Cruise part 2

Bermuda is a small island …or rather, a group of small island …in the middle of the North Atlantic. It’s closer to North Carolina than it is to the Caribbean. 21 miles long and a mile wide, it’s the remnant of an extinct volcano. It is surrounded by coral reefs. Originally discovered by the Spanish, it was settled by English people who were bound for the Jamestown Colony in Virginia but were blown off course and shipwrecked.

So what did we do in Bermuda?

Well, on the first day, we took a tour of the island. 7 of us in a minivan. The driver talked about the history and culture of Bermuda as he pointed out interesting sites.

This is a small church.

Notice the cistern collecting water from the roof. There’s no fresh water on the island except rainwater, so every roof is designed to collect rain.

Avery different church in the distance …

And in Hamilton you have to pose…

The church we saw in the distance

We also stopped at Horseshoe Bay, one of the famed “pink sand” beaches.

Bermuda's sand is pink because microscopic single-celled marine organisms called foraminifera(specifically Homotrema rubrum) grow on the underside of coral reefs and wash ashore after they die.

We also stopped at a lighthouse.

This is a cast iron lighthouse, 187 steps to the top, built on the highest point of Bermuda in 1844.

Drew climbed to the top. I did not.

Our second excursion was at sunset. We left the ship and walked to the other end of the pier to board a glass bottom boat. I took a few photos while we were queuing up for the walk.