Day 3 - Part 4: Ferry from Hamilton to Dockyard

The public ferry service offers a scenic alternative to the bus in Bermuda. The ferries are modern high speed catamarans, making a ferry journey in many cases the faster travelling option. The fastest ferry from the City of Hamilton to the Royal Naval Dockyard takes just 20 minutes, while the bus ride takes about an hour. 

Leaving Hamilton behind

Sailboats in the Great Sound

Hamilton Princess

 A precarious occupation

Ferry arriving at Royal Naval Dockyard

The West End of Bermuda is home to the historic buildings of the former Royal Naval Dockyard.

King's Wharf and Heritage Wharf are two adjacent cruise ship terminals; they are the only docks in Bermuda which are capable of accommodating today's larger vessels.

Outdoor concerts are held regularly at Dockyard. Summer 2013 saw weekly John Lennon tribute concerts, with local singers performing both Lennon's and Beatles music. Lennon visited the island in 1980 and shortly thereafter wrote the album Double Fantasy, released just before his untimely death.

In the summer months, thousands of cruise ship passengers descend on the small shops located in the Clocktower Mall. Built in the 19^thcentury as administration offices for the British Royal Navy, the building now houses an array of boutiques and souvenir shops. The former Cooperage building is home to a craft market. Local artists can be seen demonstrating their skills, including cedar carving and jewellery making.

Clocktower Mall

Options for dining out include the Bone Fish Bar & Grill and the Frog & Onion Pub.

Bermuda Moongate

North Rock is an isolated limestone outcrop on the edge of the reefs surrounding the island..In 1912, a beacon was placed on North Rock, as a shipping aid.
It was rebuilt in 1960 and again in 1990. This fountain in Dockyard is mounted on a concrete base which was the foundation of the 1960 beacon. The  area surrounding North Rock is a strictly no fishing zone. The resulting abundance of fish making it a popular diving and snorkelling area.

 Catching the last bus from Dockyard enables you to enjoy the stunning sunset.

 The evening's entertainment begins for the lucky children on their cruise.

Meanwhile, on the last bus of the day from Dockyard, we spotted some rare vandalism. A reminder that social problems exist, even in a seemingly blissful island paradise.


More information about Dockyard here...

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Day 3 - Part 3: City of Hamilton

The architecture in Hamilton is a pleasant combination of traditional colonial style buildings, mixed with the modern style of more recently constructed, mainly commercial developments. There are very few high rise structures in the city; most buildings are no more than three stories high.

 Typically buildings are painted in pale pastel hues, with white limestone roofs. These are constructed in such a way as to collect rainwater, the limestone acting as a filter. The rainwater is collected in underground storage tanks, providing the residents with fresh drinking water.
There are no lakes or other bodies of fresh water on the island.

Some of the businesses on Front Street benefit from open verandas and ornate balconies, from which a view of the harbour front can be enjoyed.

Hamilton Central Bus Station

Public transport is punctual, clean and efficient. Getting around using the local buses, with their unique pink and blue livery, couldn't be easier. Ferries are also fast and spacious, affording travellers yet another way to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

In the 1800s onions became a major export crop, earning  Bermudians the nickname "Onions".

By the end of 19th century, American importers looked to the island as a major supplier of the vegetable and the ship SS “Trinidad” was carrying more than 30,000 boxes full of onions to the US on a weekly basis.

A combination of the shipping restrictions brought about by the First World War and competition from U.S. farmers dealt the business a fatal blow. 
Tourism gradually became the economic mainstay of the island; the nickname has found its way into that industry also.

Walking down Parliament Street brings you to the Sessions House, which dates from 1819. Bermuda's parliament is the oldest in the British Commonwealth and is modelled on its predecessor in London.

 

The annual opening ceremony and regular sessions are open to visitors, who can view them from the public gallery. The Supreme Court can also be viewed while in session, through out the year.

In front of the Cabinet Building is the Cenotaph, commemorating the lives of Bermudians lost in two world wars. The design is based on the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.   

People watching, as always, is an entertaining pastime. 

Diverse fashions include the impressive dreadlocks of a freelance car valet and classic Bermuda shorts, worn with knee socks.

Bermuda has a large number of international reinsurance companies based in the city of Hamilton. These  have been adversely affected in recent years due to changes in government policies on immigration and also the far reaching effects of global recession. 

Built on the site of the former Bermudiana Hotel, the ACE building gained a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) award. This is an internationally recognized green building certification programme for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.

The recently constructed ACE group of insurers building

Palm trees and exotic tropical plants add to the picturesque beauty of  the city.

 

 


There is a great deal of public art on display in various locations. This bronze sculpture has pride of place at the entrance to a major bank.
Life size sculpture of Humpback whale tails by Canadian sculptor Ron Cowle, commissioned by XL insurance company.

   








 'Against Da Tide' sculpture by Bermudian artist Bill Ming.







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