These Boots, in Bermuda.: August 2013

In 1609 Sir George Somers, Admiral of the Virginia Company's nine vessel Supply Relief Fleet, left England bound for Jamestown, Virginia, on board the Sea Venture. The plan was to take supplies and more settlers to Jamestown, the first English Colony to be established in the New World.
The Sea Venture was separated from the rest of the fleet during a hurricane, near the Azores. After several days of being battered by strong winds Somers spied land and believing that they would be doomed if they stayed at sea, he decided to sail the damaged ship as close to the islands as possible. Unable to anchor safely, the ship's Captain, Christopher Newport, deliberately steered the ship onto a rocky reef.
Luckily for the crew and passengers the ship became lodged between two reefs, which prevented it from sinking. This enabled all on board to scramble ashore on to what came to be known later as the Somers Isles. Later, what was left of the cargo and much of the ship itself was able to be salvaged. Miraculously there were no fatalities.

Sir George Somers

Intending to eventually carry the survivors on to Virginia, a new vessel was built from the salvaged timbers of the wrecked ship. Realising that this vessel alone would not be large enough to take them all, Somers ordered a second one to be built, using locally sourced cedar to complete the construction. While the two main vessels were being built Sir George Somers explored and mapped many of the islands, using small boats built for the purpose also constructed from cedar which grew plentifully on the islands.
After ten months Somers and his crew set sail for Virginia in the two newly built vessels, Patience and Deliverance.

Replica of Deliverance in St. George's

Upon their arrival they found the Virginia colonists to be suffering from famine and disease. The provisions brought by Somers are considered to have been instrumental in saving the remaining settlers.
Somers set out to return to the islands to collect additional provisions but unfortunately he became ill and died before he could return to Jamestown. His heart was buried in the Somers Isles (which later became known as Bermuda), while his body was buried in his home town near Lyme Regis, Dorset.

A small park named Somers Garden was created and a simple tomb marks the approximate location of his buried heart. In 1920, a stone column was erected and the park was officially opened by the Prince of Wales.

The first settlers originally built St. Peter's Church in St. George from Bermuda Cedar, however this wooden structure was destroyed in a hurricane. It was rebuilt in stone around 1713, with some additions such as the steeple being added at a later date.

St. Peter's Church was the location for the first Parliamentary meetings, being the only building large enough for the purpose. In 1620 the Sessions House, now known as the State House, was built by Governor Nathaniel Butler. This became the location of Parliament until 1815 when Hamilton became the capital.

In front of Buckingham House, a three storey Georgian building dating from around 1750, is a small walled garden containing a bust of Irish poet Thomas Moore.

Bridge House, originally built in early 1700

The former Globe Hotel, now a National Trust Museum, with a beautiful sheltered garden at the rear of the building.

Dating from 1782, the Town Hall is used by the Mayor and Town Council of St. George.

The Post Office, built around 1622, housed the first jail on the island. In later years it also became the residence of Bermuda's Police Chief.

There are many more beautiful and historic buildings in the Town of St George, as well as narrow streets and alleyways cutting between the pastel coloured buildings.

As you can see, it's a lovely relaxing place to spend some time!

Thanks for visiting my blog; I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Walsingham Nature Reserve, an area covering 12 acres which incorporate Blue Hole Park, is known locally as Tom Moore's Jungle. It is so named for the Irish poet Thomas Moore, who spent some time in Bermuda working as Registrar to the Admiralty, as well as writing poetry. Lush vegetation grows along the walking trails leading to mangrove forests and the beautiful blue grotto known as Blue Hole.

We caught a bus from Hamilton, disembarking near the Grotto Beach Hotel, directly across the road from the entrance to Blue Hole Park. After a short walk we found ourselves overlooking Castle Harbour from a sheltered area of mangroves on the edge of a beach.

There are many caves to be explored. A torch would have been useful!

Stalactites dripped into clear pools filled with shoals of Sergeant-Major fish.

Nature abounds in amongst the trees and shrubs.

Spanish Moss

Male Jamaican Anole lizards change from a dull brown to bright blue, as they soak up the sun. The orange dewlap is seen during mating and territorial displays.

The female Anole is a little more drab in appearance, than her male counterpart.

Milkweed flowers are vital for the survival of Monarch butterflies as their caterpillars feed exclusively on these plants.

Papaya Tree

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

After exploring the caves and mangrove beach for a while we made our way to the gorgeous Blue Hole. There is a wooden decked area from which to sit and drink in the beauty of this hidden gem.