A Yankee in Bermuda

"This is my own, my native land..."

2007-06-25T11:25:00.000-03:00

Long Gone

2007-06-25T11:01:00.000-03:00

Yes, we have moved from Bermuda to Maine, so the Bermuda Yankee is no longer posting Bermuda news and adventures. Since, however, we are back in Maine, Bermuda Yankee will soon morph into a new blog, www.Mainemoves.blogspot.com with postings about our adventures in Maine. Thanks for reading Bermuda Yankee.

A Few More of My Favorite Things...

2007-01-04T22:23:00.001-04:00

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Desserts! The best restaurants in Bermuda seem to try to outdo each other in fabulous desserts, as you can see. The visual effect is stunning, and the gustatory impact is equally satisfying.

The Carter House, St. David's, Bermuda

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Carter House, the oldest building on St David’s Island, was constructed around 1640. It was built by the descendants of Christopher Carter who was one of two crew members of Sir George Somers’ shipwrecked Sea Venture who remained in Bermuda when the other survivors left for Virginia in 1610.

The Carter House is unusual in that it is built of stone when most other 17th century homes in Bermuda were built of wood. A lower basement supports an upper living area that is reached by an outside staircase. The gable ends are supported by large chimneys. The home's builders wisely set the whole building into a hillside to protect it against the high winds that sweep through Bermuda during hurricane season and the months of January and February.

During the time when this part of Bermuda was occupied by US military personnel, Carter House was used as a beauty parlour. After the military left the island in the 1960s, the house was restored and now accommodates the St David’s Island Historical Society Museum.

Thanksgiving in Bermuda

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Devonshire Bay Sunset, Thanksgiving

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Abby and Karen doing a Silly Walk Together

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Karen and Kevin

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Stuffed Turkeys

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For Thanksgiving our good friends the Broughtons invited us for dinner. After dinner, but before dessert, we walked down to Devonshire Bay to watch the sunset. It was a lovely day with terrific friends.

Teatime at Mrs. Tea's Teahouse

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One of my favorite activities in Bermuda is teatime at Mrs. Tea's Teahouse in Somerset. Yummy goodies. Mrs. Tea's keeps a rack of hats available for those of us who wish to borrow one to create the effect of a formal tea, say, from the 1940s.

Chris Marsen Watercolor at Tucker's Point Club

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Golf Tourism

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View from the Tucker's Point Club Terrace

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Another View from the Terrace

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Tucker's Point Golf Club

2007-01-04T18:53:00.000-04:00

Tucker's Point Club is THE premier golf club in Bermuda. Established in 2002 on the grounds of the former Castle Harbour Golf Club, the new Tucker's Point Club has beautiful, high-end residential properties that surround the club, and the rolling, manicured course that was designed by Roger Rulewich is a golfer's delight.

At Tucker's Point Club for IWC November Social

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Tucker's Point Club Centerpiece for IWC Event

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IWC Party-Goers at Tucker's Point Club

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25th Anniversary of the IWC: Dessert Special

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Liz, Peter, Eric, and I at IWC Social

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Trying to Look Our Best

2007-01-04T18:32:00.000-04:00

International Women's Club (IWC) Social

2007-01-04T18:24:00.000-04:00

One of the best things about my experience in Bermuda has been membership in the International Women's Club (IWC). The IWC is comprised of expat women living in Bermuda who like to get together to socialize and participate in philanthropic efforts. Periodically the IWC organizes social events where members and significant others can visit over drinks, dinner, and dancing. Great fun!

End of October Sunset, Harrington Sound

2006-10-31T18:23:00.000-04:00

IWC Walking Group

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Our International Women's Club Walking Group had a very "pink" October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, organizing some reminder or event around each of our Monday morning walks. On this last Monday of October, Elizabeth hosted a lovely coffee at her home. Although it took perseverance and determination to sample all the wonderful goodies and quiches that Liz provided, I managed to try a bite (OK, several bites) of everything: pink-frosted coconut cupcakes, walnut shortbread, raisin scones, banana bread, croissants with strawberry jam and butter, berry coffee cake, fresh strawberries, savory cheese spread, and shrimp quiches...all accompanied by the best Starbucks coffee.

