My uber-Last-Minute Solo Bermuda Cruise! - Page 9 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Holy long line, batman! Wow, glad you got up early to avoid that. And the photos from the arrival into Bermuda are beautiful too. Looks good, can't wait to see more!
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Tanya
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sorry for the delay in posting--our internet (but, thankfully, NOT our power) went out last night and just now came back on. it's SCARY here in PA. my town looks like it was hit by a tornado--more trees are down than are up (and i live in a fairly tree-filled town). I'm going to walk around and take photos for the next few hours (it is literally unbelievable) and then I'll have another post up.
As soon as I got off of the ferry to St. George, I found myself in the center of town—King’s Square—in front of the Town Hall. I had noted in my pre-trip notes that there was a free guided tour of the town that originated in front of this very town hall, and lo and behold, it was starting just as I arrived. I think this is just another example of the way Bermuda anticipates tourists’ wants, needs, and desires in an almost Disney-esque manner.
After taking the tour, I also determined that the guided tour might also serve one other Disney-esque purpose—crowd control. We found ourselves standing in an alley behind a park listening to a really, REALLY long talk about the history of Bermuda. While yes, the history of Bermuda is kind of why I took this tour, it would be nice to hear about the founder’s statue while, say, standing in front of it—not dodging mail trucks in a back alley. All in all it was a good tour—I guess—and I did learn a lot. But I really should have just done the self-guided walking tour I downloaded before leaving on the cruise.
Additionally, as I love taking photos (obviously), I ended up going back to all of the places the tour guide showed us—so that I could take photos without crowds of people in the way. Thus, I will post only this photo from the actual tour, of a moongate in the one park we visited…
…and this one, of that same park—Somers Garden—viewed from the alley in which we stood for quite awhile…
I revisited all of the other locations later in the day and got actually good photos--which I will post when I get to that point in the day.
The one good thing that the tour guide did was point me in the direction of my next stop—the unfinished church enroute to Tobacco Bay Beach. Which is where I headed next…
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By the time I reached the top of the STEEP hill leading up to the Unfinished Church I knew that if I stopped walking I’d never start again—so I continued along on my search for the beach. I wasn’t really sure how to get there, and shortly after the church the road split. I went to the left-ish, as it was more straight ahead than the other direction—and anyway, I saw multiple taxis going that was and figured that was my best bet. Just beyond the unfinished church, the walk to Tobacco Bay gets really amazingly beautiful. Honestly, this may have been the highlight of my trip. The little road splits into a divided lane bordered by trees, and then opens up into what could only be described as a meadow. A little further ahead, an even smaller road/path splits off to the left—if you follow it, you will come to Fort St. Catherine. I didn’t walk all the way there (it was hot and I was tired and still unsure that I was going in the right direction!) but paused to take this photo…
(Side note: I forgot to mention that when in town, the public dunking was going on. I stopped for maybe two minutes and then continued on. If you are going to St. George just for this—don’t. Go because it is a beautiful, beautiful little town and for the walk to the beach.)
I was very glad to find that I was, in fact, going the correct way—but was a bit taken aback by how small Tobacco Bay Beach really is. I stood here thinking ‘huh?’ for a good two or three minutes, and the ventured down..
I’m so glad I ventured down—and was brave enough to ask a woman if she minded that I leave my backpack next to her whilst I snorkeled. I rented a snorkel, goggles, and fins for $10 for one hour and honestly, it may have been the best $10 I’ve ever spent.
This past summer, in planning our summer trip, I got all weepy and whiny and said that ‘all I wanted to do was go somewhere that I could go snorkeling’. We were going to Maine and Atlantic Canada—so clearly that was not an option! I was hoping I could convince my husband to change the destination to Bermuda—but no dice. So, of course, having actually made it to Bermuda, I had to snorkel. Only one problem—it kind of freaked me out a bit at first. This was my first ever snorkeling experience (and the water was a bit chilly) so I found that when I put my head under, I sort of started to hyperventilate. Not the best situation for snorkeling! But eventually I got used to it…and wow! Whatever book or blog or review I’d read that said Tobacco Bay Beach was a good snorkeling beach was absolutely correct. While there’s not much to see in the beach part of any beach (other than sand) the rock formations that surrounded this little cove were swimming with fish.
Big, awesome rainbow colored fish (I think they were parrot fish?) It was amazing.
Walking back into town, I actually thought to take a photo of the pretty lane that I so loved…
…and then made my way to the unfinished church. Which I will post all about…tomorrow.
Sorry—I’m now writing this as I go and copy/pasting the photos (which takes a while) and I promised my husband I’d spend some time with him tonight. But he works from 7 am until 10 pm tomorrow—so there will be MANY more posts. Mondays are my most productive days, as he’s gone the entire day!
Up next—the unfinished church, st. peter’s (finished!) church, and the prettiest little street in the world. Well, the prettiest little street outside of actual England. England has some really pretty streets!
sorry about the double photo post--i need to fix that. but will do it tomorrow. photobucket is making me very angry lately. though if that's all i have to complain about in life, i'm pretty darn lucky!
