.....and a few random thoughts about Bermuda now that I'm back home.
First of all, the "Bermuda Shorts" concept works really well in Bermuda but I don't see it taking off in Texas. They are, in fact, very formal and practical. They area always worn with the socks, long-sleeved formal lightweight jacket, and tie--and are a throwback to the British military uniforms worn in tropical locales in the past. I can't see walking into Jim-Bob's Bar in Alvin, Texas wearing this however.
The system of using ridged roofs to collect and treat rainwater is ingenious but also necessary as there are no streams, rivers or fresh-water springs on the island.
There is no wildlife in Bermuda......except chickens. During the runs I did see chickens scattered around the countryside--not the ugly white chickens we have here but the brown and red breeds. They roam at will--Bermuda is a relatively prosperous island so nobody is trying to eat them. We were warned, however, they they are truly wild and will attack if approached.
No photograph can do justice to the beautiful waters around the island--they range from emerald green to a turquoise-blue.
Another unusual aspect of Bermudian architecture is the "moon gate." The concept of an archway constructed in a complete circle was imported from Britain but is now considered a Bermudian fixture--you see them at hotels, in parks, and as we ran through the countryside, many of the private homes and estates had them as entrances to the sidewalks leading to their houses. It is considered good luck to cross through one of them. Not sure why they're called moon gates but I guess Bermuda Circle would be awkward since they already have a Triangle.
The 20 MPH speed limit is pretty much observed--in large part due to the narrow, winding roads. They use the British system of driving on the left side of the road and there are not many large trucks on the island. There is a large tourist industry in renting Mopeds but most of the people I talked to who tried them felt unsafe.
I used the cheap, efficient and clean bus system (which included the super-efficient ferry service) and felt it freed me up to relax and enjoy the scenery.
The races were well-organized and the support of the locals was very good. Bermuda only has 65,000 permanent residents so there weren't Boston Marathon crowds but, especially in the marathon on the third day, there were small groups of Bermudians waving and cheering at nearly every intersection along the winding roads. The runners were great! I arrived knowing nobody and left seeing people I recognized virtually everywhere I went.
Front Street, in nice weather, is one of the most beautiful race courses I've seen anywhere.
Overall, however, like I said earlier, it was a 5-Star experience......
First of all, the "Bermuda Shorts" concept works really well in Bermuda but I don't see it taking off in Texas. They are, in fact, very formal and practical. They area always worn with the socks, long-sleeved formal lightweight jacket, and tie--and are a throwback to the British military uniforms worn in tropical locales in the past. I can't see walking into Jim-Bob's Bar in Alvin, Texas wearing this however.
The system of using ridged roofs to collect and treat rainwater is ingenious but also necessary as there are no streams, rivers or fresh-water springs on the island.
There is no wildlife in Bermuda......except chickens. During the runs I did see chickens scattered around the countryside--not the ugly white chickens we have here but the brown and red breeds. They roam at will--Bermuda is a relatively prosperous island so nobody is trying to eat them. We were warned, however, they they are truly wild and will attack if approached.
No photograph can do justice to the beautiful waters around the island--they range from emerald green to a turquoise-blue.
Another unusual aspect of Bermudian architecture is the "moon gate." The concept of an archway constructed in a complete circle was imported from Britain but is now considered a Bermudian fixture--you see them at hotels, in parks, and as we ran through the countryside, many of the private homes and estates had them as entrances to the sidewalks leading to their houses. It is considered good luck to cross through one of them. Not sure why they're called moon gates but I guess Bermuda Circle would be awkward since they already have a Triangle.The 20 MPH speed limit is pretty much observed--in large part due to the narrow, winding roads. They use the British system of driving on the left side of the road and there are not many large trucks on the island. There is a large tourist industry in renting Mopeds but most of the people I talked to who tried them felt unsafe.
I used the cheap, efficient and clean bus system (which included the super-efficient ferry service) and felt it freed me up to relax and enjoy the scenery.
The races were well-organized and the support of the locals was very good. Bermuda only has 65,000 permanent residents so there weren't Boston Marathon crowds but, especially in the marathon on the third day, there were small groups of Bermudians waving and cheering at nearly every intersection along the winding roads. The runners were great! I arrived knowing nobody and left seeing people I recognized virtually everywhere I went.
The only downside was the weather.....it was miserable the first night for the mile race and tolerable during the 10K. The marathon race, however, was absolutely beautiful. On Friday night, we were seventeen minutes late starting (the only glitch all weekend), and during that period the rains opened up and poured down in sheets.
Front Street, in nice weather, is one of the most beautiful race courses I've seen anywhere.Overall, however, like I said earlier, it was a 5-Star experience......
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