Bermuda Day 6

Dear Blog

August 30^th Sunday Day 6 Bermuda

 

Today we took another early walk around Hamilton before the cruise crowds rolled in. Bermuda is a favorite stop for several cruise lines—especially Norwegian—and every ship docks out at the Royal Naval Dockyard, about seven miles from Hamilton. By taxi or bus, it’s a 45‑minute ride, but as we’ve learned, the ferry makes a quick and beautiful 20‑minute trip across the sound.

 

Most cruises stick around for a couple of days because Bermuda is basically everyone’s dream vacation. So, this morning—before the heat kicked in and the Fanny Pack Brigade marched ashore—we set out to explore Hamilton’s quieter corners. We wandered into hidden alleys, secret nooks, and all the little details that make the city feel like Bermuda’s best‑kept secret.

 

When you wander through Bermuda, the first thing your eyes keep drifting towards are the white roofs. There is a reason for that. The islands do not have any rivers, lakes or other sources of natural fresh water, so every building is designed to catch rainwater. They all look like wedding cakes and homes are painted soft pastel colors, not just for the charm but to reflect sun, keeping interiors cool.

 

“Hidden Hamilton” sits just behind Front Street, easy to miss because most visitors stay on the main drag of shops, bars, and water views. The real charm lies in the unmarked alleys—quirky, art‑splashed passages that reward anyone willing to slip between two buildings and wander. We found unexpected murals, you’d swear no one would bother painting, quiet little pocket of everyday Bermudian life— You’ll see Bermudians chatting, deliveries happening and historic coral‑stone walls, pastel paint peeling just enough to be charming, and stairways that look like they’ve been climbed for a century.  In a word… interesting.

 

August is a great month to visit here. We’ve had classic Bermuda summer days: highs in the 80s, lows around 78°F, and sea temps are at their warmest — about 82°F.  Most visitors don’t realize Bermuda’s ocean is too cold for comfortable swimming for about four months (Dec–Mar), when water temps drop to 63–68°F.

 

A friend asked us, “Aren’t you going during hurricane season?” Technically, we are here during peak Atlantic hurricane season. But direct hits on Bermuda are rare. The island is only 21 square miles, a tiny target in a huge ocean, and most storms curve north before they ever reach it. A direct hit happens roughly every 10–15 years — the last was Hurricane Ernesto in August 2024, so… are we safe? LOL, hopefully.

For travelers like us, the biggest issue isn’t island damage — it’s flight disruption. Even offshore storms can delay or cancel flights thanks to strong winds, turbulence, or unsafe landing conditions. Bermuda’s airport usually closes for hurricanes once every 1–3 years. And honestly, compared to today’s general air‑travel chaos, delays can happen anywhere, anytime… so our thinking is similar to what Alfred E. Neuman might say, “What Me worry?”

 

In the afternoon we wandered down to the pool, watching the usual parade of newcomers drifting in and out. This hotel, like all other hotels is a revolving door of personalities. And while I’m grateful it’s “adults only,” you could definitely argue that a few of these folks are stretching the definition. We skipped the Saturday night pool party. The music was too loud and the ‘adults’ a bit too much.

 

Tomorrow is a big one.  St. George awaits, and we will need all the energy we can get.

 

P.S. A friend wrote me a response to yesterday’s story, “So buy a cute villa on the beach and I’ll be sure to visit. Happy sipping… On your way home I can get you booked in my yearly room at the Betty Ford clinic.”