The bus ride along the south shore is always a feast for the eyes as we hurry past lush green foliage, vibrant hibiscus hedges, and pastel-hued homes before arriving at the beaches with their pink sands, dramatic rock outcroppings, and the blue-green waters that have always fed my soul with their beauty and clarity.
Before long, we were in Somerset Village. Sigh ... it is no longer the village we remember so fondly. Some things have not changed, but it appears that Covid took a hefty toll on our little town. Our favorite pharmacy is gone - replaced by a "dollar store" type place - and another favorite haunt - The Squire's Pub - is also shuttered.
That said, the beach and the water are still there. There was a new coffee shop-type place where we shared a bottle of water and sat overlooking Mangrove Bay for a bit.
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| The Coffee Shop at Mangrove Bay |
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| Reading the Paper |
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| Mangrove Bay |
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Waiting for the Bus
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We waited for the bus to go back toward Hamilton (the pink poles go to Hamilton; the blue poles go to Dockyards) for quite some time and then decided to walk across the street (where the bus stop was in the shade and had a place to sit down), take the bus to Dockyards, and then grab a bus back toward Hamilton for our next stop - The Reefs.
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| The Line for the Bus at Dockyards |
There was a ginormous ship in port at Dockyards, and we got there just as hundreds of people were queuing up to take the bus to the beach. We had quite a wait in line as the first bus was full. We made it onto the second bus but had to stand until folks started getting off the bus at various beaches. At long last, we made it to the stop for the Reefs and exited the bus.
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| The Infinity Pool |
After walking around inside for a few moments, we decided to make our way down to Coconuts, the restaurant on the beach. We both had forgotten how many steps there were to get from the main part of the hotel to the beach. My creaky arthritic knees barked at me as we descended to the restaurant, but we made it in one piece!
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| I love this view - It never gets old! |
We enjoyed our visit to Coconuts - a rum swizzle for Jeff and a glass of wine for me. Jeff ordered a caesar salad and some wings as well, and we sat taking in the beauty of the setting. The skies were moody and broody at times and bright and sunny at others, which added to the glory of the day.
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| Overlooking the Neighboring Property at the Reefs |
As we made the trek back up the hill to catch the bus back to Hamilton, we paused for a few moments on a bench overlooking the property next to the Reefs. We watched as the hotel that used to be there was battered time and again by passing hurricanes until the owners finally gave up and put the property on the market, where it remained for as long as we had been going there. Evidently, sometime in the past five and a half years, it was sold and developed as a "beach club" - we didn't see evidence of a hotel.
Our visit to the Reefs was bittersweet, as there had been many changes. Jeff lamented the loss of the cedar decor in the "clubhouse" and the removal of the grand piano. The friendly greetings of the staff were a distant echo of the past, as we were barely acknowledged as we entered the hotel and walked toward the bar area, which was totally empty. It has been ten years since we stayed there last, and I guess the tides have changed.
St. George's ~ September 13, 2024
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| Insignia in St. George |
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| Dramatic Skies Over St. George |
It was interesting to sail to St. George's. It's a part of the island that we have always enjoyed exploring. We enjoyed an early breakfast and headed off the ship to a museum we had been to before that emphasized Bermuda's role during the American Civil War. Bermuda sympathized with the South, although Great Britain was officially neutral during the war. Thus, Bermuda played a strong role in helping the South avoid the North's blockade. Many Bermudians made their fortunes on "blockade runners."
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| Museum Exhibit |
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| The View from a Window in the Museum |
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| Cotton was a Major Source of Trade with the South |
We did a bit of shopping in the Gift Shop, acquiring new tea towels and a souvenir wine stopper, and then headed out to the White Horse Tavern - the oldest tavern in Bermuda. We sat for a bit on a bench and chatted with an 80-year-old Bermudian man. We passed a policewoman writing a ticket for an illegally parked taxi.
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| Fragrant Frangipani |
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| Policewoman Writing a Ticket -- Oops! |
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| Jeff Loves His Rum Drinks in Bermuda |
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| A "Havanese" - Rescue Dog from Cuba |
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| Families in the Park - St. George |
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| The Pilot Boat guides us safely to the ocean |
A Day in New York ~ September 15, 2024
When we awoke, we were docked in New York City. We had to be off the ship by 9 a.m. to "show our faces" at immigration. We planned to grab a cab or Lyft to Times Square, go to the Europa Cafe for a bit of breakfast, and then head over to the TKTS window to get discounted tickets to see a show. Our choices were limited because our ship was sailing from NYC at 7 p.m., and the recommendation was to aim to be back on board by 6 p.m. to allow for possible delays. Thus, we were limited to shows that started at 1 or 2 p.m.
When we arrived at TKTS at about 10:30, the queue had already formed. Jeff and I had already conferred and decided that we would try to get tickets for a show called & Juliet or a show called Six. We ended up choosing & Juliet, and we were delighted with our choice. While Jeff stood in line, I sat on a wall or bench engaged in my favorite activity: "people watching."
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Bagels and Coffee in NYC
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| People Watching |
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| My Bench Companion |
This was what we saw when we arrived and took our seats. Shortly after we arrived, cast members wandered out to the stage and engaged in a variety of activities, including interacting with the audience - this was before the show began. Once the show started, no photographs were permitted.
The premise of this musical goes something like this: William Shakespeare is writing his play, Romeo and Juliet, when suddenly, his wife, Anne Hathaway, appears and "takes over." It seems that she doesn't like William's tragedies, and she wants more for Juliet than "dying for love." So, it's the story of Juliet and what happens if she decides not to stab herself with Romeo's dagger! It was fun and hysterical in many places throughout. The characters were wonderfully written (and performed), and the singing and dancing were amazing. It was truly an awesome experience.
We made it back to the ship in good time and had a short rest before dinner and another variety show on the ship.
The three photos above were taken as we dined and the ship departed New York City for our "Autumn Allure" portion of the cruise. Jeff captured these shots from our table for two next to the window.
Once again, our talented group of young singers and dancers put on a great show.
Tomorrow ... another visit to Newport and then on to Boston for a day!
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