LIFE THE BERMUDAN WAY

Aquila
Alan and Sarah Bennett
Tue 27 May 2008 15:22
In true Bermudan style the crew is currently very relaxed...I don't think 'stress' is a word that made it as far as this little island!
 
Since our arrival on Sunday we've been taking stock and getting used to life back on land. Yesterday was "Bermuda Day" - a day to celebrate the Bermudan way of life through carnivals and parades and parties etc. I think nearly the whole island lined Front Street and it's a bit rude to call the food they brought a 'picnic' because it was more like a banquet! Each family had a gazebo and folding chairs and enough food to feed armies.
 
Things were due to kick off at 1330 but (this is Bermuda!) the parade didn't reach us until about 1430. We were standing opposite the governer and premiere in their sheltered bandstand area and saw processions of floats, dancers, a group of Hell's Angels (who went around and around on their growling bikes obviously relishing the opportunity to honk their horns as loudly as possible and not be reprimanded for it!), drummers, traditional displays of Bermudan culture etc. We stayed for about two hours but then thought we'd seen enough - we did feel slightly sorry for the governer who cleary had to stay for all six hours of it!
 
The skipper spent the afternoon assisting Henry with modifying the gimbles on his cooker and Henry thanked us by having all four of us onboard Ariel for drinks. Poor little boat - her bow definitely rose in the water as the six of us sat comfortably in the cockpit! We had some delicious champagne courtesy of Myf (thank you so much!) and then Alan and Sarah returned to Aquila to prepare a supper for all of us...poor Henry and Jez looked slightly lost inside Aquila's 'roomier' cabin!
 
This morning has so far consisted of sextant lessons and arranging social events with Bermudan's governer and other people of note. Mummy and Pippa did a food shop (in a supermarket stocking Waitrose food of all things!) and Sebastian had an explore of the town. The plan for this afternoon is to go and see more of Bermuda's sights...a lighthouse and some marshes or something.
 
Looking forward to Tom and Ian's arrival on Thursday.
 
The traditional Bermudan dancers...
 
 
More of the festivities...
 
 
Onboard Ariel for drinks - thank you Henry and Jez...