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howtohero · 4 years ago

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#288 The Center of the Earth

It’s the summer, and so you’re probably feeling about as hot as a lava monster right about now. But you should know that you’ve actually got it pretty good, relatively speaking. At least you’ve got the occasional breeze. At least sometimes it rains. At least sometimes an ice villain shows up and tries to form a glacier in the center of town. (For some reason they only show up to do this in the summer, when it is, statistically speaking, the most difficult time of the year to try to form a glacier.) There are people and creatures and entire civilizations that don’t have that luxury. They live beneath the Earth’s surface, deep within the mantle and the crust and all the good stuff. They live in the Center of the Earth, and let me tell you, things are weird down there.

The Center of the Earth is one of those strange and mystical realms that’s really a lot bigger than it has any reasonable right to be. I mean we know how big the Earth is (it’s got a diameter of 7,917.5 miles). We know how big the Earth’s core is (it’s got a diameter of 1,520 miles). And yet, somehow, the Center of the Earth contains way too much to be able to fit into that small an area. I’m pretty sure there’s more going on in the Earth’s core than there even is on the surface. But that’s magical locales for you. They don’t play by your rules. Since it’s such a weird place, and since you’re a superhero, you’re probably going to find yourself having to journey to the Center of the Earth a good many times. Don’t be surprised if it looks completely different every time you’re down there. They remodel a lot. And there’s like 20-30 different realities fighting for supremacy and existence down there at any given time.

For starters, let’s talk about how you would even get to the Center of the Earth. Naturally, there are the obvious routes: teleporters, wishes on shooting stars, wrestling control of the Ferry to Heck away from Charon the ferryman and taking a left at the fork in the River Styx. But let’s imagine for a minute that you aren’t buff enough to take on the steward of the dead and don’t have enough small change to pay for even the skeeviest of public teleportation chambers. Let’s say all you’ve got to rely on are your own wits and muscles (and this muscular and witty guide). As most physics students would tell you, if a tunnel was drilled all the way through the Earth a combination of factors (gravity, wind resistance, thinking light thoughts) will allow you to fall all the way to the other side of the planet in only 42 minutes and 12 seconds. So, it stands to reason that if such a tunnel existed, it would take only 21 minutes and 6 seconds to get to the Center of the Earth. That’s not too bad. It takes me longer than that to get out of bed in the morning. Lucky for you, there are actually several tunnels through the Earth. Who knew? Well, we did, and now we impart this secret knowledge on to you dear reader(s?).

You see, since the dawn of time brave explorers have attempted to reach the Center of the Earth under the assumption that it holds great treasures and wonders (and they were right, at least on most Tuesdays and every fourth Thursday). Some of those explorers were even successful, and they left a trail of maps and clues to aid others on their quest to find the mystical realm (well, finding it isn’t actually all that hard, we know exactly where it is... It’s in the Center of the Earth). And then dozens of other explorers took the time to assemble all those disparate clues and map fragments. So now it’s really very easy to find your way there. Sure, your quest will be a lot less epic than those of explorers and adventurers past. You won’t have to dig for decades or suffer betrayal at the hands of your estranged uncle who you thought was dead but has now returned to conquer the mole-monkeys of the Center of the Earth, but it will be quicker, and honestly, I feel like that’s better. As of this writing there have been reports of tunnels to the Center of the Earth in the Bermuda Triangle, the Himalayas, the Dead Sea, Los Angeles, the moon somehow, Antarctica and approximately one fourth of the apartments in the Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights.

What you’re going to find when you reach the Center of the Earth varies from day to day and minute to minute. Quite frankly it would be virtually impossible for us to properly prepare you for what you’re going to see down there. So it’s best to be prepared for literally anything. As a professional courtesy to you we’ve compiled a list of things that we’ve seen:

Dinosaurs: If you get down there and it’s just a bunch of dinosaurs I honestly recommend just leaving. They’re not gonna want to hang out with you. For the most part, dinosaurs aren’t interested in whatever superheroic quest you’re on. (Unless you run into Inspector Ankylosaurus, he’s always down for a classic superhero mess around.)

Tarkavia: As we’ve explained in our post on snow missions, Tarkavia is a magical realm that sometimes exists in the Earth’s core. There they love two things, war and cheese. If you wind up there, please pitch them our innovative combination of the two concepts “Cheese War” which is a war fought with, over, and by, cheese. We have a feeling they’re gonna love that idea so much that they make whomever suggested it their king. (We’re gracious enough to give this kingmaking idea to you because we are banned from Tarkavia after the horrible “War Cheese” incident.)

New Zealand: Think of New Zealand. That is what we’re describing.

The Realm of the Lost: Have you ever lost a thing? Your keys, a toy, your mind, the Eiffel Tower (it’s happened to all of us, don’t even worry about it). Well the Realm of the Lost is where all of that stuff eventually winds up. (If you manage to find your junk within two months of losing it you get to keep it, but after that it gets sucked into the Center of the Earth). Superheroes often have to venture there in order to track down some supervillain-built device that they need to stop some other threat.

Just a big ol’ ball of molten lava: This another situation where you’re gonna want to start climbing back up that tunnel. Clearly your schedule was off, it’s the lava monster’s day, you’re gonna have to come back another time.

A bar where everyone you knows gathers to talk smack about you specifically. As tempting as it might be, I really recommend not sticking around for this either.

Endless riches and treasures: As we said, Tuesdays and every fourth Thursday. Bring a large sack and watch out for the golden crab/shark that eats anybody who tries to take anything.

The Swirl: The Swirl is an endless loop in an endless loops. It loops and it swirls and swirls and it loops. It is every color and no color and yet some colors but seriously no colors. It swirls. It loops. It drives those who are foolish enough to gaze upon it to completely madness. It is the Swirl and soon, the Swirl will be you.

The past: Sometimes the Center of the Earth is just a time vortex. You spend all that time trying to get down there only to have your consciousness shunted back in time. There’s no telling how far back you’ll end up. If you’re lucky you’ll just end up at the beginning of the day. If you’re unlucky your mind will be shunted all the way back to when you were a baby. That would suck.

Shmendrick: Shmendrick knew you would arrive. He’s been expecting you. He’s a little bit disappointed that you’re so late but no matter, you’re here now and that’s all that matters. You’re not really confident you know Shmendrick, but he seems to know exactly who you are and it seems like it would be rude of you to not just go along with it. So you and Shmendrick will have a nice dinner, just the two of you. To your surprise the conversation flows flawlessly. Shmendrick is actually a pretty interesting guy. Did you know he invented the can-can? You have such a lovely time with Shmendrick that you make plans for the very next day. You wake up that morning more excited that you’ve been in a very long time. You can’t wait to get back to the Center of the Earth to spend some more time with your new pal Shmendrick. You hurry over to the tunnel, rappel down it, pry open the door to the Center of the Earth, only to find that its dinosaurs today. Shmendrick is no longer there. You may never see him again.

The Center of the Earth is a strange and mystical and magical place and you can never be quite sure what to expect. So just pack up everything you can and hope it’s not dinosaurs or lava! Good luck!

#superhero #superheroes #comics #comedy #humor #The Center of the Earth #Middle Earth #dinosaurs #Shmendrick #The Swirl #Tarkavia

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taste2travel-blog · 7 years ago

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Bermuda Travel Guide

Date Visited: July 2017

Introduction

Exploring Bermuda has been on my bucket list for some time, so when I found a cheap flight from New York City I snapped it up. I then turned to booking.com to book my accommodation and saw the few hotels on the island were charging upwards of $600 per night. Ouch! Where were the cheap guest houses and hostels? I turned to Airbnb.com and found a wonderful, comfortable room in a family home for less than $100 per night – a real bargain for this island.

Warwick beach on the south coast.

Bermuda is one very expensive travel destination – a real challenge for those travelling on a budget. This British Overseas Territory doesn’t market itself as a budget-friendly destination, the island is all about 5-star resorts, fine dining restaurants and expensive boutique shopping – a destination for the well-heeled.

I originally planned to visit during June of 2017 but the already high prices were in the stratosphere thanks to Bermuda being the venue for the Americas Cup. I arrived two weeks after the cup and found retailers in town were still selling surplus clothing (from the cup) at full retail prices – there are never any bargains on this island.

South Coast beach.

Despite the scary prices, there are ways to keep costs down – such as eating in local cafes (where you can get a meal for around $12), or by shopping in supermarkets and self-catering.

If you choose to eat in tourist/ ex-pat restaurants, you should always be prepared for ‘sticker shock‘ when you receive the bill. In one cafe I paid $20 for a sandwich, which then came close to $30 once the gratuity and my drink was added. At the North Rock Brewing company, a small glass of one of their fine craft beers cost me $13.80 – that left a nasty aftertaste! I met a vacationing American family who had dinner one evening in a hotel restaurant. During their dinner the servers kept pouring water, which the family thought was house water. In the end they had a charge on their bill of $130 for water. You can read more about the high cost of living here.

Typical South Coast beach

If you can live with the high costs then Bermuda is a beautiful, engaging and rewarding destination and one not to be missed. On this well-ordered island, there is something for everyone – from a pristine environment, lots of history, a rich culture and so much more. Then there are the wonderful Bermudans – friendly, welcoming and always hospitable. Despite the budget-busting costs, Bermuda is a veritable paradise, one which I enjoyed and hope to return to again one day.

Bermuda Shorts

“The short-pant is a terrible fashion choice, unless it is from Bermuda.” So said Winston Churchill after a visit to Bermuda in the 1940’s.

Bermuda shorts in every colour of the rainbow at ‘Tabs’ in Hamilton

Bermuda shorts were originally designed by the British Army for wear in tropical and desert climates. During WWII, there was a shortage of clothing in Bermuda. At the time, the General Managers of two local banks (who were concerned that their male employees would not have suitable clothing to wear) arranged for a local tailor to make two pairs of formal shorts (modeled on the shorts of the British military), for each of their male employees. This was the beginning of Bermuda shorts as acceptable business attire in Bermuda. Since their inception, local designers have improved the design of the shorts, using better materials and brighter colours.

Bermuda shorts on sale at Tabs in Hamilton.

One thing I noticed while on the island is how popular the shorts are with local businessmen and government employees. Bermudans wear their shorts for all occasions – including weddings.

“How to wear your Bermuda Shorts” Source: “Tabs” – Authentic Bermuda Shorts

Men on Bermuda wear their Bermuda shorts in a variety of bright colours, always with long (knee-length) woolen socks – often in the same colour as their shorts. The look is completed with formal (black/ brown) shoes, a freshly ironed dress shirt with tie and a navy blue jacket.

