Page 446 - The British Big Four

CAHOW (BERMUDA PETREL) Bermudians are proud of their offi-
cial national bird, which the islanders are bringing back from the brink
of extinction. Nonsuch Island in Castle Islands Nature Reserve has
recently had the good fortune of a Cahow chick being hatched and
fledged. These birds spend most of their lives at sea and only breed in
Bermuda.
ST. DAVID’S ISLAND Before Bermuda modernized, and the pretty
hotels and upscale housing went in, this is how the island used to look
and how they used to live. St. David’s Lighthouse has been a landmark
here since 1879, and much of this island seems about that old too. Take
Bus #6 from St. George’s.
BERMUDA SHORTS In Bermuda, even the businessmen feel it is
perfectly okay to dress in Bermuda Shorts for the summer. Shorts
1” to 3” (2.5 cm to 7.5 cm) above the knee are worn with a nice shirt,
maybe a neck tie, plus knee-high socks. However, they are still not ac-
ceptable for church or dinner parties. Men wearing shorts began with
the British military in hot India in the early 1900’s. British troops re- For St. Georges town, the following captions guide you:
ceived shorts in Bermuda too, and the fashion caught on by the 1920’s,
and continues until today.
ONIONS If you were born and raised in Bermuda, you are affection-
ately entitled to be called an “Onion”. At the turn of the 20th Century,
Bermuda was indeed exporting many onions, mostly to the U.S., as
one of the island’s major sources of income. “Onions” have a bit of un-
familiar vocabulary as well. For example, to vomit is to “Go Europe”,
and pointy shoes are called “Cockroach Killers”. Although they might
sound a bit colloquial, Bermudians are amongst the most highly liter-
ate people in the world.
There are also captions within two detailed city maps on Franko’s Ber-
muda Guide and Dive Map. For Hamilton the following is written as
guide information on the map:
AR-LA-VILLE PARK Once the garden of Wm. Perot, Bermuda’s first
postmaster, now this park is a respite for locals and tourists. A rare
Perot 1-cent stamp from 1848 auctioned for $105,000. It was dated and
signed by Perot himself.
WALKING TOUR OF HAMILTON Starting near the dock at the Vis-
itors Service Bureau, this path will take 2 or 3 hours, and you will enjoy
and love Bermuda’s beautiful capital city, Hamilton.
FORT HAMILTON Built to protect the harbour in the 1870’s against
possible American attacks. Although it has guns, cannons, and ram-
parts, its main attraction is the marvelous gardens within the walls and
the wild semi-tropical forest of the surrounding dry moat.
CATHEDRAL OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY Bermuda’s beautiful
cathedral known as the mother church of its Anglican diocese. You can
climb 157 steps up into its tower for one of the best views in Bermuda.
ST. GEORGE’S HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM Set in a home
built circa 1700, this museum contains an original 18th-century Ber-
muda kitchen, a 300-year-old Bible, a letter from George Washington,
and more.
THE OLD RECTORY Built in the late 17th century by reformed pi-
rate George Dew, this is one of the oldest buildings in Bermuda.