Day 14 - Bermuda!

Queue the Miami Vice theme music...Here comes Crockett and Tubbs!

Our Pilot boat following alongside, showing the rough water.

We arrived this morning in Bermuda, but with strong winds and choppy seas.  The  ship’s stabilizers are so good, you didn't feel much.  After a “hearty” breakfast, we headed to our rally point for our tour, but not before knocking over a thermos full of ice and water…all over the computer.  Well, so far it seems to have weathered that storm.  Bermuda is essentially a straight-line West from Funchal, which is at 32.65 degrees North Latitude, and Bermuda is 32.29.  Dallas is at 32.78, about 9 miles north of Funchal, and 35ish north of Bermuda.

A fort and the pier.

Guess who won the "Quiz" yesterday!

Looks like a pirate ship...but it's actually a bar.

Looking back at the fort.

The Higgs lighthouse.

On the pier we were sorted into groups.  Our group was five (plus the driver).  She started driving around narrating a few tidbits of info until we got to our first stop, a light house.  We took about 5 minutes to mill about, and were ready to go.  The lookout was nice, but nothing to jump up and down regarding.

A familiar sight.

Awwww...aren't they cute??

The former US Naval Base

Wearing our beach clothes?

The only McDonalds in Bermuda, and it's closed.

Intended to be the Cathedral, but the roof collapsed, so they gave up.

A resort with some wet seating.

Fort Saint Catherine...big gun!

Next was Fort St. Catherine.  We had 15 minutes to show ourselves around, but we could have easily taken twice as long.  We were confident that she would not leave us behind as we were 80% of the group. 

The fort's gate and drawbridge.

At the fort.  Some things happened.

Down into the magazine.

One of the hallways deep under the fort.

Some of the shells used...these are 400 lbs.

Not sure if they are guarding the resort or ...?

Tools of the trade.

Maybe I shouldn't have stolen that bread?

Pink beach?

The next stop was the town of St. George.  We had about 30-40 minutes to look around but didn’t see the dragon.  We did hike up to the church…and found it locked.  We then headed back down to the grocery store, which was about the size of a large 7-11 (maybe twice the size).  This island isn’t very big, sort of like a long S shape, and at the widest part, it is only 2 miles across.  There is almost agriculture, so EVERYTHING is imported…and priced as such.  We looked with shock at the prices ($8 for a 2-liter of soda, half a pound of shrimp for $22, and a small frozen pizza for $17).  We bought nothing.

On we went to Hamilton, where she pointed out a few buildings.  Along the way she told us where Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have a house, we drove through the former US Naval Base (and the only McDonalds which is now gone), and we stopped at “the pinkest” pink sand beach.  Now, being colorblind, I didn’t expect much, and that was expectation was met.  MaryAnne figured out how or why they call it “pink”, but none of us were clear on how this could be an “attraction”.

Pink.  Upon close inspection.

City Hall

The oldest church in North America in continuous use (since 16-something)

Some of the early members?

The rental lot...scooters and scooter-cars.

The Catholic Church.  But it was locked??

Grocery store had "Detroit" pizza...for $17!!

Another "pink" (?) sand beach?

Back on the ship, we grabbed a quick pizza and sandwich to share, to tie us over until dinner.  Then our usual trivia at 4:45.  We won!!  And a straight up win, too, not some mamby pamby tie.

Making dinner...on 750F stones.

For dinner, we went to the “Hot rocks” where they put a 750F lava stone (basalt, maybe?) in front of you, an apron around you, and then you choose the slab of protein you would like laid upon the rock of permanent injury before you.  Theresa chose a 6 ounce filet mignon, Bill ordered four prawns, and Mike and MaryAnne shared a ribeye.  The food was surprisingly excellent!

Bill found a "salad" he likes!

Chocolate!

As we left the restaurant, they were setting up for the “Chocolate Extravaganza” (a buffet of chocolate everything) followed by a dance party.  We got there about 9:30, stayed until 10:30, and "danced".  Now, when I say danced...it was like someone wrote some "code" to make a robot move, but the code was simple and yet glitchy.  Theresa may have some moves, but not Bill!