Bermuda shorts come in a variety of colours, with red (same colour as the flag) being especially popular.

Bermuda Triangle

Boundaries of the Bermuda Triangle. Source: Wikipedia

A blog about Bermuda wouldn’t be complete without mention of the Bermuda Triangle. Since the 1950’s, writers have written fictional stories about ships and aircraft mysteriously disappearing in the vicinity of the triangle. The boundaries of the triangle were defined in a pulp fiction publication – Argosy – in 1964.

The area defined by the triangle is one of the busiest shipping lanes on the planet and while ships have become wrecked/ disappeared, there is no evidence to suggest that paranormal activity was responsible for any of these misfortunes. Either way, the story of the triangle has sold lots of books over the decades and (today) lots of tacky ‘I went to Bermuda and survived the Bermuda Triangle..’ souvenirs.

Heather Nova

Heather Nova in concert.

It would be amiss of me not to make mention of one of my favourite musicians, who happens to be a native of Bermuda – Heather Nova. I first saw Heather in concert in Zurich, Switzerland in 2009. The concert was a magical experience – from her enchanting, mystical voice, to the meaningful lyrics of each of her carefully composed compositions.

Heather was touring Europe while I was visiting Bermuda so no chance of seeing her perform at home. If you ever have the chance to attend one of her concerts (she is often touring Europe) I would recommend you do so – but be warned – there is a magical quality about her music and she will put you under her spell.

Location

Bermuda is an extinct, isolated volcano, located atop a seamount, far from anywhere, in the middle of the North Atlantic ocean. The closest landmass is Cape Hatteras (North Carolina), on the east coast of the United States – approximately 1,070 km (665 mi) to the north-east.

Bermuda Blues

At different periods in history, the seamount has been completely submerged which has allowed marine organisms to form a limestone cap which covers the entire island and provides the white/ pink powdery sand beaches and turquoise water for which Bermuda is famous.

History

The Bermudan flag alongside the Union Jack.

Unlike its Caribbean neighbours to the south, remote and isolated Bermuda was never settled by indigenous Indians from the Americas. The island remained undiscovered until 1505 when Spanish navigator Juan de Bermudez passed by, while sailing back to Spain from a provisioning voyage to Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic/ Haiti). The island was named after Bermudez who returned again in 1515 dropping off some pigs who could be used as food by anyone unlucky enough to be wrecked on the isolated outpost.

Martello Tower in St. Georges parish, part of line of defensive forts built by the British.

Bermuda continued to remain off the radar until 1609, when an English provisioning ship – the Sea Venture (captained by Sir George Somers) – would be deliberately ship wrecked on its reef. The ship was en-route to the new English colony of Jamestown, Virginia when it became caught in a fierce storm and was blown off course. When the reefs of Bermuda were spotted days later, the ship was deliberately run aground in order to save all survivors and allow them to salvage parts from the ship.

The survivors spent ten months on Bermuda, where they found plenty of food – including a thriving pig population. During this time, they were able to use tools and parts from the Sea Venture to build two new ships – Perseverance and Deliverance – one of which they filled with food stores sourced from the island. When the two new vessels were complete, most of the survivors set sail, completing their journey to Jamestown. Upon arrival they found a starving colony, which they were able to save using the supplies from Bermuda. Had this not happened, England’s new colony of ‘America’ would most likely have failed.

Tunnel in Fort St. Catherine – St. Georges Parish

When Somers departed Bermuda for Virginia, he left two volunteers on the Island to maintain Britain’s territorial claim. As a result, Bermuda has been continuously inhabited as a British territory since the wrecking of the Sea Venture in 1609, and claims its origin from that date, and not the official settlement of 1612.

Initially the island was run as a company, with land divided up between shareholders. Tobacco was the only agricultural crop grown but wasn’t profitable due to the small size of landholdings. Due to the lack of agriculture, slavery was not as important to Bermuda as it was on the ‘plantation’ islands in the Caribbean.

With almost no natural resources, Bermudans would eventually turn their attention to other sources of income. For centuries, Bermudan salt traders would spend six months of each year in the Turk & Caicos islands (TCI) where they harvested salt, which was then transported and sold in America (for further information on TCI, please refer to my TCI blog). Due to the Bermudan presence on the islands, Britain claimed TCI as a territory – a claim which continues today. Following territorial disputes with the Bahamas over the TCI and a change in salt markets, the Bermuda salt trade ended.

Bermuda Sloop.

In the 17th century, the islanders gave up on agriculture and instead turned their attention to the sea and everything maritime. For years, Bermuda Cedar had been used for ship building and the island had become famous for its shipyards. Design refinements led to the development of the famous ‘Bermuda Sloop‘ which sailed faster than any other boat at the time. These speedy sloops were perfect for pirates and privateers and Bermudian merchant vessels turned to privateering at every opportunity during the 18th century – preying on the shipping of Spain, France and other nations.

During the American War of independence, Bermudian sympathisers sold sloops to American rebels through third-country ports. It’s said these sloops greatly aided the American war effort, allowing the Americans to defeat the British.

Towing the floating dockyard across the Atlantic Ocean.

After the war, Britain (who had lost control of all it’s ports on the US east coast) turned it’s attention to fortifying Bermuda and creating a strategic regional Naval Dockyard on the island, the centre piece of which was the world’s 2nd largest floating dockyard, which was constructed on the River Thames (London) over a period of three years then towed across the Atlantic to Bermuda in 1869. Today you can view the semi-submerged rusty remains of the dockyard in the mouth of Spanish Point.

Since WWII, Bermuda has positioned itself as a centre for Offshore Banking – the main industry on the island – with tourism being second. The official currency of the island is the Bermudan Dollar, which is pegged to the US dollar. Businesses on the island accept payment in both currencies.

The Bermuda Eastern Blue Bird is featured on the $2 note.

Architecture

Shops in St. Georges town.

As I flew into Bermuda, I couldn’t help but notice all the blindingly white rooftops reflecting the dazzling tropical sunlight. White rooftops are a unique architectural feature of the island, with every type of building sporting the same white pointy cap. The reason for this is a very practical one – besides the fact that it also looks very pretty. On an island which lacks rivers or any other fresh water source, rainwater is the only source of fresh water and all rooftops are required (by law) to serve as rainwater catchments.

Painting at the Masterworks Art Gallery showing workers constructing a Bermudan rooftop.

Roofs are constructed using limestone slabs (a natural filter), which step down to a trough which then directs water into underground holding tanks. All homes are painted in pretty pastel colours with thick stone walls designed to withstand hurricane-strength winds.

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Sights

Parish Map of Bermuda

For a small island, Bermuda packs in a lot of sights – from historical towns, museums, galleries, gardens, old forts, stunning beaches, diving, snorkeling, sailing, hiking, bird watching and so much more. After ten days of zipping around on my scooter I still hadn’t covered everything.

Included here is a brief overview of sights from the most northern parish (St. Georges) to the most southern (Sandy’s):

St. Georges Parish

St. Georges town.

The UNESCO World Heritage listed St. Georges town was Bermuda’s first English settlement and served as the capital of Bermuda for its first 200 years. The town today is pleasantly renovated and offers a wealth of sights for visitors to explore:

St. Peters Church – the oldest Anglican church in the New World, which includes a segregated Slave Graveyard.

Somers Garden – where the heart of George Somers is buried.

Tucker House Museum – once home to Henry Tucker (former president of the Governors Council), this museum provides a view of life in a typical home from the 1700’s

Colorful St. Georges.

Kings Square – the main square which includes the historic town hall.

Bermuda National Trust Museum – housed in the former Globe Hotel, this museum highlights Bermuda’s role in the American Civil War.

World Heritage Centre – Located on the waterfront, this renovated, former warehouse provides an overview of the history of St. Georges.

Apart from sightseeing, the town offers lots of boutique shopping, restaurants and cafes.

The Unfinished Church.

The Unfinished Church

Located on a hill overlooking St. George’s Town, construction of the Gothic-style Unfinished Church was commenced in 1874 but never completed due to lack of funds and disagreements between local parishioners. The site is administered by the Bermuda National Trust who have closed the grounds due to structural deterioration causing risks to visitors. You can walk around the perimeter fence from where you can take photos. The church is located on the aptly named Church Folly Lane.

View of Catherine’s Beach from Fort St. Catherine.

Fort St. Catherine

Located over the hill from St. Georges town is beautiful St. Catherine’s Bay and Fort St. Catherine. The impressive fort is surrounded by a dry moat and accessed by a drawbridge and contains a large number of tunnels, towers and ramparts. Today, the fort houses a museum, which is one of the more interesting on the island. It was just offshore from the fort that the Sea Venture was wrecked in 1609. The entire crew came ashore where the Fort St. Catherine now stands. Further along the north coast are several smaller forts which you can visit.

The Rainbow Parrot-fish is the largest herbivorous fish in the Atlantic with males reaching 1.2 metres. Source: www.arkive.org

The protected cove at St. Catherine’s Bay is ideal for swimming and offers good snorkeling. On the other side of the fort is the small, protected Achilles Bay. The bay offers good snorkeling and it’s here you have a chance of spotting the giant Rainbow Parrot fish. Further along the coast is the much more developed (and busier) Tobacco Bay.

Hamilton Parish

The main chamber of Fantasy Cave.

The Crystal Cave complex is comprised of two caves (tickets sold separately) – Crystal Cave and Fantasy Cave. The caves were discovered in 1905 by two 12-year-old boys searching for a lost cricket ball and have been a tourist attraction ever since.

Native to Bermuda – the White Tailed Tropic bird is locally known as the Longtail – seen here on the north coast of Hamilton parish.

A great place to photograph the Longtail birds is along the north coast of Hamilton Parish – just to the north of Flatts village. This part of the coast is comprised of small cliffs where the birds have their nests.

The picturesque Flatts Village.

Beautiful Flatts Village is located in a small inlet and is home to the Bermuda Zoo and Aquarium. It’s also home to the Village Pantry – a great place for breakfast and coffee (see ‘Eating Out’ below).

Smiths Parish

Jamaican Anole at Spittal Pond Nature Reserve.

Located on the south coast of Smiths Parish, Spittal Pond Nature Reserve is the largest reserve on the island and is a great place to see the fauna of Bermuda. The reserve stretches along south shore and features an 8-acre Spittal Pond, a large brackish pond (home to Egrets, Herons etc), surrounded by marsh and woodland areas.

A recent introduction to Bermuda – the Yellow-crowned night heron at Spittal Pond Nature Reserve.

Devonshire Parish

Jamaican Anole at the Arborteum.