Abby, All-Powerful Witch of Bermuda

2006-10-31T17:49:00.000-04:00

Halloween

2006-10-31T17:46:00.000-04:00

Yes, Halloween is celebrated in Bermuda, it being a custom that started out in the British Isles. Here's Abby in her witch outfit. Note the pet spider around her neck and her sparkly shoes. Her witch's "familiar" -- an animal once believed to be an imp from hell that helps the witch with her unholy magic -- is shown here cleverly disguised as a yellow lab. Who would have guessed?
OK: just about everybody who knows Molly...

Juicy

2006-10-19T15:44:00.000-03:00

Here's our neighbor's ancient Rottie, Juicy. Juicy is SUCH a sweet boy, even though he's spent the vast majority of his life on a chain and is generally ignored. We take him out for walks on his tottery old legs, and slip him extra food. On this particular day, his owner had taken Juicy was off his chain because the dog's neck had become ulcerated from the wear and tear of the links. Once off his chain and left to his own devices, Juicy immediately came across the street to see us -- his friends -- for some pats and food. His situation just breaks our hearts, but according to Bermuda law, as long as Juicy has food, water, and some sort of shelter, nothing can be done. To many local Bermudians, dogs are status symbols or "protection." Dogs are often not considered pets and are generally kept on chains or confined to cages for their entire lives. And, dog fighting has only recently been outlawed.

I wish these ignorant people would live by Albert Schweitzer's philosophy, as follows:

"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace."

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St. George

2006-10-19T15:31:00.000-03:00

Our Monday morning ladies' walking group recently hiked around St. George which is located on the eastern end of Bermuda. The Town of St. George is the oldest settlement (1612) on the island, and was once the seat of government. We walked from the center of St. George, out past the Cut Road where the cruise ships come in, and back to the center of town again in a little over an hour. Great ocean views of that amazingly turquoise crystalline water.

On other days when exercise is not paramount, it's fun to explore the many cobblestone alleyways (such as Petticoat Lane, Old Maid's Lane, Shinebone Alley, Featherbed Alley, Needles and Pins Lane), tiny limestone houses, the Unfinished Church, St. Peter's Church with its ancient cemetary, Fort St. Catherine, the Globe Hotel, the Tucker family home, and the old warehouses. Once all that has been accomplished, it's time for lunch, and Cafe Gio is by far the best restaurant in town, in our humble opinion.

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International Women's Club

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At our recent International Women's Club lunch, several of the members modeled fabulous jewelry pieces that were on loan from Crisson's, a well-respected Bermuda shop. Our lunch at La Coquille in Hamilton consisted of the following:

Wild French Mushroom Soup, truffle foam

Grilled Chicken and Mango Salad, curried dressing, mesclun leaves, fresh berries

Double Chocolate Creme Brulee

Coffee, Tea

Somehow I managed to get through it...

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Royal Naval Dockyard

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Royal Naval Dockyard is located at the furthest end of Bermuda. After Britain's loss of the American colonies in the Revolutionary War, Bermuda took on increasing importance as Britain's toe-hold in the Atlantic Ocean. Bermuda was then known as the "Gilbraltor of the West." To establish its might, Britain used convict and slave labor to begin building the Royal Naval Dockyard in 1809. Ships stopped at Dockyard for refitting, victualling, and repairs before heading out on military, trade, or other missions. Dockyard remained a major outpost until it was closed in 1951. Restaurants, shops, an art gallery, glass works, sheep, a snorkeling park, captive dolphins (a sad spectacle...), and museums now occupy a small part of the once sprawling 11 acre installation.

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Samuel Clemens et al.

2006-10-19T14:41:00.000-03:00

When our friend Peter Beves was recently here visiting with us, we stopped by to say hello to
Samuel Clemens (in bronze). Peter had some writing advice for Mr. Clemens while I was content to bask in Sam's admiring gaze.

Actually, Samuel Clemens, or as he is better known: Mark Twain, visited Bermuda on numerous occasions, and inadvertently provided the Bermuda Tourist Bureau with its favorite quotation: "You go to heaven if you want to; I'd druther stay here."

