Bermuda, UK
Arriving at Bermuda we finally found some weather to "write home" about; 80º and sunny!
This beautiful, subtropical island greeted us with its scenic shores, gorgeous coves, and attractive white-roofed houses. It looked as though every one of the 66,000 inhabitants owned a boat.
Docking in Hamilton, the capital city, we were able to walk off the ship directly onto Front Street. The island is a British Territory graced with a distinct English flavor. With no fresh water source, the homes and businesses collect rain water that generously falls on their roofs and store it in underground cisterns. The white roofs are coated with a lime based paint that "purify's" the water as it drains into the storage vessels. ( No wonder rum is so popular here!)
During our morning tour we stopped at the aquarium and viewed the sea turtles. An endangered specie, injured turtles are brought in for treatment. After recovery they are released back into the ocean.
Fort St. Catherine is located at the northeastern tip of Bermuda in the town of St. George. For nearly 400 years it protected the island. The St. George settlement was established in 1612 and is the longest continually inhabited English settlement in the New World. Prior to 1612, Spanish and Portuguese ships stopped by periodically to replenish their water and meat supplies, but never established a settlement.
In the tunnels under the fort, Jan explored the powder magazine. With 25 foot thick walls, over a ton of explosives were once stored here.
During the 19th century, the fort's 10-inch rifled-muzzled-loading guns fired shells manufactured in England.
Each gun projected a 410 pound shell capable of piercing 11 inches of wrought iron at a distance of more than 1/2 mile.
In 1609, Sir George Somers commanded 15 ships headed for the British settlement at Jamestown Virginia. His ship, the "Sea Venture", similar to the replica above, was wrecked on the reef off the Bermuda coast during a storm. 150 people and a dog managed to make it ashore and spent two years here. (Eventually most of them continued to Jamestown on other vessels.)
St. Peter's Church was established in 1612 at the time the first permanent settlers arrived. It is the oldest Anglican church outside of England.
As we departed Bermuda, 8 rookie sailors were learning the art of harnessing the wind as humans have done for thousands of years.
Nautical Term of the Day -- Bamboozle
From the 17th century, this term has described the Spanish custom of hoisting false flags in order to deceive, or "bamboozle", their enemies.
This beautiful, subtropical island greeted us with its scenic shores, gorgeous coves, and attractive white-roofed houses. It looked as though every one of the 66,000 inhabitants owned a boat.
Docking in Hamilton, the capital city, we were able to walk off the ship directly onto Front Street. The island is a British Territory graced with a distinct English flavor. With no fresh water source, the homes and businesses collect rain water that generously falls on their roofs and store it in underground cisterns. The white roofs are coated with a lime based paint that "purify's" the water as it drains into the storage vessels. ( No wonder rum is so popular here!)
During our morning tour we stopped at the aquarium and viewed the sea turtles. An endangered specie, injured turtles are brought in for treatment. After recovery they are released back into the ocean.
Fort St. Catherine is located at the northeastern tip of Bermuda in the town of St. George. For nearly 400 years it protected the island. The St. George settlement was established in 1612 and is the longest continually inhabited English settlement in the New World. Prior to 1612, Spanish and Portuguese ships stopped by periodically to replenish their water and meat supplies, but never established a settlement.
In the tunnels under the fort, Jan explored the powder magazine. With 25 foot thick walls, over a ton of explosives were once stored here.
During the 19th century, the fort's 10-inch rifled-muzzled-loading guns fired shells manufactured in England.
Each gun projected a 410 pound shell capable of piercing 11 inches of wrought iron at a distance of more than 1/2 mile.
In 1609, Sir George Somers commanded 15 ships headed for the British settlement at Jamestown Virginia. His ship, the "Sea Venture", similar to the replica above, was wrecked on the reef off the Bermuda coast during a storm. 150 people and a dog managed to make it ashore and spent two years here. (Eventually most of them continued to Jamestown on other vessels.)
St. Peter's Church was established in 1612 at the time the first permanent settlers arrived. It is the oldest Anglican church outside of England.
As we departed Bermuda, 8 rookie sailors were learning the art of harnessing the wind as humans have done for thousands of years.
Nautical Term of the Day -- Bamboozle
From the 17th century, this term has described the Spanish custom of hoisting false flags in order to deceive, or "bamboozle", their enemies.
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