One sight worth visiting in Devonshire Parish is the Arborteum. Once British army property, this national park covers 22 acres of trees, shrubs, meadows and forest. If you wish to photograph the Bermuda Eastern Blue Bird, you’ll find them here.

The Bermuda Eastern Blue Bird.

Pembroke Parish

Front street in downtown Hamilton.

Capital of the island since 1815, Hamilton is a small, vibrant and a friendly city. It’s the heart and commercial hub of the island. Front Street runs along the waterfront and is the life and soul of the city. It’s here you’ll find shops, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Hamilton.

Away from the waterfront, you’ll find the Bermuda Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, City Hall and Bermuda Art Gallery.

Cenotaph and the Cabinet Building, Hamilton.

Courthouse in Hamilton.

Artwork at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

Located on the outskirts of Hamilton is the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI), whose aim is to enhance understanding (through interactive exhibits) of the ocean including its diverse marine life, corals etc. The museum also includes information on Bermuda ship wrecks, including treasure found from diving expeditions.

Artwork at the Masterworks Art Gallery.

Located inside the Bermuda Botanical Garden, Masterworks Art Gallery is a nonprofit organization dedicated to art made in and inspired by Bermuda. The gallery displays some 1400 masterpiece collections including paintings, photographs, drawings and maps. The gallery cafe is a wonderful place for lunch.

Warwick Parish

View of Warwick Long Bay.

Located on a quiet stretch of the south coast, Warwick Long Bay beach is a fabulous, beautiful half-mile stretch of pink sand. The pink hue is caused by the crushed shells of a microscopic organism called foraminifera. The turquoise water is ideal for swimming and there are plenty of quiet little coves either side of the main beach.

Warwick Beach

Southhampton Parish

Storm approaching Horseshoe Bay Beach.

Ranked in 2016 by Conde Nast Traveller as one Top 20 beaches in the world – stunning Horseshoe Bay Beach features a curved stretch of pink sand against the blue waters of the Atlantic.

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse.

Perched high on a hill, overlooking everything in Southhampton Parish, is the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse – the tallest lighthouse on Bermuda and was one of the first lighthouses in the world to be made of cast-iron. For the most panoramic view of Bermuda, you can climb the 185 steps to the top outdoor viewing platform.

Sandy’s Parish

View of the Royal Naval Dockyard precinct from the Bermuda National Museum.

The Royal Naval Dockyard was once used as a British navy base but today plays hosts to cruise ships and hoards of cruise ship passengers. The area around the dockyard is home to the Bermuda National Museum, Clocktower Shopping mall (lots of tacky souvenir shops housed inside an impressive British Navy warehouse) and restaurants and cafes.

The Old Commissioners House at the National Museum of Bermuda.

The best museum on the island – The National Museum of Bermuda is housed inside an old fortress – The Keep – and provides a comprehensive history of the island and it’s culture. The centre-piece of the museum is the Old Commissioners House – the oldest cast iron house in the world – built in 1820 in the Georgian style. The house contains two floors of exhibits, including a photographic exhibit of the Longtail bird by former Bermuda resident (and famous Australian TV producer) Reg Grundy.

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Built in 1860, Somerset Bridge is the world’s smallest drawbridge. The bridge is made up of two halves with an 18-inch wide piece of timber placed between the spans to bridge the gap between the two. This piece of timber can be opened (by hand) to allow the masts of small sailing boats to pass through.

Diving

While it looks ideal, Bermuda is surrounded by a treacherous fringing reef which has claimed many ships in the past.

The fringing reef which surrounds Bermuda has claimed many ships over the centuries – all of which has created a diving playground. I did a two-tank dive with Dive Bermuda who have their shop at the Grotto Bay Resort in Hamilton Parish.

The dives cost just under $200 which included all equipment, boat transfers and as much water as you care to drink. Food is not provided on the (half-day) trip so if you get peckish between dives you should bring something along.

Our two dives were at the wreck of the Cristobal Colon (very fragmented/ dispersed wreck) and then North Rock -both a 50 minute boat ride from the island on the north-west side of the seamount. You can view a Franko map of Bermuda dive sites here.

Accommodation

In a word – expensive! Most hotels on the island are upscale resorts/ hotels catering to tourists with deep pockets. There are no budget hotels or hostels. If you are on a budget it’s best to look at options on either Couchsurfing.com or Airbnb.com

Eating out

There are a variety of restaurants on the island catering for all budgets. Most places which serve mainly tourists/ ex-pats charge high prices and additionally add a 17% gratuity to the bill. You can avoid all of this by eating in local cafes.

Local Restaurants

Of the local ‘cheapies’, my favourites include:

Rotisserie Grill (South road in Smith’s Parish) – Always popular, this restaurant offers roast chicken meals with mashed potato and salads for under $15. Homemade desserts are also available.

Pizza House Restaurant (several branches on the island) – makes a mean pizza and roast/ fried chicken meals with salads and vegetables.

The Spot Restaurant (Cedar Avenue in downtown Hamilton) – cooking here is hit and miss but its hard to beat their prices. One of the cheapest places in the heart of Hamilton.

Tourist Restaurants/ Bars

Bar at the Swizzle Inn

Of the tourist restaurants, the Swizzle Inn is a local institution, which was responsible for developing the national cocktail – the Rum Swizzle. For those who are thirsty, the good news is – there are two branches on the island – one in the north at Baileys Bay (the original pub – located across the road from the Crystal Cave) and one in the south on the South Shore Road. Apart from great cocktails, the food menu is very good with blackboards dinner specials every evening and trivia and other activities during the week – plus you can leave a permanent mark on the island by adding your scrawl to the walls.

Flanagan’s Irish Bar, Hamilton

Located on Front street in downtown Hamilton, Flanagan’s Irish Bar is popular with tourists and locals for its extensive food and drinks menu. A great way to soak up the ambiance of Hamilton is to have dinner on the balcony overlooking the harbour.

If you are looking for dinner or drinks in St. Georges, I would highly recommend the waterfront Wahoo’s Bistro & Patio. The menu at Wahoo’s combines local and European influences from the Austrian-born head chef (and joint owner) Alfred Konard. The fish here is especially good.

Cocktails

The national drink of Bermuda is the Rum Swizzle, which was developed by the folks at the Swizzle Inn but is sold all over the island.

How to prepare a Rum Swizzle:

A Rum Swizzle at the Swizzle Inn

Ingredients (makes 6):

4 oz Gosling’s Black Seal Rum

4 oz Gosling’s Gold Rum

5 oz Pineapple Juice

5 oz Orange Juice

¾ oz Grenadine or 2 oz Bermuda Falernum

6 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

Method:

Into a pitcher ⅓ full of crushed ice – add Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, Gosling’s Gold Rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, Grenadine or Bermuda Falernum and Angostura bitters.

Churn vigorously until a frothing appears or mix in a cocktail shaker.

Strain into a martini glass.

Another favourite cocktail is the simple but tasty Dark ‘N’ Stormy – made with dark rum (the ‘dark’) and ginger beer (the ‘stormy’) served over ice and garnished with a slice of lime.

An island staple – the Dark ‘n’ Stormy cocktail.

Cafes

As with every other destination, I was on a mission during my 10 days to find the best coffee on Bermuda. Finding a good coffee is not easy but after an exhaustive search, I can say the best coffee is served at the Devils Isle Cafe in downtown Hamilton. The cafe is open from early morning, which is a good thing since their breakfast offering is also one of the best on the island.

If you’re anywhere near the Flatts village, you’ll be happy to know the folks from Devils Isle Cafe are also responsible for the Village Pantry. I was staying up the road, so I started most days with breakfast here and would recommend the Avocado Crush (like guacamole on toast) with a poached egg added on top.

The best coffee in St. Georges is served at the CV Cafe in downtown St. Georges.

Visa Requirements

Despite being a British Overseas Territory, Bermuda maintains it’s own visa policy. All flight and cruise ship arrivals into Bermuda are from just three countries – United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. All visitors to Bermuda must have a return ticket and the right to re-enter one of those three countries. You can check your requirements here.

Getting There

By Air

Around 1/3 of tourists (235,000 in 2015) to Bermuda fly into LF Wade International Airport – the only airport on the island. The airport is located in the northern parish of St. Georges and (due to the fact that most flights are between the US and Bermuda) offers US immigration/ customs pre-clearance, which means US-bound passengers clear Customs & immigration in Bermuda so flights arriving in the US from Bermuda are thus treated as domestic flights. At the time of my visit a new, bigger terminal was being constructed.

The following airlines provide flights to the island:

Air Canada – Flight to Toronto–Pearson

American Airlines – Flights to Miami, New York–JFK, Philadelphia

British Airways – Flight to London-Gatwick

Delta Air Lines – Flights to Atlanta, Boston, New York–JFK

JetBlue Airways – Flights to Boston, New York–JFK

WestJet – Flight to Toronto–Pearson

By Sea

Most tourists to Bermuda arrive on a cruise ship from the United States.

Around 2/3 of tourists (385,000 in 2015) to Bermuda arrive on cruise ships (mostly American tourists on ships from the east coast of the US), which berth at either the Royal Naval Dockyard (2 berths) or in downtown Hamilton (2 berths). The two berths at Royal Naval Dockyard – Kings Wharf and Heritage Wharf occupy the same long pier, and is where most ships dock. The other two berths are located on Hamilton harbour alongside Front street but due to overcrowding in town (when ships are docked), authorities allow few ships to berth in the capital.

Cruise ship docked at the Royal Naval dockyard.

Bermuda is a sailing paradise and attracts yachts from around the world, hence a small number of visitors (less than 1%) arrive by private yacht.

Getting Around

Ferry

Bermuda Ferry Routes Source: http://www.bermudaforvisitors.com

There are four ferry routes operating in Bermuda – a Blue, Pink, Green and Orange route. While I was exploring the island on my scooter, I always looked to incorporate a ferry trip into my journey. Ferry journeys save a lot of time as distances across the water are considerably shorter than those on land where roads are narrow, windy and long. Passengers pay $5 a ticket and you are able to take your bike or scooter on-board for an extra $5. The ferry journey from Hamilton to Royal Navy Dockyard is 20 minutes, versus the road journey of almost an hour.

Bus

Bermuda bus routes Source: https://www.bermudayp.com

Government-operated pink (inspired by the colour of the pink sand beaches) public buses provide comprehensive coverage across the entire island on 11 different routes from the main terminal in Hamilton. Fares are very reasonable, buses run frequently (i.e. until 7-pm) and service is very good. Since there is no car hire on Bermuda and taxi’s can be expensive, bus is a good transport option for visitors who do not want to hire a scooter.

