Travel notes, day 5
Finally, the cold part of my New Year holidays ended and I flew in the summer to Bermuda. Anticipating the warm sun and the ocean, in New York I managed to put my jacket in my backpack. I hurried. It was not there. For those who don’t know, absolutely all American airlines consider it necessary to carry passengers, like carcasses of cows in a refrigerator. In any American plane, the condo is cut to the maximum, even if summer is overboard and passengers come in shorts and slippers. The JetBlu company, which drove me to Bermuda, was no exception. Well, I hid my jacket not far. The last cold test quickly ended and by noon I was walking in Bermuda in Bermuda.
01. Early in the morning I fly out of New York to Bermuda. Fly a little over two hours. 
02. There is free Wi-Fi in the fifth JFK terminal, but there is no way to buy normal coffee. Only one Illy coffee shop, but for some reason some slops are served there. With coffee in the USA, it’s a very big problem, it’s almost impossible to find normal espresso drinks. 
03. American Airlines. They have chrome planes, very beautiful. The best livery I've seen. Although the airline itself is shit. 
04. Hawaiian Airlines. 
05. Take off. New York suburbs in the morning fog. 
06. Long Beach on the right 
07. We fly to Bermuda. The islands are considered overseas territory of Great Britain, but allowed there on an American visa. 
What did I know about Bermuda? Firstly, there are such shorts that are worn with golf. Surprisingly, in Bermuda, many do wear such shorts. In fact, these are short pants and can be part of business clothes. There is also the famous Bermuda Triangle, where everything disappears.
At the airport I take a taxi and go to the hotel. A taxi to the capital on the counter costs $ 35. Driver annoying grandmother. All the way, she asked why I came, why I take pictures of something from the window, if I accidentally record it on a recorder, etc. 2 dollars tip, which would offend to the core of the soul of any New York taxi driver, the grandmother was led into an indescribable delight. She even went out and tried to snatch my bag and help bring me to the hotel. Apparently they give her a tip not often. 
There are tales on the Internet about unusual laws in Bermuda.
“Until 1948, private cars were banned in Bermuda. This is one of the reasons why there are so many bikes. ” - this is so, but now, of course, you can have it, and there are almost no cyclists, only tourists.
“It is forbidden to drive a car faster than 20 miles per hour (32 km / h)” - bullshit, they have removed all restrictions for a long time and they rush here as they want. Although, overclocking above 60 is difficult physically.
“It is forbidden for tourists to rent a car - only mopeds, taxis or buses are allowed.” - Yes, there are no rental cars for tourists. I took a scooter for $ 50 + $ 30 insurance.
“You can’t go into public transport with a suitcase” - did not check
“Women are forbidden to wear skirts shorter than 16 centimeters from the knee,” they walk in shorts and nothing.
You can have one car per family.
Fast food is also prohibited by law on the island. That is, not a single McDonald's-like institution is here. There is only one KFC that worked before the law was passed. 
10. American tourists - the main consumer of Bermuda holidays. 60% of treasury income from tourists. 
11. Houses 
12. All houses in the country are small, bright, very neat and all have a white stepped roof. 
13. Street 
14. Please note that the streets are all very narrow and there are no sidewalks. It’s difficult to walk, you can’t stop by car almost anywhere without parking, there are no curbs anywhere. 
15. Another street 
16. The capital Hamilton is the only official city in Bermuda, lives a little more than 1000 people. 
17. The islands are very green. 
18.
19. Let's look again at the roofs ... 
20. All are white 
21. Everything is necessary in steps. 
22. Be it a large mansion or a small shed. 
23. Such roofs are needed to collect water! The only source of fresh water is tropical rain. There are no rivers and streams on the islands, since rainwater is quickly absorbed into porous limestone. Desalination plants exist, but desalination is not cheap, and local people accumulate rainwater. For this, the roofs of houses are designed in a special way in order to direct water into the tank under the house. Under each house there is always a reservoir of cold water, something like a well. 
24. Street in the capital 
25. More 
26. Embankment 
27. Street in the village 
28. Red mailboxes remind of Britain here ... 
29. ... and red telephone boxes. Even at the airport, the portrait of the queen hangs large. 
30. English bus, it is not clear how it turned out here. 
31. Modern buses in Bermuda look like this. There are many routes, you can safely travel by bus. 
32. Mailboxes 
33.
34. From 1931 to 1948 there was a railway connecting the islands with bridges. Now, instead of the old railway, a hiking trail for cyclists. 
