Bermuda is one of my go-to vacation spots. The first time I visited was on a family trip in 1990. I honeymooned in Bermuda in 2002. Most recently, my husband and I flew to Bermuda for a long weekend in March of this year. We had a lovely, relaxing and Bermudaful vacation. On this trip, we stayed at the Fourways Inn, famous for its elegant retaurant. We spent a morning at the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo, one of our favorite attractions in Flatts Village. We dined at various restaurants around the islands, enjoying the best meal of the trip at Coconuts at The Reefs. What made the strongest impression on us was the friendly and welcoming atmosphere in Bermuda. We felt like we were coming home.

Island Time

Gracie Goodwin took a sip of cold, crisp rosé as she drank in the ocean view. From the flower-bedecked balcony of her vacation rental, she overlooked the turquoise harbor.  Sailboats and a local ferry skimmed across the water under a cloudless sky while the rooftops and church towers of Hamilton floated on the horizon.

She and Ted had taken that ferry this morning and then walked up the hill along Queen Street to catch one of the big pink buses to Flatts Village where they spent a few delightful hours at the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo.

Given her chosen occupation as an ornithologist, zoos, nature reserves and national parks were always at the top of Gracie’s vacation itinerary.  Listening to a nearby pair of yellow kiskadees call back and forth to each other, she picked up her phone and scrolled through the photos she took at the zoo.  Her shots of the flamingos and peacocks were fun, but a picture of a pair of Bermuda longtails swooping over the ocean in a graceful aerial ballet was the best.

“Here we go, Gracie.”

She  glanced up at the sound of Ted’s voice.  Smiling at him as he stepped through the French doors out onto the balcony, she reached for the  tray of crackers, cheese, grapes and salami he balanced in one hand.

Ted took the seat across from her and poured himself a glass of wine. He  piled a slice of cheddar atop a stone wheat cracker.  “What’s happening out here?”

“I was just looking at my pictures from this morning.  Aren’t these longtails gorgeous?  I love how they stand out against the deep blue sky.” She handed him  her phone. “Did you know that they only come to shore for nesting season? And they mate for life.”

“Nice.”  Ted scrolled through the pictures on the phone and gave it back to her with a laugh.  “I like this one of us in the Madagascar Exhibit best.”

In the photo, Gracie and Ted stood grinning goofily beside a trio of ring tail lemurs. Her round, owlish glasses glinted in the sunshine while her auburn curls blew around her face. Ted looked cool in his cargo shorts, bright orange polo and Raybans.

“Those lemurs were a riot lounging around in the sun like beach bums,” said Ted.  “They’re such awesome animals.”

Gracie stretched out her legs and lifted her face to the late afternoon sun.  “Today has been a truly splendid day.”

“I’m glad we decided to stay in tonight.  Finding that grocery store was a definite  stroke of luck.” 

On their way back from their busy morning at the zoo and then a filling lunch on the terrace of the Swizzle Inn, they decided to pop into a shop across from the bus station to pick up some evening provisions.  Together, they meandered up and down the aisles pushing a rattling cart in front of them as they searched for the makings of a typical Bermuda supper.

“This is the life,” Ted said with a contented sigh. “What can be better than French rosé, cheddar and brie and this amazing view?”

“The Bermuda fish chowder we’ll have in a bit, more wine and this view?” Gracie teased and held up her glass to clink his.  “The woman at the store assured me that the chowder is from an authentic local recipe.”

Gracie thoughtfully ate a few grapes and went on, “She was such a nice person.  So warm and genuinely friendly.  Everyone here seems to be that way.”

”And all the locals seem to know each other.  Did you hear those two gentlemen on the bus talking about their grandsons’ cricket match?  I was sorry when they got off at their stop.  I wanted to hear who ended up winning the game.”

”Imagine if this were our house.  How heavenly would it be to eat supper out on our balcony every night and fall asleep listening to the ocean? Living here would be a Bermudaful dream come true.”

“Maybe someday it will come true,” said Ted.  “You never know what the future might bring.” He grinned and held out his hand to her. “In the meantime, let’s go in and heat up that chowder.”