Taxi

Taxi’s are available for hire, but like everything else on Bermuda, they’re not cheap. A taxi from one end of the island (St. Georges) to the other (Royal Navy Dockyard) will cost around $78.

Car

Renault Twizy’s at the Hamilton Princess Hotel

There is no car rental on Bermuda, however a small fleet of electric Renault Twizy’s are now available for rent from Current Vehicles, located in the car park at the front of the Hamilton Princess hotel in downtown Hamilton. The Twizy is an over-sized shopping trolley, able to carry two (smallish) passengers, with the second passenger tucked tightly in behind the driver. The cars were originally bought onto the island as support vehicles for the America’s Cup (June 2017).

Interior of the cosy Twizy.

Scooter

A scooter is the best way to maximise your time on Bermuda.

In the absence of car rental options (and apart from the recently introduced Twizy’s), scooter is the only rental option for those who wish to explore the island independently.

There are various scooter rental companies around Bermuda, all of whom seem to charge similar (i.e. high) rates. Prices start at $55 per day and reduce on a sliding scale, so the longer you hire the cheaper it becomes. I rented my bike through (and would recommend) Oleander Cycles – my ten day rental averaged out at $30 per day.

All companies will drop-off and pick-up their scooters from anywhere on the island and they require all drivers to do a short driving test before they will agree to rent you a scooter – they will not rent you a scooter if you appear to be less-than-confident on two wheels.

About taste2travel.com

Other blogs from the region – Cayman Islands Travel Guide, Bahamas Travel Guide, Turks & Caicos Travel Guide

Bermuda Travel Guide was originally published on Taste2Travel

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captainmartinisblog · 2 years ago

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Beach & Salt Kettle

Tuesday 31st May 2022

Angie signed-up for the Aqua Aerobics in the pool today - a bit like line dancing in the water! However, that wasn’t enough for the intrepid Angie because later on, she was seen mastering the art of paddle-boarding (another perk of the ‘all inclusive’ tariff here).

The morning was spent on the beach, although a ‘disorganised cold front’ (I’m quoting from the Bermuda Weather Channel!) brought scattered showers (well one in particular!) not long after we had settled in our chosen spot!

Withdrawing our exposed towels, books and freshly lotioned limbs into the shade of our umbrellas like tortoises into their shells, we waited until, 5 minutes later, the sun came out again!

I am pleased to report, however, that the supplies of Pina Colada cocktail mix have been replenished, so all is well again at the Bayside Bar!

Next it was Andrew and Peter’s turn to get the adventure bug and they decided to take out a kayak!

Neither of them had done it before but the rest of us watched as they paddled away across Castle Harbour towards Coney Island until they were a small speck on the other side; then they paddled back but unlike in the wild west, they didn’t return laden with beaver pelts or buffalo hides!

After lunch, we all took the bus into Hamilton in order to take a ride on the ‘Salt Kettle Ferry’, a local commuting service that operates around Hamilton Harbour serving just 3 or 4 stops.

It’s a oretty little route that takes just 40 minutes and it’s operated by a quaint little boat called Corona, built in 1990 in the UK. The views across Hamilton Harbour are worth it.

On our route between the bus station and the ferry dock, we took a brief detour into Par-la-Ville Park, renamed Queen Elizabeth II Park in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee. Tomorrow of course is the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.

#bermuda #grotto bay beach resort #hamilton #salt kettle ferry #royal poinciana

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outofbrainpower-blog · 6 years ago

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German Apotheke Ships Worldwide

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travelworldnetwork · 6 years ago

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As part of the celebrations for its 100-year anniversary, British Airways has begun painting four of its aircraft in retro designs. This 747 has been given the BOAC livery from 1964 to 1974. Photo: Stuart Bailey

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There's a wonderful monochrome image of a BOAC de Havilland Comet 4 over Sydney Harbour. The harbour bridge is prominent, but look closely and you'll see there's no Opera House. That's because the photo was taken 60 years ago and the first British jet flew into Sydney's Mascot in 1959 before construction began on the Opera House. That flight slashed the journey time from London to Sydney from 47 hours to 36.

Four years earlier, the British Overseas Airways Corporation, one of the many forerunners of British Airways, had introduced a "tourist class" service on its Lockheed Constellation between Britain and Australia, introducing less wealthy travellers to airline travel.

Apart from Qantas, no international airline has had such a long-standing relationship between Australia and Europe as British Airways. So, as the airline celebrates its "centenary", let's mark some of the key moments in its evolution and its place in Australian travel, with much thanks to BA's official historian.

One of the flying boats that pioneered the post World War II route from Southampton to Rose Bay, Sydney.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

British Airways didn't exist until 1936 and for most of the 20th century Britain's national carrier flew under a succession of other names, most notably BOAC and British European Airways. Yet the airline dates its birthday back to August 25, 1919. This is believed to be because Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij – better known as KLM – is generally considered the world's longest surviving airline. Its first flight from London's Croydon airport took off to Amsterdam, with a British pilot at the controls of a leased British plane, on May 17, 1920.

WORLD'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER SERVICE

Regardless, it's accepted the world's first scheduled international service took off on August 25, 1919, at 9.10am, from London's Hounslow Heath bound for Paris, piloted by "Bill" Lawford. The only passenger was an Evening Standard reporter who had paid Britain's first commercial airline, Aircraft Transport and Travel, 20 guineas for the privilege (though the flight also contained several "brace of grouse destined for the tables of discerning Parisians").

According to the reporter's exclusive after the de Hallivand's arrival at Le Bourget, the trip involved much "hedge-hopping" and "wave-hopping" as Lawford (in an open cockpit!) followed the railway lines and cross-Channel ferries, due to poor visibility, before rising to the maximum height of 4000 feet (1220 metres) over France.

Still, the first international commercial flight, was deemed a huge success, flying "at express speed" and taking a mere 2½ hours to cover 350 kilometres.

LONDON TO AUSTRALIA … IN JUST 12 DAYS

Aircraft Transport and Travel was joined by a plethora of privately-owned British airlines offering international journeys with flying aces from World War I as pilots. But the Brits struggled because rival European airlines were subsidised by governments. In 1924, British airlines were rationalised and Imperial Airways (the real forerunner of BA) was created with a mandate to develop routes to the furthest reaches of the British Empire: South Africa, India and Australia.

Fast forward to April 13, 1935, and Imperial and Qantas launched its ground-breaking, 20,500-kilometre service from London's Croydon airfield to Brisbane. The journey took just 12 days, leaving London at lunchtime on a Saturday, and arriving the following week at Brisbane – after 32 stops. Part of the trip, Paris to Brindisi, was completed by rail. Mussolini's fascist government refused permission for a foreign airline to fly over Italian airspace.

DON'T MENTION THE WAR

BOAC started operations on April Fool's Day 1940, during Britain's "darkest hour" as Imperial merged with British Airways. During World War II, BOAC and Qantas joined forces, particularly on the Horseshoe Route between Auckland and Durban that kept wartime correspondence flowing throughout the "empire".

Immediately after Germany's surrender, the two airlines combined on two different services. On May 31, 1945, the first post-war flight from Britain to Sydney left Bournemouth. A year later, they introduced a twice-weekly flying boat service between Poole harbour and Sydney's Rose Bay, which took just five days, via Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Burma and Singapore. And before May 1946 was out, the first post-war BOAC/Qantas land service began using converted Avro Lancaster bombers cunningly disguised as Lancastrian passenger planes.

The Lancastrian only accommodated nine passengers seated along the side of the fuselage like parachutists. But it did contain what it is arguably the first "flat bed" in commercial aviation – a bunk in what would now be considered the overhead locker. The switch over location between BOAC and Qantas staff was Karachi.

The De Havilland Comet's first arrival in Australia (before the Sydney Opera House was built).

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

In December 1948, the elegant four-engine Lockheed Constellation began a weekly service that slashed flying time between Britain and Australia. A poster from that era, advertising Australia to Britons, shows outback stockmen watching the Constellation soar above them in a gum-strewn blue sky.

The Constellation record was itself smashed in 1953 when British European Airways, usually confined to Europe, entered the London-to-Christchurch air race to publicise the British-made Vickers Viscount V700's speed between "short legs" (19,900 kilometres in less than 41 hours). But it was the Comet that introduced the "jet age" to Australia, quickly followed by Boeing's 707, which BOAC used on Australian services from 1962. Another poster, showing a blonde female surfer striding towards the Pacific is from that period, circa 1965.

Over the next 30 years British Airways purchased 36 Boeing 747s – the original "jumbo jet" – more than any other airline and several flew to Australia. But BA's Concorde, which flew at 2180km/h (cruise speed) from 1969-2003, never had a chance to test the record to Sydney.

FIVE FAMOUS BA FLIGHTS

1938

After meeting Hitler following the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain emerged from his British Airways flight from Munich, proclaiming "Peace in our time!"

1942

Winston Churchill was the first British PM to fly across the Atlantic when he travelled to meet US President Roosevelt. His BOAC Boeing 314 flying boat flew from Plymouth, via Bermuda and Norfolk, Virginia, then on to Washington DC.

1952

After the death of her father, King George VI, Princess Elizabeth left Kenya instead of continuing her royal tour to Australia. She arrived on a BOAC plane at Heathrow as Queen Elizabeth II.

2005

British PM Tony Blair was aboard a British Airways 777-200 when it set a new record for the world's longest non-stop commercial flight from Brussels to Melbourne – 17,157 kilometres in 18 hours 45 minutes.

2011

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh flew the first non-stop flight from Perth to London aboard a BA 777 after a Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference. Now Qantas flies the 14,498 kilometre non-stop route in about 18 hours and plans a non-stop flight from Sydney to London by 2022.

SEVEN FAMOUS BA UNIFORMS

1922

Daimler Airway was a subsidiary of BSA (Birmingham Small Arms Company, known for its engines and motorcycles). Swallowed by Imperial, and thus BA, it employed the first "cabin boys" to serve passengers.

1967

Until the 1960s, male and female BA flight attendants wore military-style uniforms. That changed when the first made-to-measure uniforms for the 1500 female "stewardesses" employed by British European Airways were designed by Sir Hardy Amies, the Queen's couturier.

1967

Meanwhile, BOAC introduced paper "mini-dresses" for stewardesses flying to the West Indies. Meant to be discarded after each flight, legend has it sometimes they didn't last that long, with "high-spirited male passengers tempted to take a cigarette lighter to see what would happen".

1969

To celebrate delivery of its first Boeing 747s, BOAC awarded Clive Evans the commission of designing its new female uniform, beating Mary Quant. It chose between Caribbean blue or coral pink for its summer uniform, which was made from Terylene and cotton so it could be washed in a hotel sink and left to drip-dry overnight.