Before arriving at the Unfinished Church, I passed this strange hole/staircase in the side of a cliff. I have no idea what it is, but would love to know. So if anyone out there has any idea, please tell me!
And then, on to the unfinished church. I loved this structure. It was just so pretty. Plus, it’s the kind of church that makes sense—wouldn’t you want god to be able to see inside? There was a sign on the ‘door’ that said DO NOT ENTER but the ‘door’ was also quite open. I wasn’t sure if I should or could go in, so I just sort of peeked inside with my camera…and then took some outside shots before resting on the lawn…
I then wandered back into town to continue admiring the quaintness. I found the little shopping area that was strangely deserted. In fact, the whole town was strangely deserted. This struck me as odd, given the number of people I’d eventually see in line for the ferry. I didn’t encounter crowds at the beach (not even kind of) and passed VERY few people sightseeing as I walked around. Where WAS everyone? I was seriously, seriously confused. But I was also glad that I could take more photos that didn’t include people I’m one of those people that, for whatever reason, likes to take postcard photos—as you can clearly see by all of the photos I’m posting on here…plus ones like this one…
Doesn’t that just look like a Welcome to Bermuda postcard? No? It’s just me? Ah well!
Anyway…I wandered back through the town, stopping every so often to take a photo. Honestly, many people ask if they should ‘waste’ a day in St. George when in Bermuda—and I think that the answer depends upon your travel style. If you are like me and walk around with a camera around your neck, then yes—you should definitely go to St. George. In fact, probably 30% of the reason that I travel is so that I can take pictures! I love that all of the things I love in life—photography, writing, and travel—all kind of go together. Though these hobbies, when combined, can get pretty expensive! (though I bet golf is expensive, too, and lots of people do that as a hobby!) Here were some of my stops…
The Historical Society (admired only from the outside)
St. Paul’s Church and Cemetery (went in—do the same, it’s really pretty.)
(I don’t take ‘good’ photos of cemeteries because I feel it is disrespectful to be crawling all around on the ground trying to get a good angle…)
And then back down the hill, through the shopping district, towards the water front…
It was at this point that I decided I was starving—so starving, in fact, that getting back on the ferry with such an empty stomach (and so very dying of thirst) would be a bad, bad idea. So, after perusing the posted menus outside of a few restaurants like this cute one…
…and determining that I was not, in fact, ok with paying $18 for a grilled cheese sandwich, I walked into the White Horse Pub and ordered a bottle of water and a cup of fish chowder ($12.75!)
To be fair, with the sherry pepper (the stuff pictures in the shakers behind the soup) it was very, very good. But small. It held me over until I returned to the ship later in the day.
I then—you guessed it—wandered around and took some more photos! I returned to this cute little street that we’d visited earlier that morning…
I hope by now you are starting to understand why I’ve made this my second favorite UNESCO world heritage site town in the world. It’s definitely almost as adorable as Bath—and definitely more adorable than Lunenburg. I really need to get myself to more UNESCO world heritage sites!
I then checked out the little area across the little bridge from the main square, which houses a statue of St. George (before he was a saint!) By this point it was approaching 3:00 in the afternoon, and I was both tired and scared that if I stayed for the last ferry of the day, I’d not make it on for some reason. I super did not want to spend two plus hours in a bus trying to get back to the dockyard, so I got in line for the 3:45 ferry. Well, here’s where all the people were! Honestly, I don’t understand how there was a line like this—I didn’t run into crowds all day! Though I did run into my cruise critic friend and his family multiple times!
When this photo was taken, I was about to board the ferry and I’d say there were as many people that got on BEFORE me as were lined up in this photo AFTER me—and I think we all got on. It was a lot like clowns in a volkswagon!
I sat with the same couple I’d met at Tobacco Bay earlier that day, and we had a lovely conversation all the way back to the Dockyard. They invited me to join them on a sunset cruise excursion in the evening the next day, and I seriously considered it (spoiler—I didn’t go. It was crazy windy that day and sailing seemed like a bad option!)
Up next—my safe return to the ship and dinner…with friends!
Great. I am like you, I to travel and take photos, If money would allow it I would travel all the time Happy Holloween
thanks! glad you like the pics!
and as for your travel dreams--we don't have a lot of money, either (thus my reluctance to spend $18 on a sandwich!) i've found ways to make travel possible. it involves going without many things--but who needs things when you have trips to look forward to?
I would say that at least 50% of why I travel is take photos. After all, how else can you properly remember it afterwards? I love looking back at all my photos when we get home.
Tracy - your pics are all so great! Postcard pics they are! I really like the scooter by the blue wall and the phonebooth by the dock. I love photography as well. I just don't have the equipment (including the eye sometimes - LOL)
Postcard picture perfect - every stinkin' one of 'em!!! I can't imagine anyone would not want to go there - it's beautiful! The one with the phone booth is really cool. I love how the sun shines through the glass in the shadow. But really, where was everyone? How odd.
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Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
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. I am like you, I 
to travel and take photos, If money would allow it I would travel all the time
I can't imagine anyone would not want to go there - it's beautiful! The one with the phone booth is really cool. I love how the sun shines through the glass in the shadow. But really, where was everyone? How odd.
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