35. Beach 
36. There is nothing special to do in Bermuda. One day is enough to completely go around the whole island. If you are not interested in “vegetable” tourism (meaning not a healthy diet, but a lazy and sedentary lifestyle), then you can safely fly on. 
37. 
All trip:
Day 1: San Francisco, USA
Day 2: Carmel Valley, USA
Day 3: Apple, Facebook, Google, USA
Day 4: 17 mile road, sunset in SF, USA
Day 5: Bermuda
Day 6: Bahamas
Day 7:
Useful data for tourists about Bermuda, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Bermuda, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions of Bermuda.
Bermuda Geography
Bermuda is an overseas territory of Great Britain located on a group of coral islands in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, 900 km from North America.
Bermuda includes 150 islands and reefs, of which about 20 are inhabited and 10 are connected by bridges and overpasses and form the main island - Main Island.
The main island is characterized by hilly terrain (the highest point is 76 m), a rather rugged coastline with a large number of bays and sections of sandy beaches.
State
Government structure
The English monarch is represented on the islands by the governor, who manages foreign policy, defense, and police matters. The bicameral parliament is engaged in the regulation of internal life. The head of the executive branch is the prime minister.
Tongue
State language: English
In everyday life, a peculiar jargon is most often used, formed from the English language base and a large number of Spanish and Portuguese words and idiomatic expressions.
Religion
Most believers are Anglicans, there is a significant Catholic community.
Currency
International name: BMD
Popular Attractions
Bermuda Tourism
Popular hotels
Tip
In most restaurants, the cost of service (about 10-15% of the total) is usually included in the bill. In hotels, tipping staff is not accepted, as they are also usually included in the bill. Hotels add to the bill a special tax of 7.5% (included in the price) and some additional fees.
Porters and porters at the airport and hotels are usually given several dollars for services, taxi drivers expect a tip in the amount of 10-15% of the fare, but it is quite acceptable to round up the amount.
The medicine
Emergency phones
Unified Rescue Service (fire department, police and ambulance) - 911.
Rescue Service Coordination Center - 297-1010.
Central Police Station - 295-0011.
King Edward Memorial Clinic Dispatch Center - 236-2345.
Bermuda is an overseas territory of Great Britain located in the northwest of the Atlantic Ocean. In total, the archipelago has 150 islands and reefs inhabited - only 20, 10 of them form Maine Island and are connected by bridges and overpasses.
The total area is 53,200 square meters. km, the population is about 70,000 people, among whom 54% are blacks, 31% come from Europe and North America, 4% are Asians and Indians, 4% are mulattos. 23% of the population attends the Church of England, 15% - Catholic, 11% consider themselves African Methodists - bishops, 18% - Protestants, 14% - atheists. The official language is English.
The capital - port - city of Hamilton.
The largest city of Bermuda is Hamilton. Magnificent landscapes open from the city promenade. It is always crowded, as the main attractions are concentrated in the capital.
No less famous is the former capital of Bermuda - the city of St. George, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is noteworthy that St. George is the oldest English-speaking colonial city on the planet.
Island Ireland - Island is famous for the largest fort in Bermuda with the Maritime Museum and the Center for the Arts.
How to get to Bermuda
There is no direct flight connection between Belarus and Bermuda.
You will have to fly with a connection in London by British Airways (the cost of a round-trip flight is about 1300 euros).
You can get to Bermuda by sea on a cruise ship, which in recent years has become very popular.
For questions about purchasing airline tickets and tours to Bermuda, please contact the Thank You Travel travel company - our experienced managers will select the travel option that best suits your needs.
Bermuda Climate
The Gulf Stream has a direct impact on the climatic conditions of Bermuda. The territory of the archipelago is in the zone of temperate marine climate.
The average air temperature here in summer is +26 degrees, in winter - +14 - +17 degrees and strong winds.
The annual rainfall is about 1000 mm.
During the period from June to November, severe hurricanes and rains are possible.
The best time to travel to Bermuda is from April to October.
In Bermuda, a large number of hotels for every taste. The local all-inclusive system has proven itself well.
Bermuda Beaches
The entire coastline of Bermuda is in excellent condition, the beaches here are covered with pink sand, surrounded by beautiful gardens and a clear transparent sea. Bermuda's beaches may be private, may be municipal. It is forbidden to be on the beaches at night.
Many good beaches can be seen in the south of the archipelago - in the bays of Horshaw - Bay, Warwick - Long Bay, Jobsons - Cove.
In the vicinity of Hamilton, the beaches of Elbow Beach are famous, in the vicinity of St. David - Tartle Bay, the Paget is famous for the beaches of John Smith Bay.