Another of Samuel Clemens' references to Bermuda goes as follows: "I said it was like being in Heaven. The Reverand rebukingly and rather pointedly advised me to make the most of it then."

From Rambling Notes on an Idle Excursion

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Middle Year Program

2006-10-19T14:36:00.001-03:00

Occasionally Abby has to wear the complete Somersfield Academy Middle Year Program uniform: khaki or plaid skirt, navy blue blazer, white shirt, tie, navy blue knee socks, black shoes. She did think that it was sort of fun the first time, but I don't expect this initial assessment to be long lived.

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Around the World

2006-10-01T14:26:00.000-03:00

Eric has just returned from a three-week, around-the-world trip. The owner of Longtail Aviation is taking one of his other companies into an IPO, so visiting global financial centers is an important part of that process.

Here are some of Eric's photos from the trip. And, yes, some of my South America captions refer to The Lion King.

Falcon Crew: Marty Amick, Dr. Jeremy Morton, Eric

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On the way to South America

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Ascension Island Government: all of it...

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Eric, Ascension Island

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Just Lion Around, South Africa

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Wild Dog, South Africa

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Cheetahs Never Prosper...

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Real Life "Pumba," South Africa

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Hotel, South Africa

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Rainy day, India

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Nice, France

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"These are a few of my favorite things..."

2006-09-27T20:16:00.000-03:00

View from Terrace, Elbow Beach

2006-09-27T08:34:00.000-03:00

End of September

2006-09-27T08:03:00.000-03:00

Yes, school has started, Abby is studying, and I'm back to golf, walking group, mah jong, badminton, and art. Abby has discovered that she LOVES windsurfing. We go to Grotto Bay, a nearby resort, where we rent windsurfers. Because Abby has taken two summers of sailing, she can pick up any puff, but I, on the other hand, seem to be pulled toward moored boats and rocky areas.

Abby's New Favorite Sport: Windsurfing

2006-09-27T08:01:00.000-03:00

Abby's Study Companions

2006-09-27T07:59:00.000-03:00

Back to School

2006-09-20T16:55:00.000-03:00

Abby is very happy to be back at Somersfield Academy. She's interested in perhaps too many activities -- band, dance, netball, swim team, and debate, with Chinese lessons on Saturday -- but we'll see. If her enthusiasm continues to be as high as it is now, she'll be fine.

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After Hurricane Florence

2006-09-13T13:12:00.000-03:00

Thanks to all of you have been keeping tabs on us. Abby and I survived Hurricane Florence quite well with the exception of losing electricity for two days...I guess it only seemed like an eternity. When the line crew came up our road at midnight last night, I was so happy to see them that I went out to thank them and gave them two jars of jam from St. Martin (the only gift-like option I had around) to show my gratitude.

There was much anticipation, lots of warnings, and considerable preparation around the storm, but very little damage was done to buildings. Farmers on the island, however, lost their crops due to the amazingly salty winds. Consequently, our backyard flower garden is dead. I'm hosting the International Women's Club Art Group on Friday. The hostess at these events will often bring in a bouquet from her garden to inspire our creativity, but if I were to do so, I'd have to call it "Mort du Fleur."

Maine

2006-09-01T17:35:00.000-03:00

Abby and I went home to Maine for nine days and enjoyed blueberries, lobster, fresh corn, and tomatoes. We also went to Willard Beach in South Portland where the salty, seaweed smell of a Maine beach came back to me in a wave of remembrance. I've included a photo below of a seagull that was very miffed that he didn't score any of our fries. Later in the week, our friend Deb took Abby tubing around Little Sebago Lake. Along the way, we visited friends and relatives, appreciating the ties that we have there.

Old Fishing Shacks, Willard Beach, Maine

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Scavenging Seagull

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Leaving Beach

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Abby and her cousin, Jake, at Maine beach

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AARRGGH!!!

2006-08-29T12:54:00.000-03:00

Well, our trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, was terrrific, but I can't seem to get the posts into the order I want. Sorry.

Chinese Garden, Vancouver

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Woodcarving, Spruce Mountain

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Roomsize Lego Construction

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The Science Museum had a nifty exhibit about Ancient Egypt that was constructed ENTIRELY from Legos! Very amazing.

