lucky I was to have visited and toured these beautiful islands of Bermuda. Before, I connect Bermuda with Bermuda shorts, Bermuda grass, Bermuda Rum, Bermuda Cake, and other things related to Bermuda including Bermuda Triangle. Bermuda was, for me, a distant reality.

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How to get there?

By plane and by cruise ship.

We booked our Bermuda Island adventure through the Norwegian Cruise Line on a 7-day cruise.

We left NYC on a Sunday afternoon and we're back to NYC from Bermuda on a Sunday too.

Where to stay?

We stayed in the cruise ship for the whole duration of this trip.

If you're traveling to the island on your own and by plane, you can book your hotel before flying to Bermuda. Online hotel booking that is.

Hotels are expensive in Bermuda but you can also find an affordable one that will cost you a little more than a hundred bucks.

1. St. Regis Bermuda Resort

2. Cambridge Beaches

3. Willowbank Resort

4. Hamilton Princess and Beach Club

5. Royal Palms Hotel

6. Aunt Nea's Inn

7. Elbow Beach Bemuda

8. Clairfont Apartments

9. St. Helier Bed & Breakfast

10. Kingston House B&B

11. Rosedon Hotel

Where to eat?

In the area of the Royal Naval Dockyard, there are several bars and restaurants. I visited a few of them and tried the Bermuda Rum Cake. Since I am on a cruise, I spend more time dining in the ship.

There are bars and restaurants wherever you go on the island. Before you go, search for them online.

1. Village Pantry

2. Crown & Anchor

3. Marcus Bermuda

4. Calico Jacks Floating Bar

5. The Spot

6. Island Cuisine

7. Temptations

8. Mama Angie's Coffee Shop

9. Devils Isle

10. Fourways Inn

11. 1609 Bar & Restaurant

12. L'Oriental

13.Bone Fish Bar & Grill

What to do?

You can go boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, island hopping, snorkeling, swimming, biking, golf, and many others. You can also visit the historical sites and places that dates back to the year 1609 when the British first settled on the island. I suggest a few places to discover, to wit:

1. The Royal Naval Dockyard

2. Horseshoe Bay Beach

3. The capital City of Hamilton

4. The Parliament House

5. The Cathedral

6. St. George's Town and its environ or surrounding area

7. Crystal Cave

8. Fort St. Catherine

9. National Museum

10. Miles Market

11. Cooper's Island Nature Reserve

12. Tynes Bay Waste Treatment Facility

13. Visit the other Parishes or Towns using the Bus Schedules

My Tips -

1. If you are on a cruise like myself, or you are on a solo backpacking adventure, the best way to tour the island is by Bus. I can say that me too, "I Survived My Bus Tour Around Bermuda Island".

Here's the link for the Public Bus that can take you around the island. Public Bus Service - Bermuda

2. Visit the parishes, towns and tourist spots that are far from where you are and reserve those places that are near you wherever you are staying or billeted.

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As a travel blogger of the blog site called Touristang Pobre, I considered myself financially poor to tour a place like Bermuda and on a cruise ship at that. So, I thank my sponsors for this opportunity of a lifetime. Now, Bermuda is no longer a dream, it is now a reality and a memory that will linger in my cerebral cortex for a long, long time.

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