Not only the sea and the sun, but also beautiful diving in Church Bay, the bays of Mangrove Bay, Black Bay, Parsons Bay and others.
Banks, money, exchange points
The currency of Bermuda is the Bermuda dollar, equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are paper notes in denominations of 2.5.10.20.50.100 dollars and coins in denominations of 1 dollar, 1,5,10,25 cents. Also everywhere you can pay in US dollars.
Bank hours:
On weekdays - from 9.00 to 16.30
Saturdays - from 10.00 to 15.00 (only one bank in Hamilton)
You can exchange currencies at banks and exchange offices. It is forbidden to make an exchange "with hands." ATMs in Bermuda are a fairly common occurrence, but credit cards of local banks, American Express and Visa are a priority.
Credit cards of the main world payment systems (American Express, Master Card and Visa) are accepted for payments in most hotels, shops and restaurants, but in small institutions payment by bank transfer is difficult. Travel checks (preferably in US dollars) can be cashed at any bank.
Goods and services in Bermuda are not subject to VAT.
Tips make up 10 - 15% of the total cost to waiters, porters, porters, taxi drivers, you can simply round the amount up.
Tourist Safety
Nothing will overshadow your stay in Bermuda (which is considered one of the safest countries in the Western Hemisphere) if you adhere to certain rules of conduct:
- When visiting an expensive institution, an evening dress and a formal suit with a tie are required
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol in public places.
- Before going out, be sure to use sunscreen
- It is advisable to use bottled water for food.
- It is recommended to follow basic hygiene standards and rules.
Transport
Public transport in Bermuda includes buses, minibuses, cars, taxis, motorbikes, bicycles, horse-drawn vehicles and ferries. Since the country has very narrow streets, all vehicles move at a low speed.
Entertainment, excursions, attractions
The city of Hamilton with its picturesque landscapes, parks and squares enjoys the increased attention of tourists. Among the local attractions should be noted Bermuda Cathedral Bridge - Holi - Trinity, government buildings, a fort, a monument to those killed in world wars. The museums - Historical, National Gallery, Desmond - Fontine Gallery, Institute of Underwater Research, Zoo, Aquarium are very popular among tourists. In urban areas, you can enjoy nature in the Blue Hole Park Nature Reserve and the Botanical Gardens. By ferry you can make an excursion to nearby islands.
The hallmark of St. George, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is 18th Century Royal Square, Town Hall, State House. The most visited museums are the Bermuda National Trust Museum (building of 1700), Heritage Museum, Historical Museum, Tucker House Museum. The oldest church here is St. Peters Church.
The small island of Ireland - Island is famous for its fort, the largest in Bermuda, as well as the Maritime Museum and the Center for the Arts. The island has well-developed infrastructure - a large number of pubs, shops, there is even a cinema and a market. Snorkeling - The Park is considered the best Scuba Diving Center in Bermuda. Here you can visit the Michael Swan Gallery of Local Arts and the picturesque Lagoon Park.
A large flow of tourists in Bermuda is caused not only by the sights, the sea and the sun, but also by an active pastime. There are excellent conditions for windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling and, of course, diving (visibility under water here is often 60 meters). And the ships sunken near the coast give vent to imagination. A large number of golf tournaments are also held in Bermuda - there are 16 modern golf courses on the islands.
Bermuda is famous for its festivals and carnivals. At the beginning of August it is the famous Caribbean Music Festival, in the middle it is the Reggae Festival, in November it is “Bermuda-Tatu”, in January it is a photo exhibition, in March it is the Brass Music Festival and Jazz Evening.
Newlyweds in Bermuda love to hold wedding ceremonies and a honeymoon.
And adventurers have been trying to solve the mystery of the “Bermuda Triangle” for a year.
Cuisine and restaurants
The national cuisine of Bermuda combines the traditions of Europe and America. The following exotic dishes are popular with tourists and locals:
black bass rum flavored fish
shark meat soup flavored with sherry or rum
“Sunday breakfast” - fried cod with potatoes, eggs, bananas, avocado with onion and tomato sauce
bermuda lobsters
cassava pies, with cod, with mussels
royal mackerel steak
all kinds of seafood salads
fried cuban yellowtail
"Hoppin - john" - boiled black peas and rice
“Toastones” - fried bananas
variety of fruits
sweet potato pudding
grape jelly
loquat jam
From alcohol - local Golsing * s Bermuda Black Seal rum and cocktails based on it
Shopping and shops
Shop hours:
Monday to Saturday - from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (on Thursday - until 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.)