1992

Roland Klein's distinctive red, white and blue vertical stripes had been considered a great success, but Paul Costelloe produced what many regard as the signature BA outfit: a classically tailored single-breasted suit with a silky print blouse or dress and a distinctive upturned boater.

2004

Julien MacDonald, whose outfits had been worn by Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue and many other celebrities, was tasked with designing outfits for 25,000 staff of different body shapes and sizes.

2019

Ozwald Boateng is BA's new designer. His top secret uniforms, now for 32,000 staff, will be unveiled before the "centenary" on August 25 this year.

FIVE OLDEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES (without changing names)

KLM: 1920

Its first flight, from London to Amsterdam, used a British pilot at the controls of a leased British plane.

Qantas: 1920

Originally it went by the name Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, but what Aussie ever called it that? Its first international passenger flight in 1935 was from Darwin to Singapore.

Delta: 1928

Now the world's second-largest airline, Delta began in 1924 as a crop-dusting service but became Delta when it started taking passengers. It's first international flight in 1953 was from New Orleans to Caracas via Havana.

Aeroflot: 1932

Founded in 1923, its first international passenger service was from Moscow to Stockholm in 1937.

LOT Polish Airlines: 1929

Its first international route, Warsaw to Vienna, flew in 1929 but LOT ceased operations during World War II.

from traveller.com.au

#Travel Guide

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exclusivetransportationservice · 7 months ago

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Top Options of Transportation Services Wedding Bermuda

From breathless vows on pink sand beaches to receptions under twinkling bistro lights, Bermuda sets an unforgettable scene for destination weddings. And complementing the island’s natural beauty, couples have fantastic transportation options to choose from for every wedding event. Classic carriages, scenic train routes, luxurious buses – transportation services wedding Bermuda offers diverse vehicles to smoothly ferry and wow guests while creating truly distinctive wedding photo memories. Read more :- https://posteezy.com/top-options-transportation-services-wedding-bermuda

#Transportation Services Wedding Bermuda #Transportation Services Wedding

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ericfruits · 6 years ago

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Beaches and borders

FEW Britons have heard of Anguilla. Yet the tiny Caribbean island, home to around 14,000 people, is proud to be a British overseas territory. In the 1960s its islanders successfully staged a bloodless rebellion to stop Britain granting them independence as part of St Kitts & Nevis, around 60 miles to the south. Today they style themselves as the only place to have “fought Britain to remain British” and loudly trumpet their links to London. But like other far-flung relics of empire, Anguillans often complain that they are overlooked. Since the Brexit vote their grumblings have grown louder.

The islanders say they rely heavily on the European Union and on nearby islands owned by France and the Netherlands. Anguilla’s airport does not have a runway long enough for big jets, which makes it dependent on the French and Dutch halves of neighbouring St Martin. Although tourism makes up a big chunk of Anguilla’s economy, nearly all visitors must first fly to the Dutch half of the island and then travel overland through the French half before catching a ferry for the last leg. Letters and parcels take the same route. Meanwhile, Anguillan patients pop back and forth to receive specialist treatment not available at home. And in 2016 a third of the island’s capital budget came from the EU’s development fund.

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Blondel Cluff, Anguilla’s representative in London, worries that Brexit could disrupt all this. “We can’t survive without the French and the Dutch,” she claims. But Westminster has given Anguilla’s post-Brexit predicament little thought. Some of the civil servants her team encounters do not seem entirely sure where Anguilla is. Worried by this, they have set out their own proposals for a customs union and common travel area with St Martin.

The island was among those hit hard by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. It is still getting back to its feet. The storm badly damaged Anguilla’s sole hospital and its only secondary school. Around 90% of houses on the island were affected and all transport links were cut. Although Britain’s emergency response was swift, many complain that reconstruction funds were slow to arrive. Before the summer holidays, many classes were still taught in living rooms volunteered by locals.

The Anguillan government worries that, without proper planning, a Brexit-induced rupture could add to the island’s woes. Foreign Office diplomats, though, dismiss many of the islanders’ concerns, insisting that Anguilla is not as dependent on EU funding as it claims. Although the islanders say that trade with St Martin is vital to their economy, officials point out that supermarket shelves are in fact stacked with American imports.

Anguilla is not alone in its Brexit fears. Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands all provide financial services to the EU (though some claim it would be no bad thing if these notoriously shady tax havens were cut out). The top destination for exports from the Falkland Islands is Spain, which has a taste for Argentine squid. It is not clear whether the Falklands will retain tariff-free access to this market once Britain leaves the EU. And Gibraltar, the only one of Britain’s 14 overseas territories that is technically part of the EU, worries that its close links to Spain may suffer.

Faced with such fears, the Foreign Office insists that Britain’s overseas territories will not be any worse off after Brexit than Britain will be. But for Anguillans, that is hardly reassuring.

#IFTTT #Feedly

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newyorksportstours · 4 years ago

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Outerbridge Crosses Tennis History

To remove travelers from the high winds of tropical storm Isaias yesterday, the two direct transportation routes that connect the New York City borough of Staten Island with other parts of the city — the Staten Island Ferry and the massive Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge — were closed. A bridge that connects Staten Island and New Jersey was shut to pedestrians. Another span from the island to New Jersey kept drivers to a 30-miles-per-hour speed limit.

The developments made a stream of drivers more familiar with the only other public transportation route off the island, but likely not the far-reaching family and tennis impact of the bridge's namesake.

[caption id="attachment_5492" align="alignnone" width="1146"] Eugenius Outerbridge (left) is the namesake of the Outerbridge Crossing bridge (right)[/caption]

New York Sports Tours guests are often surprised to learn that the 92-year-old Outerbridge Crossing is not descriptive of the bridge's remoteness nor the reality that it is the southernmost bridge in the state of New York. The structure is named for Eugenius Outerbridge, with "crossing" added to the surname to avoid the repetition of "bridge."

In 1880, when the sport we know as tennis was referred to as lawn tennis to distinguish it from the indoor version played with walls, Outerbridge successfully proposed the first national lawn tennis tournament in the United States. The inaugural national tournament was held at the Staten Island Cricket and Base Ball Club, where Eugenius was an officer, on land that is now near the starting line of the New York City Marathon.

A precursor to today’s US Open, the tournament followed rudimentary rules. For example, overhead serves had not yet been introduced.

[caption id="attachment_5491" align="alignnone" width="1190"] Lawn tennis action is shown in 1885 at the Staten Island club where the sport's first national tournament was staged five years earlier[/caption]

Six years earlier, Outerbridge's sister Mary Outerbridge may have introduced the outdoor sport to the nation. In 1874 on Staten Island, 22-year-old Mary and her sister Laura (two of Eugenius' nine siblings) had played what has been widely promoted as the nation's first-ever lawn tennis match.

Soon after the sport's originator Walter Wingfield produced his first boxed lawn tennis kits in his native England, many historians claim that he sent some to British military men in Bermuda, that Mary was given some of the tennis equipment while on vacation in Bermuda, and that she took the gear home with her to Staten Island aboard the steamship S.S. Canima.

Eugenius became the first chairman of what's now known as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Outerbridge Crossing and the nearby Goethals Bridge — the span that was closed to pedestrians this week — were both opened on the same day, June 29, 1928, as the first bridges constructed under the Port Authority's supervision. Eugenius Outerbridge, 68, attended the dedication.

For more original stories, sign up for the complimentary New York Sports Tours newsletter here.

Originally Published Here: Outerbridge Crosses Tennis History

source https://newyorksports.tours/outerbridge-crossing-and-tennis/

#new york sports history #new york sports tours #new york sports museum

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jacewilliams1 · 5 years ago

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A long ferry flight: the Bermuda Triangle, icing, and more

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil’s Triangle, is a loosely defined area between Bermuda, Miami, and Puerto Rico. There have been many cases of ships and aircraft along with their crews mysteriously disappearing with no trace. There have been theories from plausible to ridiculous, including it being occupied by aliens from outer space. The following account is from personal experience.

In January 1987, I was asked if I would ferry a 1948 model Ryan RA-1 Navion from St. Croix, where I lived, to Boone County Municipal Airport in northern Indiana. I agreed to do it for no remuneration, except expenses, as I could move several hundred pounds of my personal belongings back home to Tamassee, South Carolina, and spend a few days there. An air traffic controller accompanied me, as he could get home to Evansville, Indiana, for a few days.

The route of flight would be: St. Croix–Isla Grande, Puerto Rico–Borinquen, Puerto Rico–South Caicos, near Grand Turk–Georgetown, Exuma, in the Bahamas–West Palm Beach, Florida–Perry, Georgia–Anderson, South Carolina–somewhere in Kentucky–Boone County Municipal Airport, Indiana. All would be fuel stops. Approximately 2,200 miles—what an opportunity for adventure.

Flying in the Caribbean before GPS was a serious navigational challenge when clouds covered those beautiful blue waters.

Landing at South Caicos required full cross-controls to keep the aircraft straight on the runway—full left aileron and full right rudder. The crosswind was that strong. There was a radio link to Miami Flight Service on 118.4 MHz, where I could get a weather briefing, file a flight plan, and check Notices to Airmen. We fueled up and filed an IFR flight plan to a radio fix south of Exuma. The aircraft did not have a LORAN receiver and GPS was not available to civilian aircraft yet.

Estimated flight time was two hours, and after an hour the Great Inagua homer was out of range, as was the Grand Turk VOR. We were now dead reckoning, compass and clock. After two hours, Nassau Radio should have been loud and clear, but both radios were stone dead—nothing heard.

We had been on top of an overcast and after descending below it and breaking out about 700 feet above the ocean, all we could see was gray ocean in every direction and huge whitecaps coming from the west. We were off course due to the 50mph winds aloft. Two questions came up: where were we and how much fuel was left? The good news was we had about two and a half hours left.

The worst enemy is panic, which didn’t happen. We made an immediate left turn, directly into the wind, and after about 45 minutes of flying at 500 feet, an island was spotted. We located and identified it on the WAC chart and we could hear Nassau Radio. The weather was VFR, as forecast, so we canceled the IFR flight plan. We have been overdue, but don’t ask, don’t tell. Exuma was only 30 minutes away and there was enough fuel. We were about 100 miles off course due to the winds aloft. Similar circumstances may have befallen some of the missing aircraft.

The flight to West Palm Beach was normal, along with the usual rude and arrogant reception from US Customs. After all, I was re-entering my own country. Refueled and with a VFR flight plan filed for Perry, Georgia, we took off again. The view at night was spectacular along the Florida coast. As far as you could see: lights, rotating airport beacons, other airplanes. If you fly near Miami and find your intended destination, you can fly anywhere. It’s like being in a gigantic pinball machine. Passing Cape Canaveral, out of restricted airspace, we could see the Space Shuttle on a launch pad.

