Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, located some 600 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
The discovery of the islands around 1505 is attributed to the Spanish navigator Juan de Bermúdez. Because of the risk of becoming shipwrecked on the dangerous reefs surrounding the islands however, Bermúdez never went ashore to claim them for the Spanish Empire.
Around 1609 the Sea Venture, flagship of the Virginia Company, was wrecked on Bermuda's reefs while en route to the recently established colony at Jamestown, Virginia. The ship, commanded by Admiral Sir George Somers, had 150 people on board; all of whom managed to survive the wreck.
The survivors built two more ships using the wreckage and wood from cedar trees which covered the islands. Most of the survivors then sailed for Jamestown only to find that most of the settlers had died from starvation.
Somers returned to Bermuda to find provisions for the colony, but died there in 1610. His body was transported back to England, but his heart was buried in Bermuda. The islands were known as the Somers Isles for some time, and are still sometimes referred to by that name to this day.
In 1612 the first group of permanent settlers on the islands established the city of St. George’s near St. Catherine’s Point. Three years later, a charter was granted under the name of “The Governor and Company of the City of London for the Plantation of the Somers Islands,” and a second group of settlers arrived from England.
In 1620, the British Colonial Government was founded, a Royal Governor appointed, and a legislature was established in St. George. In 1684, however, the Bermuda Company’s charter was forfeited, and government transferred to the English Crown. A new parliament was established, and Bermuda has been a self-governing British colony ever since.
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| Flight time from London Gatwick is approximately 7 hours |
Our Trip
We were lucky enough to spend a total of 21 days in Bermuda in 2013. It was our first visit since leaving in 2001, after a seven year residency. Naturally some things had changed and not all for the better. However, the island is just as beautiful as we remembered and the majority of people are extremely helpful, friendly and polite. Bermuda itself is a photographer's dream. Colourful houses, sparkling turquoise sea, unique architecture, tropical flowers ... the list is endless. I hope you enjoy looking at my photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!
This is the sight that greets you as you leave the L.F.Wade airport building. A sight for sore eyes by anyone's standards.
After a long and tiring journey, we arrived at Marley Beach Cottages where we immediately went down to explore the adjacent beach. The sun was just going down, the water and air temperature were around 28°C/82°F and the temptation to dive in fully clothed proved irresistible.
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