Shopping at duty-free shops attracts visitors to the archipelago. Here you can buy not only souvenirs from local craftsmen, but also high-quality cashmere and leather products from European manufacturers.
Bermuda bargaining is inappropriate.
Customs
Import and export of local and foreign currency is allowed in unlimited quantities. Amounts in excess of US $ 10,000 and gold should be declared.
Allowed to import persons over 18 years of age:
- Up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 450 g of tobacco
- Up to 0.94 L of strong alcohol and up to 0.94 L of wine
It is forbidden to import:
- Drugs
- Explosives
- Items of historical and cultural value and weapons without permission
- Medicines containing narcotic substances must have a notary certified prescription
It is forbidden to import and export:
- Plants
- Animals, including marine
- Coral
- Items raised from the bottom of the sea
If you haven’t found a suitable vacation option - pass on the hassle of organizing the trip to our professional managers by filling out and they will promptly contact you! We can send you anywhere in the world!
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And in September 2012, the media was full of reports that a visa to Bermuda is no longer needed. We begin to check everything, and it turns out that visa-free entry is possible for citizens of Russia, India and China with a visa from the USA, Canada or Great Britain. We just had a US visa, so we were delighted: finally we get to these mysterious islands. We flew to Bermuda from Buffalo via New York, connecting 2.5 hours with United Airlines. And back flew c to New York.
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By the way, the plane flies to Bermuda without crossing the borders of the so-called Bermuda Triangle. Let me remind you that this is such an area in the Atlantic Ocean in which mysterious disappearances of ships and aircraft allegedly occur. The area is bounded by imaginary lines from Miami (Florida) to Bermuda, then to Puerto Rico and again to Florida through the Bahamas.
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Passport control passed quickly, no questions about visas arose.
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Bermuda is a group of coral islands in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. They were discovered at the beginning of the 16th century by the Spanish navigator Juan Bermudez and named them the Devil's Islands due to difficult navigation conditions.
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Today, Bermuda has the status of a self-governing overseas territory of Great Britain.
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Despite the large number of islands, the population of the archipelago is only about 60 thousand people, and the total length of roads in Bermuda is 30 km.
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The monetary unit is the Bermuda dollar. The 25-cent coin shows a phaeton. This bird was almost destroyed by the egg pickers, but after the organization of the guard, the number of phaetons recovered, and now they again nest on many islands. When we walked along the cliffs, the phaetons circled above our heads: apparently, there were nests, and the birds protected them.
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Houses and fences in Bermuda are built mostly of sandstone. The walls are bright, colorful, and the roofs are white and stepped. Such roofs are made in order to collect water and filter it: dirt lingers on the steps.
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In Bermuda they say: if you come to a house with a dirty roof, do not ask for drinking water. When we traveled around the island, we constantly saw on the roofs of houses people who cleaned them. The gutters are set up so that the concrete pipes are filled with rainwater along vertical pipes. In such tanks, the water is kept cold, as in wells. Each owner is personally responsible for collecting water, and if it still is not enough until the next rainy season, you need to pay money for water to the government.
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The walls of houses according to local GOST must withstand winds up to 160 km / h, so they are quite thick here, and the shutters on the windows open from below. Almost all houses have fireplaces because it is cool in winter.
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In general, Bermuda's climate is mild thanks to the Gulf Stream. During the year, sometimes it rains and rains, but sunny weather prevails. The usual temperature of 20-23 ° C is very comfortable.
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It’s better to relax from April to October. But until June, the water in the ocean is not very warm, because it does not have time to warm up. During our stay, from May 1 to 10, the water was at first 21.3 ° C, and then 23.8 ° C maximum - it was quite cool for us.
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The hotel was booked in five months. The selection was small and the prices are not very low. Of course, I wanted the hotel to be on the beach and the beach was good. We chose for a long time, but in the end did not lose, having booked a room at Pompano Beach Club. Located in Southampton, this family-run hotel dates back to 1956. It is owned by the third generation of the Lamb family. Here you can feel the home, family atmosphere, the friendly attitude of the staff.
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Pompano Beach Club is located on a hill, rooms in two-story houses, neighbors are never seen or heard. Nearby there is a large golf course. And free Wi-Fi is caught in the rooms and throughout the hotel.
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The ocean is very beautiful! The water is clear with a blue tint. During our stay, the whole week was completely calm, and even from the balcony of our room we could watch the fish swimming in the water: they were clearly visible, especially parrots, since they are very bright. Then the wind changed, and the waves appeared, but very tiny. On the water you can walk left along the beach: there are rock formations, small bays - in general, beauty!