It had been a long day, not to mention our jaunt through the Bahamas. Perry, Georgia, was a welcome sight.

The fun was not over… yet

My friend decided to fly the rest of the way home on the airlines from Macon, Georgia. The next morning it was very cold and overcast, and rain was forecast for the area. I filed an IFR flight plan to Anderson, South Carolina, and departed. The route was to Macon, Athens, and the non-precision instrument approach to Anderson. I worked for the FAA there for over 11 years and was very familiar with that area, and there were no reported weather hazards.

At Macon, the windscreen had gone opaque. No big deal, but near Athens, it became a big deal. It was solid IFR and a thin white film formed on the wing leading edges. A weather update showed no significant weather, but the airspeed indicator went to ZERO! I turned on the pitot heat and an agonizing 20 seconds later, airspeed came back to normal. If it didn’t, depending on your level of experience, you should still be able to fly the airplane, but you had better land as soon as possible.

Ice can ruin any flight.

The windscreen defroster was useless but there was visibility from the side of the canopy. Ice pellets began to come off the propeller tips, striking the wing leading edge and windscreen. Climbing would not solve the problem.

Anderson, my destination, was the closest airport to land. Cleared for the approach, I managed to find the airport and land safely—thank heaven the gear doors were not frozen. There were no noticeable effects on the performance of the engine or flight controls over the entire route of flight. Exiting the aircraft, I noticed there was about 1/2 inch of clear ice over the airframe and the air induction below the propeller was completely blocked with ice. The Navion was equipped with an alternate air source and it opened automatically. The local FBO manager came out with his camera. Just what I need!

If you embarked with me at Perry and claimed to be an atheist or agnostic, you would now be an avowed convert to Christianity. My guardian angel had been on duty and working overtime. I hope I can make it up to him/her someday. No other aircraft landed there that day.

Are we there yet?

After a few days the weather was CAVU, ceiling and visibility unlimited. The flight to Boone County, Indiana was uneventful… except for the last ten minutes.

ATC flight following is a good deal. You are under the veil of radar control and receive advisories regarding other aircraft near you and weather. The entire area around Boone County was under a blanket of 12 inches of fresh snow. I was looking for an airport but couldn’t find it, and the controller was getting inpatient. He was in a cozy room with a radar screen and headset; I was flying an antique airplane looking for an unshoveled runway somewhere in a snow covered field.

“Airport 12 o’clock, quarter mile. Do you have it in sight?”

“Not yet, looking.” What does he think I’m doing up here?

Finally I saw a small single engine aircraft parked in what appeared to be a snow covered field. I thanked the controller very much for his patience and landed.

The owner of the Navion was there waiting as I proudly gave him the keys and expense records of the flight. I made no mention of the events in the Bahamas or in South Carolina.

Epilogue

You do something long enough and “something” will eventually happen. Most every pilot has a flight bag. In it are the headset, two D-cell flashlight, current charts, “Gedunks,” CS-G mechanical “Prayer Wheel” or electronic equivalent, etc. If you are doing any flying, single pilot IFR or night VFR, I would like to recommend one additional piece of equipment: a pair of rosary beads. No, you do not have to be Catholic to be in possession of them. If you get into a tight situation you may say you will not have any time to use them. True, but you may have a passenger who would love to borrow them. You don’t know how to use them? Not a problem. You will learn very quickly.

The post A long ferry flight: the Bermuda Triangle, icing, and more appeared first on Air Facts Journal.

from Engineering Blog https://airfactsjournal.com/2020/05/a-long-ferry-flight-the-bermuda-triangle-icing-and-more/

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easytravelpw-blog · 6 years ago

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Full text write on https://easy-travel.pw/visiting-the-caribbean-without-a-passport/magazine/

Visiting the Caribbean Without a Passport

01 of 05

There Are Still a Few Ways for Americans to Visit the Caribbean With No Passport

J Aaron Farr/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

U.S. travelers to the Caribbean really should get a passport as soon as possible; it's the best way to avoid hassles when reentering the U.S. But if you want to travel soon and don't have a passport, don't worry: It's still possible to have a fabulous Caribbean vacation even if you don't yet have a valid passport. Here are your options for traveling to the Caribbean with just a birth certificate and driver's license or another form of primary ID.

Continue to 2 of 5 below.

02 of 05

No Passport Needed to Visit Puerto Rico

Maremagnum/Getty Images

Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the United States, making travel here just like crossing a state border: no passport is required for U.S. citizens. Plus, you don't have to clear Customs, either! Puerto Rico has the best air service in the Caribbean, with international flights into San Juan, Aguadilla, and Ponce, and can provide a wide range of experiences from the urban sophistication and history of San Juan to the wilds of the El Yunque rainforest. Add in a side trip to Vieques and/or Culebra, and you'll get to experience three Caribbean islands without ever leaving the U.S.

Book Travel to Puerto Rico on TripAdvisor

Continue to 3 of 5 below.

03 of 05

Visit the U.S. Virgin Islands With Just a Driver’s License as ID

Bob Curley

The U.S. Virgin Islands — St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix — are U.S. territories that are passport-free for U.S. citizens. St. Croix, the largest of the islands, has two major towns (Christiansted and Frederiksted), a rainforest, and preserved historic plantation homes. Bustling Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas is the most popular cruise port and shopping destination in the Caribbean, while two-thirds of St. John is preserved as a tropical national park.

The British Virgin Islands are a mere stone's throw away from St. Thomas and St. John, and accessible by ferry or private boat. However, you will need a valid U.S. passport to visit the BVI.

Explore Your U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands Travel Options on TripAdvisor

Continue to 4 of 5 below.

04 of 05

Take a “Closed Loop” Cruise

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

You can still cruise to the Caribbean without a U.S. passport if you are a U.S. citizen, but only if you take what is known as a “closed loop” cruise. That means that your cruise ship needs to start and end at the same U.S. port. The good news is that most cruises originating in the U.S. operate as closed loops (the exception would be something like a Panama Canal cruise that starts in Miami, for example, and ends in San Diego).

However, there are a couple of caveats. Some Caribbean countries — Barbados, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Barts, St. Martin (but not Dutch St. Maarten), and Trinidad & Tobago — will require you to have a passport to enter or exit. Always check with your cruise line first to see if this applies to any of your ports of call unless you want to be stuck on the ship. Also, if something goes wrong with your cruise and you have to fly home, not having a passport will be a problem.

If you're taking a closed-loop cruise without a passport you'll need proof of citizenship and, if you are over age 16, a government-issued photo ID. But again, your best and safest route is to spend the money to get a passport before you travel.

Continue to 5 of 5 below.

05 of 05

Get a U.S. Passport Card

Courtesy of the U.S. Department of State

Think of a U.S. Passport Card as something falling between a Passport and a government-issued photo ID. It costs half the price of a passport, but can only be used for land and sea entry into the U.S. from Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Mexico. It cannot be used for air travel.

Practically speaking, that makes it not much more useful than a driver's license for Caribbean travel. Technically, you could use it to cross the Mexican border and drive to the Riviera Maya. But that's 1,400 miles each way, so we're pretty sure you'd rather get the passport and book a flight, instead.

#travel #airlinetickets #airtickets #cheapairfare #planetickets #travelinsurance #travelquotes #travelblogger #traveller #travelling #travelocity #travelodge #vacation

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vacationsoup · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/bikes-gulfport-and-treasure-island__trashed/

Bikes Gulfport and Treasure Island

Bike Routes and Rentals in Gulfport and Treasure Island

With so much beautiful weather year-round, Florida is a natural spot for a bike ride.

You can ride around the local neighborhoods, checking out what's happening with local projects, visiting shops and restaurants, the Tuesday Fresh Market, the Gulfport Marina, the Treasure Island Friday Market, bike to Gator's for lunch. There are so many quiet neighborhood streets you can just cruise around on and that may be all you need.

However, if you'd like to venture further afield, read on!

Isak Dinesen

" The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea."

Winning Bike Rides

We’ve outlined our top riding suggestions below and provided rental spots near each ride.

You can hop on the Pinellas Trail, head out to Fort DeSoto Park or bike beachside along the Treasure Island Beach Trail.

Riding on the road is not necessary - we have safe trails and pathways!

Ride #1 - The Pinellas Trail

Officially named The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, this rail-to-trail urban pathway runs from St Petersburg north to Tarpon Springs. In 2017 an additional 5-mile section was opened into Pasco County. The pathway is part of the Coast to Coast Connector, a developing trail network that will span 250 miles across the state.

Gulfport Spur

There is a Gulfport “spur” to the trail, just north of Gulfport Boulevard, off of 55th St near Tomilson Park. The section closest to Gulfport travels through mostly urban landscapes, crossing streets with dozens of pedestrian bridges. The street crossings that are not protected via an overbridge almost always have a marked crosswalk with flashing lights.

Ride Planning Resources

The link below is an invaluable resource in planning your ride. It contains link to maps, links to rules, links to audio tours, bike rental locations along the rental and emergency assistance information.

http://www.pinellascounty.org/trailgd/

Gulfport Spur to the Pinellas Trail

insider tip: ABC Bicycle Rentals - the Pinellas Trail

Helmuts included at no charge! Rentals include "Flat Packs" and water bottle cages.

ABC Bicycles is a bike shop near the trail and I have used them for purchasing bike accessories as well. They're located very close to the trail, so you may be able to drive here, get bikes and head out on your way. Rentals include “Flat Packs” and water bottle cages. Hybrids include kickstands and a lock. Helmets are included at no charge or you may use your own. Hybrid, Road and Electric Assist bikes are available!

Here's the link to general rental information: http://www.abcbicycles.com/rentals

Complete rental policies at ABC Bicycles can be found here: http://www.abcbicycles.com/about-us/policies#bicycle-rentals

Maybe a sunset ride is in your future?

Ride # 2 Fort DeSoto

Fort De Soto park is worth a visit for many reasons besides the multi-use trail. It is the largest park within the Pinellas County Park system and is made up of five interconnected islands, or “keys”. Total acreage is 1,136! There are more than 328 species of birds here, an historic fort, 7 miles of waterfront (including almost 3 miles of beautiful white sandy beach, a boat launch, playground, restrooms, food concession area, two fishing piers, a nature trail, a dog park and ferry service to Egmont Key! So you can see that there are plenty of reasons to venture out on a bike on the 12-foot-wide asphalt multipurpose trail.

