I am sitting at my desk at the hospital, watching the palm fronds wave frenetically.
At least today there is some sun and the rain that has been dousing the island for the last couple of days seems to have cleared a bit. On the whole it is rather colder than expected, but then with snow being dumped in the USA, I don't think we can expect otherwise!!
The weather has curtailed some of our exploration, but we have kept busy. On Saturday, we couldn't go boating, so Ian and I explored the BUEII - the underwater exploration institute and looked at exhibits on the Americas Cup, various shipwrecks and artefacts and were blown away by a shell collection that spanned many years.
We then treated ourselves to a fish dinner at a rather surprising little restaurant in the middle of Hamilton which not many people that I have spoken to, seem to know about! It is called "Lost in the Triangle" and is up some stairs in the busiest part of town. It is a little bit of a 'dive' with plastic table cloths and TV's plastered on the wall, but the fish was very good. I had red hind and Ian had wahoo.
Sunday dawned quite sunny so we made our way to Somerset on the scooters and joined the others on the boat. Because of the weather we launched at a different dock, within the Great Sound as it was more protected, went under the Watford Bridge into Somerset Long Bay and there snorkelled, in pretty cold shallow water as it was low tide but found numerous small fish, swam with some turtles and found some remora eels
We elected to have a quiet New Year's Eve and made some lamb and lots of veggies. Unfortunately our peace and quiet was disturbed by a couple in one of the nextdoor rooms having an extended argument, which was rather unpleasant!!!
On Monday, we went down to Horseshoe Bay and joined numerous others, who were taking part in the "Polar Bear Swim". Bearing in mind that most Bermudians only swim between the 24th May and mid-Sept, this is quite a challenge!!! It was chilly but we thoroughly enjoyed our walk along the beach and then a snorkel in one of the secluded bays. Bumped into a group of 4 SA girls who had flown just flown in, via an extremely chilly NY, and were due to start there 4 month secondment with Deloitte & Touche.
Looking into the water in the Flatts strait - incredibly clear. I call these fish 'zebra fish' but they are actually called ' sergeant majors'.
Harrington Sound flows into the Flatt's strait at quite a rate
A 'scarlet ibis ' - reminder of the hadeda back home.
It was just about the same size, but very much prettier
As it was due to be a super full moon on Monday night, we decided that we would go to the Gibbs' Lighthouse, which has a 360 view of the island to watch both the sunset and the moonrise. Unfortunately the clouds moved onto the horizons and we didn't get a good sunset and certainly no moonrise. Luckily we did get home before the heavens opened, and were able to see the full moon later - high in the sky!
The map at Gibb's Light House with Ian pointing to it's position
The rather 'feeble' sunset!!!!!!
At least today there is some sun and the rain that has been dousing the island for the last couple of days seems to have cleared a bit. On the whole it is rather colder than expected, but then with snow being dumped in the USA, I don't think we can expect otherwise!!
The weather has curtailed some of our exploration, but we have kept busy. On Saturday, we couldn't go boating, so Ian and I explored the BUEII - the underwater exploration institute and looked at exhibits on the Americas Cup, various shipwrecks and artefacts and were blown away by a shell collection that spanned many years.
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| Numerous beautiful specimens - some of which I can't even imagine being found in such perfect condition |
We then treated ourselves to a fish dinner at a rather surprising little restaurant in the middle of Hamilton which not many people that I have spoken to, seem to know about! It is called "Lost in the Triangle" and is up some stairs in the busiest part of town. It is a little bit of a 'dive' with plastic table cloths and TV's plastered on the wall, but the fish was very good. I had red hind and Ian had wahoo.
Sunday dawned quite sunny so we made our way to Somerset on the scooters and joined the others on the boat. Because of the weather we launched at a different dock, within the Great Sound as it was more protected, went under the Watford Bridge into Somerset Long Bay and there snorkelled, in pretty cold shallow water as it was low tide but found numerous small fish, swam with some turtles and found some remora eels
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| Remora eel - it has a sucker on top of it's head and swims along with sharks. It was very partial to bits of chicken that we threw into the water |
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| One of the direlict private jetties |
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| A couple of rooms on stilts which were built a number of years ago as part of a hotel complex. Unfortunately the complex was badly damaged in a hurricane and the rooms have never really been used and now are occasionally used by the homeless!!! |
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| The 'almost full moon' on the 31st - taken from our apartment |
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| A selfie before the swim |
Then we scootered down to the Harrington Sound / Flatts Village area. It was a case of 'he took the high road and I took the low road, and he got there before me!!!', partly because I was following and not watching and then took a couple of wrong turns.......... but we found each other at the Aquarium, which was the plan!!! Wandered around trying to decide which fish was which and which ones we had seen already. there is also a bit of a zoo with animals and birds from the Americas and Australasia.
It was just about the same size, but very much prettier
As it was due to be a super full moon on Monday night, we decided that we would go to the Gibbs' Lighthouse, which has a 360 view of the island to watch both the sunset and the moonrise. Unfortunately the clouds moved onto the horizons and we didn't get a good sunset and certainly no moonrise. Luckily we did get home before the heavens opened, and were able to see the full moon later - high in the sky!
That is all for now
I can't believe that 2 weeks have flown by and there is only one more to go.
News from home is always welcome!!!!!
Love to all
Maureen and Ian
I can't believe that 2 weeks have flown by and there is only one more to go.
News from home is always welcome!!!!!
Love to all
Maureen and Ian
Stunning photos Maureen. Loving reading your blog. I think I must look for a COBOL programming job in Bermuda! You didn't actually DO the swim, did you??
ReplyDeleteHave lots of fun!
Sue