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When we decided to explore the archipelago, we learned that car rental is prohibited in Bermuda. There are many reasons for this: traffic density in Bermuda per 1 sq. Km. km is one of the highest in the world, traffic jams are frequent, parking problems, left-hand traffic. You can rent a scooter, a driver’s license is not required for this, but you must be over 16 years old. A helmet, a lock, a full fuel tank and a luggage basket are included in the rental price. Using a helmet is a must.
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You can get to different parts of Bermuda by taxi and bus, there are ferries. Taxi fare is $ 4 for the first mile (1.6 km) plus $ 1.4 for each next mile.
Buses run on 11 routes. They are easy to recognize by pink or blue colors, they are all equipped with air conditioning and go, as a rule, from 7.00 to 23.00. Tickets can be purchased from the driver or purchased at some stores. Buses stop on demand and do not take passengers with large luggage.
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The pink or blue bars that stand right next to the stops indicate where the bus is going. Pink is a bus stop for Hamilton, blue is for buses from Hamilton.
We examined the island in a taxi twice, traveling first in one direction, then in the other, so as to slowly view all the sights and beauty.
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To begin with, we decided to see the oldest iron lighthouse in Bermuda - Gibbs Hill Lighthouse.
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There are actually two lighthouses in Bermuda. One can be seen when approaching the airport from an airplane. It was just on it that they shot an episode from the 1977 Abyss movie. Gibbs Hill Lighthouse is unique in that it is made of cast iron and twisted by bolts from individual sheets. There are very few such lighthouses in the world! Its height is 177 feet. On the territory there is a parking lot, cafe, gift shop. You can go to the very top for $ 2.
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Only 185 steps and you are upstairs! It is from here that an amazing panoramic view of the Bermuda coast opens. In the photo - a view of the western tip of the archipelago, Dokyard. There is a parking of cruise ships and the largest fortress in Bermuda. And the poorest citizens live in that direction, but this cannot be said for their homes.
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The southern part of the island where the most beautiful beaches.
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We arrived in the city of St. George. This is one of the first British settlements in the New World. The city and its surrounding fortifications are included in the World Heritage List. Until 1814, it was the colonial capital of Bermuda.
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The symbol of the city is the dragon. St. George has retained its original appearance, and many historic buildings are still used the same way as 200-300 years ago. Royal Square is the center of the city. It was built 200 years ago.
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The city has an unfinished church. Its construction began in 1874 and ended in 1894, when the city council decided to restore St. Peter's Church.
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Fort St. Caterina - the first building in Bermuda. Since 2000, the building has been a museum.
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And here is the smallest functioning drawbridge in the world - Somerset Bridge. It was built in 1620, and in the middle of the 20th century was reconstructed. Initially, the design was bred manually, now - mechanically.
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And here (well, that is not on the beach) we saw a Portuguese jellyfish boat. They write that just from May to September, these beauties periodically appear on the beaches of Bermuda.
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Next we were waiting for an excursion to the Crystal Cave. It was opened more than 100 years ago by two 12-year-olds who went down into the crevice in search of a cricket ball. The cave is located at a depth of 36 m below the surface of the earth.
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It is believed that the cave was formed during the ice ages, when sea level was 100-130 m lower. Rainwater seeped through the soil, and the resulting underground stream with high acidity dissolved limestone. As a result of this process, voids appeared in the rocks. When the water level in the seas rose, these voids were filled with sea water. Now there is an underground lake through which a pontoon bridge is laid. The water is crystal clear. And next there is another cave connected to the first, it is called Fantasy.
Bermuda was discovered by the Spanish pioneer captain Juan de Bermudez in 1503, who, although he did not land on the islands, indicated them on a map, for the first time on a map of Bermuda appeared in 1543 under the name Rock or Rock, until then the name was Spanish Rock.
Geography and nature of Bermuda
Bermudas are islands of volcanic origin that are located near the western tip of the Sargasso Sea. Bermuda formed during the formation of an underwater volcano and then overgrown with coral reefs, adding a skeleton to the area. The main island has a mountainous terrain, the coast boasts excellent sandy beaches, the number of cozy bays is great. At the beginning and middle of the 20th century, almost all the trees in Bermuda were cut down; today logging is prohibited for economic purposes. Shrubs occupy a third of the island's territory, wild plants are located in the mountains, cultivated plants are planted in the valleys.