Ride Resources

The park service has a wonderful resource-rich webpage to the park and its features here: http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_ft_desoto.htm

insider tip: United Park Services - Fort DeSoto

Ten types of bicycles built for one to eight people!

Rentals at Fort DeSoto – United Park Services

The rental location is located on the multipurpose trail behind the Fort & Gift Shop. Phone number is 727.864.1376. Ten unique types of bicycles built for one to eight people!

http://www.unitedparkservices.com/bike.html

Nice, wide flat surface to ride along the Treasure Beach Trail - but under construction (or repairs?) August 2018

insider tip: Cycling resources

For a list of bike rental locations, check here.

To plan out your ride check here.

TIBT Sign at the 119th Ave entrance

Ride #3 - Treasure Island Beach Trail

On the southern end of Treasure Island is Sunset Beach, which runs from the 119th Ave S to Gulf Front Park. (If you see the Shake Shop on Gulf Boulevard, you're about 1 block north.)

There are other beach access roads along the way linked to Gulf Boulevard street access.

There concrete path is flanked by a short wall on the beach side. The wall helps keep sand off the trail while still allowing full beach views. (Note: As of August 2018 the trail is under construction at multiple locations to repair cracks. It's annoying enough to have to get off the trail if you're walking. If you're biking its a non-starter until construction is complete. I would estimate it is completed by some time in September. Treasure Island's website says it is supposed to be completed in August.)

Anyway, one of the nice things about the trail is it's width, smooth surface, unobstructed views of the beach landscape and access to restaurants (and some condos) along the way. You can get to Sloppy Joe's from this trail.

Schiller water bikes available for rental through Hubbards - either Johns Pass Marina or on the beach

Bike Rental Options on Treasure Island

Treasure Island Boat RentalsMad Beach Sports (including electric bikes and fat tire bikes)Hubbards Marina (Schiller water bikes)Erika’s Bikes, Boats

Partial map of Coast to Coast Connector Network

Coast to Coast Connector

If you're an avid cyclist, you may already know about Florida's Coast-to-Coast Connector. When completed, this connection of bike paths will link communities between St Petersburg and Titusville.

The goal is to provide a safe and scenic way for visitors to explore Florida on bike and on foot. The "C2C" is a major priority within the Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan.

Click on the map above to be taken to the full version on the website.

Click HERE to view a video about the C2C.

The coverage C2C network is really something to behold. When we drive from Texas to Florida, we usually avoid I-75 (very prone to frequent accidents and long backups), which means we cut down from I-10 and go down 98 through Perry, Chiefland (GPS Bermuda Triangle), Crystal River, Homosassa Springs and then pick up 589 Toll, the Suncoast Parkway. The Suncoast Trail parallels the toll road in that area. Read more about the Suncoast Trail here.

For now be warned that there is a gap between the Pinellas Trail and the Suncoast Trail, north of Tarpon Springs. (If you visit the map above you'll see that the Coast to Coast Connector is estimated at 250 miles, with current gaps estimated at 69 miles. Additional funding is needed to complete it.)

insider tip: Splashy Houses with bikes

The Shack & Flunky; Casa Sol, Harbor Mist. Isle Be Back, Tyn & Marty's Old Fashioned Beach Cottage

Splashy Bikes

Splashy does have bicycles in a general bike pool, however they may not be available to you during your stay.

Also, not all of our rentals are large enough to keep the bikes inside while you’re not riding them.

Splashy bikes and bikes with homes are not to be taken outside of the general neighborhood. (In other words, please don’t load them up in your vehicle and take them to Fort DeSoto).

Riding on the Pinellas Trail is fine, but keep in mind that we will not be able to come get you should the bike need maintenance.

Sandy Gingras

" At the beach, treasure is what we find, not what we buy." - from How to Live at the Beach

Bike Etiquette

If you're using the bikes at one of our rentals, we ask that you do not ride them in the sand or lay them down in the sand.

If you're renting a bike, please follow the rules they've laid out for you in your agreement.

Leave a comment below and tell us if you have a favorite ride!

#holidaystreasureislandflorida #vacationgulfport #VacationInFlorida #vacationintreasureisland #whattodo

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terrastravels · 8 years ago

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Nassau, Bahamas

Overview

Both times I have been here I have docked here from a ship. One the Disney Magic and the other Carnival Celebration.

Nassau is the Capital of New Providence Island, Bahamas. The Bahamas are made up of more than 700 islands, beginning just over 50 miles from Palm Beach, Fl and extending over 100,000 square miles to the Windward Passage at the edge of the Caribbean Sea. Nassau is on New Providence Island, just 150 miles from the Florida Coast. The total land area of the Bahamas is 5,358 square miles, surrounded by 100,000 square miles of water. New Providence is only 21 miles long and 7 miles wide. The Bahamas Population has about 250,000 people and of these 139,500 live in Nassau. Official language is English and the Bahamian dollar is the official unit of currency. US Dollars, travelers checks and credit cards are widely accepted. On Eastern Standard Time. THe Bahamas Tourist Office has information booths near the pier and throughout the city.

Dining/Bars

Senor Frogs: The BEST place for drinks! Tequila, beer, yard drinks and so much more! On Woodes Rodgers Walk right next to the water.

Shopping

Del Sol: For all of your color changing items! Everything changes colors in the sun’s UV rays.

Jewelry: There are SO MANY Diamond and Jewelry Shops along Bay Street and East Street, close to the ships docks such as Diamonds International, Tanzanite International, and Colombian Emeralds.

Caribbean Collectables: Souvenirs and Quality Gifts.

Shore Excursions in Nassau

When I was on the Disney Wonder this is where we docked and below are some of the excursions that were available. I would definitely recommend any of the tours, snorkeling, scuba, and Atlantis (if you have never seen it before) excursions.

Atlantis Beach Day: Begins with a 20 minute air conditioned bus ride to Paradise Island (just north of the island), just across from the resort. From there you are escorted to a reserved location on the beach. You are free to wander the marine habitat, which houses more than 120,000 fish and over 150 species.

Catamaran Sail and Reef Snorkeling: After a short stroll you will border the Catamaran, featuring a shaded lounge and spacious deck area, for a cruise through historic Nassau Harbor. You will sail to a lush, tropical reef for some snorkeling. You will have knowledgable crew with you.

Blue Lagoon Beach Day: Enjoy of day of fun and sun with this free spirited excursion to the tropical paradise of Blue Lagoon. Transportation provided by boat. Water sports available at an additional cost.

Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter: Enter waist-deep water, and interact with the dolphin. This is not a swim with the dolphin so to me it is not worth the money you pay. Experience lasts one hour on Blue Lagoon.

Blackbeard’s Cay Beach and Stingray: Close encounter with friendly stingrays. After a scenic 20 minute boat ride through Nassau Harbor, you’ll reach the private island of Blackbeard’s Cay, home to crystal clear turquoise waters, coconut trees, island music, and a variety of entertaining activities. When you arrive you will be taken to “Stingray Adventure” where you’ll learn how to use the snorkeling equipment, and details about Atlantic Southern stingrays. Then you hand feed them. Pretty awesome if you have never done it!

Nassau Historic City Tour: Travel in comfort in air-conditioned vans as you learn about the history of this port city. Tour includes visits to historic buildings, significant sites, and famous homes, with stops at Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle and Water-Tower, plus the Queen’s staircase. If you are a history buff and love exploring this is for you.

Thriller Powerboat: This powerboat is for guests age 5 and up. Starts with a 15 minute walk to Thriller, a state-of-the-art, custom built power boat. Once on board, you will hear a 45 minute narrated ride through Nassau Harbor and around Paradise Island.

Sunshine Glass Bottom Boat Tour: Want to get an up close look at the coral reef without getting wet? Then this is the way to go. On a glass bottom boat cruise the waters of Nassau Harbor as the host points out sights around this historic port city before heading off the the area’s protected coral reefs. Weather permitting you may even get to see a shipwrecked vessel, the Mahoney, on the far side of Paradise Island.

Discover Atlantis: Put on your walking shoes and immerse yourself in the legend of Atlantis during this exciting excursion. After the bus ride to Paradise Island just across from Atlantis, you’ll be escorted to the resort to begin a guided journey through Discover Atlantis. Home to more than 120,000 fish representing 150 species.

***Stuart’s Cove Scuba***: Your aquatic adventure begins with an approximate 45-minute ride to the dive shop, where you’ll receive equipment and instructions. Once on board the dive boat, you’ll be briefed on safety instructions en route to the dive site near New Providence Island. Along the way, the helpful crew will describe the area’s marine life and points of interest. Weather and tidal conditions permitting, the first of the two dives will be a reef wall dive of 40-80 feet, the second will be a reef or wreck dive of 25-55 feet. Each dive will be accompanied and supervised by an insured P.A.D.I divemaster or instructor. All participants must be certified!! Will have to show certification cards and completed at least one dive within the last two years.

Teen Thriller Powerboat: 15 minute walk from the ship to the “Thriller.” Once onboard you will enjoy a 45-minute narrated ride through Nassau Harbor and around Paradise Island. Waterfront views of the private islands, lighthouses, famous hotels and even dolphins. With plush seating and cool music it’s a great experience for teens.

Ardastra Gardens and City Tour: Tour begins with an air-conditioned bus ride to the tropical gardens of Ardastra, where you can see the world famous marching flamingos strut their stuff, feed beautiful Lory parrots by hand and view the largest collection of Bahamian land animals in the world. The second part of your adventure includes a narrated city tour with visits to some of the historical monuments of the Bahamas such as Fort Fincastle and the Queen’s Staircase.

Caribbean Queen Snorkel Boat: On this excursion you will have a chance to become a part of this beautiful world under the sea as you snorkel the reef at Athol Island. Begins with a narrated tour of the historic points of interest of Nassau as you travel the reef. You get one hour of open-water snorkeling.

Historical Harbor Cruise Paradise Island Tour: Begins with a narrated cruise through and around historic Nassau Harbor and ends with a self guided tour of Paradise Island. The 35-minute cruise ends at the new Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, where you will be free to explore the many wonders of the island. You can return anytime back to Prince George Dock

Historical Overview

Nassau is the capital of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the largest city on the island of New Providence. Even though it sits on one of the smaller islands, Nassau is home to more than half of the 250,000 people who live in the Bahamas and is one of the island’s most charming town.

Nassau’s history is rich with adventure from Indian inhabitants to the pirates that gained control of the island for a brief period of time to economic poverty and its current status as one of the Caribbean’s most prominent banking communities.

When Christopher Columbus landed in 1492, some of the Bahamas were inhabited by the Lucayan Indians. The Spaniards who followed the discovery soon abandoned plans to stay when they discovered there was no gold on the islands of the Bahamas.

