How I spent my autumn vacation

All together now … “We were travelin’ along, on Moonlight Bay …”, except it’s the ocean and that’s not moonlight.  No, really.  I actually took this photo early morning, but the glare of the sun on the water was apparently too much for my camera.  

The things I had to cope with on this trip.  An empty margarita glass!  Gasp! 

We docked at the Royal Dockyards in Bermuda.  When the British Navy relinquished the dockyards (apparently they’ve decided they don’t need to keep such a close eye on the U.S. anymore), it was opened up for commerce and tourism. 

No sign of Dr. Who.  No sign of an actual telephone, either.  I guess they just left it there to make the tourists (that would be me*) happy.  It did.

Ye old fort at the Royal Navy Dockards.  Possibly HM Royal Navy left to pursue better accommodations, these being somewhat, um, quaint, yeah, that’s it.  Formerly, I think I recall, this particular area was called the victualing yard, where, one presumes, the victuals were eaten.  This being Bermuda, they could have dined al fresco all year round.  The interior of the fort has been turned over to local craftsmen and tradespeople.  Glassblowers work in one of the larger buildings.

But the best idea they had was turning a few of the rooms into a pub called The Frog and Onion.  According to the menu, the pub was opened by a Frenchman (the frog) and a local (the onion … what?  you’ve never heard of Bermuda onions?)  It’s really cool inside, very little natural light, a giant fireplace and lots of fat candles on wrought iron holders. 

I took this photo on the way to Horseshoe Bay.  Just a few yards from here is the road that leads steeply downhill to the beach.  Pretty, isn’t it?  See that big rock on the right hand side of the photo?  On the other side is …

… this cove.  The water is crystal clear and swarming with pretty, tropical fish that are very curious about the odd formations that visit.  There were actually way more people there than it looks, but by some unspoken agreement everyone set up chairs and towels against the towering rocks on either side of the beach, maintaining the picturesque view. 

And not least, my new shoes.

93 comments November 8th, 2008