The largest cities are Hamilton and St. George. Bermuda consists of 9 districts, local settlements are called nothing more than villages - Village. Bermuda is an 181 island, with a total area of \u200b\u200b53.3 square kilometers. There is always confusion in the name of some islands, as Somers is often called in the plural, although this is the only island, it is also mistakenly called the Summer Islands. The names of the islands are often repeated, for example, two islands have the same name at once - Long Island, on Somerset, Mine and Cooper Islands, there is one and the same bay called Long Bay, there are two roads in different parts of the country called Khyber Pass. There are even two cities of St. George - on the island of St. George in the St. George parish. The city of Hamilton is located in the eponymous district and the district of Pembroke.
Flora and Fauna in Bermuda
At the time of discovery, Bermuda was uninhabited, Bermuda cedar grew here, there were mango swamps along the coast, and the Spaniards brought palm trees, including coconut trees, which took root well, but their fruits were very small due to the more severe climate. On the islands today there are 5 species of bats, birds, mainly the Bermuda petrel, which was discovered in 1951 after it had not been seen since 1620. On the beaches you can see rare species of turtles.
Climate and weather of Bermuda
Bermuda has a humid subtropical climate with a large influence of the warm Gulf Stream. Bermuda is on the same parallel as Portugal, the temperature in July and August during the day is at 30 degrees Celsius, the temperature in winter is about 20 degrees Celsius, the islands have never had frosts. Precipitation is evenly distributed over the months of the year, the driest months are April and May.
The average annual temperature in Bermuda is 22.8 ° C, very cold in February 18.6 ° C and very hot in August 28.2 ° C.
Bermuda is located in the hurricane zone, but they tend to weaken, reaching the islands. The last hurricane that visited Bermuda in October 2014 was category 2. Hurricanes pass without human casualties and great damage. Hurricane season from August to early November.
Freshwater in Bermuda
The only source of fresh water in Bermuda is rain, the locals collect water using a special construction of the roofs of houses, water flows into a special tank, if the owner of the house has run out of water from the last rain, then you will have to call a truck with a canister to replenish supplies. All roofs of houses are white with the same stepped castration. The collection of water by residents is regulated by law.
History of Bermuda
As mentioned above, Bermuda was discovered by the Spaniard Juan de Bermudez in 1503 and subsequently named after him. Legends about spirits and demons are associated with the island; in general, Bermuda greatly scared sailors and were notorious. Sailors were afraid to be on the islands at night and even during the day, because they heard the devil’s heart-rending screams, probably the devil was a petrel bird with his hoarse voice, and the noise of the life of wild pigs added hysteria. Dangerous storms that raged around the island brought him a name - the devil's islands. The Spanish and Portuguese colonialists were afraid to settle here.
The first colonists of Devil's Island were immigrants from the UK, who were heading from England to Virginia, but were defeated by the storm that nailed them to Bermuda, 150 people and one dog survived and founded the first colony here, if not for this accident, then people would still be would not dare to linger on a screaming island for a long time. Since 1684, Bermuda became the official colony of Great Britain. As in other territories of the Caribbean region, and indeed of America in general, agriculture was based on Bermuda on the slave labor of Africans, who began to import large quantities here. Since 1838, agriculture fell into decay after the abolition of slavery in Britain. From the beginning of the 20th century, tourists from North America came here, the main area of \u200b\u200bthe housekeeper has not changed to this day. It is interesting to note that from 1931 to 1948, a railway operated in Bermuda, passing through bridges and connecting the islands. From 1941 to 1968, an American military base was located here, however, due to the absence of nearby American enemies, the United States stopped renting land for military purposes.
At all times, Bermuda was faced with the problem of overpopulation, agriculture was difficult here, the cultivation of tobacco was the most profitable, but its cost is higher than on the lands of North America. A large outflow of population from Bermuda was recorded in the first years after Independence Day in the United States, many Bermudans migrated to the United States and Canada.
In 1616 and 1620, laws were adopted in Bermuda to ban the hunting of birds and young turtles. Shipbuilding factories began to appear on the shores of Bermuda in the 17th century, ships built at local shipyards became the fastest and most modern in the British Flotilla. The cut down vegetation of the island undermined agriculture, but opened the way to salt production and in the coming centuries salt became the main source of income for Bermuda. After American independence, Bermuda was seen in London, funding increased due to fear of losing this piece of land. Perhaps if it weren’t for such a great distance to Virginia, then Bermuda would have been engulfed in rebellion and gained independence from Britain. Since 1811, in Bermuda, the British began to build a large military garrison to protect their seafaring routes, the Bermuda garrison was built on the island of Ireland in the west of Bermuda, it was from here that the British ships began their military attacks during the 1812 war against the United States. The events of those times today can be found in the Bermuda Naval Museum.