English Puritans from Bermuda, seeking a new way of life, came to the islands about 150 years later and settled on Eleuthera. Soon after, a second group settled into New Providence, naming the island after the famous town in Rhode Island. By 1660, all the islands were officially linked by the proclamation of King Charles 11.

For the next 35 years, pirates and swashbucklers dominated the waters around the archipelago. Blackbeard was among the most famous of these. Looting, murders, raiding, and burning of ships were the order of business as the governments of these islands stood by, helpless to intervene.

The Spanish Government, incensed by the attacks on their galleons and England’s indifference, launched an attack from Cuba and burned Charles Town (on New Providence Island) to the ground. A year later, the former capital city was rebuilt and renamed Nassau.

Civilization was restored in the islands when in 1717, Capt. Woodes Rogers, once a pirate himself, was enlisted as governor and initiated a clean-up, offering full amnesty to all pirates who lowered their flags. Those that refused were destroyed.

Nassau prospered and fell many times over the course of the next 200 years. Before the turn of the century, Henry Flagler came to the Bahamas with the money and the power needed to build the island up as a major resort town. World War 1, however, stopped travel in the Atlantic and Nassau again suffered economic devastation.

Luckily, prohibition in the U.S. afforded the islands some unusual luck. The first casino opened in 1929 and that same year, Pan Am began service to Nassau from Miami, bringing wealthy American tourists to the island.

Nassau soon emerged as one of the most notable banking centers in the Caribbean and today still enjoys this notoriety.

#Nassau Travel TravelBlog #TerrasTravels

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ozsaill · 8 years ago

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Poised for the Bahamas

“I hear you’re putting Totem on the hard.” “Will you go out again?” In fact, we have no plans to park Totem for an extended stay on land (or in the water), and have never considered remaining in the US. But given the dearth of information in this space about what 2017 holds I can understand the speculation. We are on the cusp of departure and thrilled to be heading out for more adventures afloat.

Cascading events prolonged our departure, but the boat’s been humming, and legged out timing has shaped our direction. Routing clarity comes slowly after many shuffles on how we’ll fill the gaps between now (in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) and a year from now (Pacific Ocean, via Panama Canal). It still has a lot of squiggles and question marks, but the bigger picture should stick.

For many months, that year-long view was literally nothing more than get out of the US and back to the islands, spend a couple of months in Cuba, and explore Panama’s Guna Yala. (Remember that Plan is a four-letter word for cruisers! Corollary: Thar Be No Schedules)

Bahamas Baby

We’d written the Bahamas off, but they’re now solidly ON, and their late arrival means I’m scrambling for information. Friday I got our Waterway Guide’s Bahamas, Turks & Caicos book. IT’S GORGEOUS. The last years of Western Pacific / Indian Ocean / Southern Atlantic sailing had poor guides, if any, and it put me off. What did exist covered too wide an area to be useful, so I stuck to travel guides instead and started thinking cruising guides weren’t important. You know what? They’re incredibly useful, I’d just been too long without an example of what a good guide offers. So with 2017 Bahamas edition in hand, instead of helping Jamie and the girls scrub the hull that morning, I did this:

I did also buy a traveler’s guidebook for the Bahamas. I’m probably going to leave it behind, because the Waterway book is better, and has everything I need: the travel guide insights (cultural orientation, things to bring, cool places to visit) AND annually updated cruising data (what to bring and where to provision, details for moorings and choice anchorages, the latest marina info– even updates on impacts from last fall’s hurricane, and recommendations for things islanders might need that we can ferry over).

That schedule thing

Although schedules are the bane of cruising, I’ve happily added a fixed Must Be There date by signing on to present at the US Boat Show in Annapolis in April. Pam Wall and I will lead a 2-day Cruising Women seminar, and I’m giving a few additional presentations as part of the show’s Cruisers University. I’m very excited about this, especially the Cruising Women program. Jamie seems to have been born with saltwater in his veins; before we went cruising, it was important to me to seek information and skills. Women-only courses provided the shared perspective and camaraderie that best supported my goals. If you sign up, tell me! I’d love to anticipate meetups.

Places and people

It feels very good to be poised for Bahamas takeoff in Fort Lauderdale, but first we had to get south from Jacksonville to Miami for my friend Lynne Rey’s birthday. Schedules again? Maybe, but no way would I miss this since we could be there! Along the way, there wasn’t a lot of wind, but some beautiful sunny days and mellow seas that meant Niall could combine studying with watchkeeping in the cockpit.

Along the way we spent a couple of evenings hanging out with Kirk McGeorge. He’s done a couple of circumnavigations on a sistership, Gallivanter, and now does some crazy cool work building underwater submersibles with an outfit in Fort Pierce (he was a Navy diver, and drove Alvin- THE Alvin- on Titanic, way back when). The last time we saw Kirk was Australia, nearly five years ago! Cruising friendships like his are GOLD – you pick up right where you left off, despite intervening years.

In Miami, Lynne, her husband Tony (we sailed together in college) and their kids hosted us at the Coral Reef Yacht Club. This made fun birthday celebrations, late nights in the cockpit, kids learning and playing together, and a lot of good times very easy.

It also made it much easier for a visit from Kerry (the impressive endurance athlete / sailor / quadriplegic I sailed with last month). She gave our family and the Reys a preview of a powerful documentary she’s a part of that I hope will be ready to share publicly soon. Some tissues required after viewing before we could pose for a pic together, our thumbs in the air for Kerry’s nonprofit, ThumbsUp International. ThumbsUp connects people of all abilities to tackle athletic challenges, in particular by teaming able and disabled athletes.

Please check out the Facebook page for ThumbsUp International and give it a like to show your support! Kerry would really like to nudge it over the 2,000 like hurdle: can we do it?! Follow and share!

More friends visited: we first knew Tiffany and Greg as “the Coast Guard Couple” when we met them in Mexico eight (!) years ago; we last caught up in Australia. They’ve traveled a loop around the world since then, by sea across the Pacific and by land from SE Asia to the UK. Both are Coast Guard Academy graduates, both are hard core professional seafarers, and they had great advice on college and maritime licensing for Niall. Just the folks to help toss the lines when it was time to head to the anchorage, right?

Projects projects projects

And then, there was maintenance and repair. Lots of it. Because that’s one definition of the cruising life.

To give you an inkling of that everyday fun on Totem, and a peek into what’s kept Jamie busy here in Florida:

Outboard: FINALLY FIXED. It’s been sick for five months. Diagnosis by mechanic in Jacksonville: failed CDI unit, but we replaced that and still no spark. Option two: bad coil. Ding ding ding ding! Wires from the coil had both broken…photo above. They were crimped by a strain relief device, but the break was hidden inside of a plastic sleeve. Great 11th hour help from our new friend Conor, who borrowed a flywheel puller from a Miami auto shop to get it done.

Sundowners on Totem later, time to talk story with Conor (former cruising kid, now physicist) and his dad

Aft cabin: I went to a road trip to Miami with my friend Patty, and Jamie broke the aft cabin. He’s since rebuilt my workspace, relocated the solar and wind charge controllers to a newly-constructed locker, and cleaned up a bunch of wiring spaghetti. Few words for a LOT of work.

Dodger: As a sailmaker, Jamie knows his way around a sewing machine. But canvas work is “fiddly” (his description) and he hoped to outsource Totem’s new dodger sides. But after weeks of no joy or no action from service providers in northern Florida, he took our friends on Shanthi up on the offer to borrow their SailRite and made it himself. Templating with Tyvek from the hardware store, then constructing the final from Sunbrella, Strataglass, and Tenara thread…on the dock, until it rained, with child labor…as you do. It IS fiddly, but he does great work, and saving the expense is a great bonus.

Before he could get to the canvas, the whole hard top was shifted forward: this meant changing the frame (it’s more vertical on the forward face now) and building new supports.

Deck hardware: fully reinstalled the repaired stanchion base that broke on our unpleasant passage from Bermuda to Connecticut.

Engine: Fixed pesky drip from fuel filters after troubleshooting. Replaced barbs with correct size, replaced 3-way valve fitting, and O-rings. Hopefully this saves the $250 racor replacement kit!

Electrical: We use a rugged Panasonic Toughbook for our nav computer. Both plug connections for the nine-year-old 12v charger had failed; solder now leads directly to the board. All good.

Plumbing: Replaced failing cockpit drain hoses (shared with galley sink drain: presumed grease buildup). Fixed flaw in primary water tank that prevents proper venting with a few holes (and finally found out the actual capacity, two years later- 73 gallons!). Discovered (and replaced) leaking outlet fitting in tank. Aft head required an unclogging adventure, then replacing seals and hose and other work that I’d rather not know too much about. Thanks to my sweetie for being The One That Deals with the Head on board.

…and that’s just what he did on Totem! On friend’s boats, Jamie helped install a solar panel, did a few (three? four? five? I lost track) rig evaluations, and helped get one tuned properly.

I married well.

Much more than fixing stuff

One of the more significant preoccupations outside of prepping Totem is working with coaching clients. We thoroughly enjoy helping people make the leap to successful cruising! More recently, the kids have gotten into a few of our Skype sessions, too: prospective cruising kids want to hear the real scoop directly from them. Sitting around the iPad, this is a pretty typical scene.

We closed our our Miami stay by anchoring in Marine Stadium, a sweet little spot with near 360° protection and a killer view of the downtown Miami. Backlit by twinkling lights from the skyline at night, we could detect dolphins circling Totem only by loud huffs of their breath. An idyllic spot to raft up and make some great memories with the pretty Huckins, Cortado (which is for sale, by the way), and her crew.

Totem is now in Fort Lauderdale, on our final countdown to departure for the Bahamas. We don’t know when we’ll be back in the USA, but it’s probably some years. I’ve got an insane list, and it includes major items like, oh, battery bank replacement. Full watermaker servicing. Diesel mechanic services. Provisioning for 3 months in islands with limited stores, and high costs. Supplies for Bahamian communities still impacted by hurricane Mathew last fall. Then there are the incidentals “but we won’t be in the USA for how long?” that inflate our list. Here in the mainland, we have access to better breadth of goods, at a better quality, and a better value, than we will likely encounter for a long time.

It’s been blowing for days, but Totem is in a protected anchorage. There is access to supplies. Anchorage neighbors stopping by to chat from their kayaks. Visits from shoreside dwellers, arriving with friendship, the gift of papaya, and lessons in art (thank you, Jim!).

Life is beautiful. I’m grateful every day for the choices we have and our freedom as a family, and can’t wait to extend our adventures…starting soon in the Bahamas!

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