Mommy the Mummy

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Near the Top of Spruce Mountain

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Treehouse Walk, Capilano Bridge Area

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Logger Triumph, Spruce Mountain

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Mid Point, Capilano Bridge, Vancouver

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Capilano Suspension Bridge

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Oh, my! Abby and I were all for going to the Capilano Suspension Bridge (200+ feet above a gorge) in North Vancouver. All was fine until I reached the center of the suspension bridge where -- did I mention how the bridge s-w-a-y-s back and forth when there are hordes of people on it -- I desperately wanted to curl up in a ball and have someone carry me to the other side. But, I just asked Eric to come back so he was in front on me, and thus managed to get to the other side. The other side was really the most fun since there were smaller suspension bridges strung between the monumentally tall trees (spruces, I guess) to create the best treehouse scenario ever! I felt like I was 10 years old again...really fun scampering about the tree tops.

Dragon Fly, Stanley Park, Vancouver

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Gardens at Stanley Park, Vancouver

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Vancouver, British Columbia

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Vancouver is a terrific place to visit. We stayed at the Granville Island Hotel which is in the midst of shops, restaurants, theater, and, best of all: the Public Market. We feasted on locally grown blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, and apricots. All this abundance was especially welcome since we are so fruit-deprived in Bermuda. Imagine: $6.75 for a tiny container (maybe a pint?) of blueberries at Lindos, the largest supermarket on the island! The frugal Yankee in Bermuda cannot bring herself to make such a purchase.

Scenic and/or fun attractions in Vancouver:

The Capilano Suspension Bridge. Imagine swaying on a "rope" bridge 220 feet above the gorge below (visions of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"). Yes, I very nearly froze in the middle of the swaying bridge, but managed to persevere to the other side. Check it out on www.capbridge.com. On the other side is the Treetops Adventure Park which features a tree top rope walkway, like the best treehouse you ever imagined as a kid.

Chinatown. Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Classical Chinese Garden. Nice, but not spectacular.
Be forewarned: seedy part of town near Chinatown as you walk toward the toney Gastown area.

Science World. Home of the Egyptian exhibits made from Legos. Good Imax films and fun science interactive games/challenges. Abby did amazingly well with the alpha mind-state contest: controlling your brain waves to push back your opponent's indicator.

Stanley Park. Lots of gardens, fir and cedar trees, perimeter biking/walking trail on seawall. Home of the Vancouver Aquarium: so crowded the day we were there that we felt like sardines.

Grouse Mountain. The Skyride Cable Car was the most popular way to get to the top, although the hardier souls hiked the two-mile trail (we rode). Good restaurant at the top, logging and birds-of-prey shows.

On Board the Tall Ship Picton Castle

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Picton Castle Ship's Doctor Morton and Abby

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When the barque Picton Castle was recently anchored off St. Geroge, we had a chance to go aboard. Check out www.pitcon-castle.com for more info, crew diaries, photos, captain's log, etc. This 179 foot ship is a deep-ocean sail training vessels equipped with a steel hull, oil pine decks, and 12,450 square feet of canvas sail. Tar is used on the lines, just as it would have been in the old days of wooden ships, so most of the crew had tar on their clothes. Well, this is an authentic working tall ship, the likes of which have not been seen in many a year. It must take a new crew's breath away the first time all the Picton Castle's sails are filled with wind. After being on this amazing ship, books like Master and Commander became MUCH more real to me. Mind you, after seeing the damp communal sleeping quarters below on the rainy day we visited, I lost all interest in actually being onboard a ship like this for more than, say, an afternoon.

In the "small world" category, the ship's doctor, Dr. Morton, from Maine was a board member of the Gulf of Maine Aquarium back in the 1970s when I was a staff member there. How about that?!

Agapanthus with Day Lilies

2006-07-07T09:27:00.000-03:00

Agapanthus, "Lily of the Nile"

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Agapanthus. July is the time of the agapanthus. I am frustrated because I can't quite capture the bold purple color and presence of these huge flowers (10 inches in diameter). They are garden show stoppers.

Abby's Horse Paintings

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Abby has been doing some very nice paintings of horses recently. Here are two of her latest. Pretty good, huh? My horses, on the other hand, look like strangely evolved dogs.