In 1930, after several unsuccessful attempts, an American seaplane from New York was able to fly to Bermuda, in 1936 a tourist flight to Bermuda began to fly from Berlin through the Azores and New York, in 1937 Imperial planes began to fly from New York to Bermuda Airways and Pan American World Airways. The tourism sector of the country's economy peaked in 1960-1970, however, after business tourism it won first place on the podium.
Executive power in Bermuda belongs to the second monarch of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, and is exercised on her behalf through the local governor, who is appointed personally by the queen. The United Kingdom also manages defense and foreign affairs. Bermuda is Britain's oldest overseas territory today; the local parliament is the fifth oldest in the world. The head of government of Bermuda is the prime minister. The constitution was adopted in 1967 and was amended in 1989 and 2003. Legislative power consists of a bicameral parliament modeled on the Westminster system. The Senate is the upper house, consisting of 11 members, appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the prime minister and opposition leader. According to the law, elections are held at least once every 15 years. The United Nations represents Bermuda at the United Nations. Bermuda embassies are available in London and Washington. All top-level negotiations in the Caribbean with the United States are held in Bermuda. Since 2003, Bermuda has been an associate member of the Caribbean Community.
Language in Bermuda
English is official, but most locals speak Creole English in everyday life, which has a lot of Spanish or Portuguese words.
Visas to Bermuda
Life of people in Bermuda
Briefly about the economic situation of Bermuda: there is really a very high standard of living, and much higher even than in the US Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, everywhere is clean and tidy, beautiful and most importantly safe, but at the same time Bermuda cannot be considered such a beach paradise as Caribbean region. If it were not for the predominantly black population, then this place would have little resemblance to the former colony of Great Britain.
The standard of living and prices in Bermuda
In Bermuda, everything is opposite the American, that a British colony says a very small number of facts. The country is constantly debating about separation from the civilized world, that is, from the UK, but the adherents of this decision are constantly losing, because the local population sees how the countries of the Caribbean region have achieved independence, for example, Haiti or Cuba.
Bermuda Economy
Throughout the 20th century, the economy in Bermuda showed tremendous results, although it was based only on marine insurance and tourism, however, the country showed the highest level of GDP per capita. Bermuda is located in the area of \u200b\u200bhurricanes and unexplained phenomena, a number of surface ships and planes disappeared in different years under mysterious circumstances, due to which the so-called Bermuda Triangle appeared here - the site of unexplained events. The islands are protected by cliffs and coral reefs from hurricanes and high waves.
The United States is Bermuda's largest trading partner, providing more than 71% of total imports, 85% of tourist visitors. Bermuda has some 163 billion US capital. The main source of income for Bermuda is insurance.
Bermuda practically does not trade with the West Indies, the main emphasis is on the United States.
Bermuda GDP
Today, Bermuda's GDP per capita is $ 91477, which, according to some sources, is the highest in the world.
Real estate, the cost of apartments and houses in Bermuda, sale and rental
Bermuda holds the first lines in the ranks of world statistics on the value of real estate. So the CIA fact book claims that the average price of an apartment in Bermuda in 2003 was $ 976,000, while local real estate agencies insist on a figure of $ 1.8 million. You can rent an apartment in Bermuda for the amount of $ 3,000 for a modest little room.
Offshore Center Bermuda
Bermuda has long been an offshore territory, there is no direct taxation of income of individuals and legal entities, however, instead, import taxes work, most imported goods have a high final cost, prices for durable goods and food are several times higher than in the USA. The country's budget is highly dependent on taxes collected from imports.
Without income tax, businesses in Bermuda are a popular place for tax evasion. Nevertheless, according to British law, foreign individuals are difficult to obtain banking services, it is impossible to put the Internet at home or buy a mobile phone with a SIM card. In Bermuda there are offices and headquarters of the largest American IT giants, which could save billions of dollars on this status. In Bermuda, the headquarters of the world's largest hedge funds, companies selling shares are concentrated. There are assets of $ 24.4 billion in 4 banks in Bermuda.
Bermuda Tourism
Tourism today is in second place in the local housekeeper after insurance and exchange business, more than half a million tourists visit Bermuda annually, 80% of them are from the United States, many tourists from the UK and Canada, can be reached by air on cruise ships.
Education in Bermuda
Today, there are 26 schools in Bermuda, 18 of them are private, until 1965 the schools were racially segregated. You can get a bachelor's degree in several colleges on the island, for the master's degree you need to go to the USA or Canada.
Medicine and hospitals in Bermuda
If even a visa does not require compulsory insurance from a tourist, then the reality of life can call for this need. In Bermuda, very expensive medicine, the cost of local medical care is even higher than in the United States. Unlike other countries that are part of the British colonies, Bermuda does not have national health care. Employees must provide a health plan and pay 50% of the cost of services. Insurance is compulsory and carries a heavy burden on employers and employees themselves.
Bermuda Currency
Since 1970, the Bermuda dollar (B $, BD $ or BMD) has been the official currency in Bermuda, which is tightly tied to the US dollar one to one. In circulation, banknotes of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2, as well as coins of 1 and 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent. Until 1970, the Bermuda pound was walking in the country. However, today almost everywhere you can pay with American dollars, the exchange rate is very simple.
Currency exchange
It is completely unprofitable in Bermuda to buy American dollars for Bermuda, as you understand this does not apply at all to foreign tourists who always travel with American dollars.
Work and Salaries in Bermuda
In Bermuda, a high level of education, unskilled work belongs to migrants, white people - immigrants from the USA and Canada in Bermuda occupy high positions in banking, insurance and finance. People from Africa and the Caribbean and most of the indigenous people are employed in services and tourism. Salaries can be compared with the income levels of the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom.
Rest and beaches in Bermuda
Unfortunately, there are few suitable beaches on the island, besides Bermuda is located north of the beach strip, here you can see the change of seasons, you can sunbathe on the beach in summer and early autumn. As such, there are no beaches. Cruise ships are the main stream of tourists, they come to the port of Dockyard, where the former royal fortress base is located, the balloon is located at the opposite end of the island on Saint Georges. Both places are rich in natural and architectural attractions. The best beach in Bermuda is the pink sandy beach in Astwood Park.
Agriculture in Bermuda is practically undeveloped, this is a consequence of not fertile soils, the whole island consists of limestone, and houses are made of it. There is a big problem with fresh water, they get it from the roofs of houses, each house has a special roof that collects rainwater.
Transport in Bermuda as in the USA, that is, there is practically no public transport, everyone drives their own cars, which are very expensive in view of the lack of space for them. There are no sidewalks on the streets, as there is no place, strictly speaking, for the cars themselves. The best mode of transport is a motorcycle or bicycle, so traffic jams can be avoided, and the whole island can be stopped in just half an hour. The movement is left-sided, however, this situation is in most countries of the Caribbean region and even where there were no English.
Rent a car in Bermuda
Foreign tourists do not have access to a car rental service, which is unfortunate, you can only rent a scooter or a bicycle, in any case you will have to push around on public buses or ride a taxi.
Prices and shopping in Bermuda, shops and food
All food, with the exception of fish and local fruits, is imported from the United States and therefore very expensive. The inhabitants of Bermuda are spoiled by the western way of eating, here there are simply immense women. Food prices are on average two or three times higher than in the United States. Bermuda as well as Russians or Ukrainians mainly work for food, most of the income goes to grocery stores.
Bermuda people are very polite and pious. Affects the provincial status of the island, it is supposed to greet everyone passing by here. The coastline is built up with forks and hotels for tourists. Real estate prices are crazy. However, there are abandoned houses, especially a lot of them outside the resort area, but most tourists do not even see this, so the impression is an ideal resort, outside of which there is something similar that can be seen in Haiti or Cuba. By the way, migrants from Gati, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other islands of the Caribbean region also live there.
Sports and recreation in Bermuda
The main sports in Bermuda were born thanks to students of British high schools in the 19th century. Such sports were considered an important stage in the training of military officers of the British Navy. The first football association on the island appeared back in 1885. Priority was given to team sports that could unite the spirit of the military, for example, cricket, rugby, tennis and even rowing are also popular. There are many golf courses in Bermuda; the main stages of the World Cup take place on this land.
The Yacht Race of Bermuda is held annually and has a hundred-year tradition, the race starts at the port of Newport (Rhode Island) in the USA and ends in Bermuda. At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Bermuda competed in track and field sailing, swimming, diving, triathlon and equestrian sports.
Bermuda Culture
The culture of Bermuda is an interweaving of the traditions of the Spanish Caribbean region, the culture of Britain, Ireland, Scotland, the influence of official English is great. The proximity of the United States and former British Virginia means the influence of American culture on the islands. For example, Hollywood actors such as Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were born and raised on the islands.
Bermuda Art
First of all, I want to note the dance and music of Calypso, since the 1970s, they regtered the popularity of reggae, which was brought by Haitians. Bermuda hosts the annual international film festival, which features many independent films.