Bermuda

For our 11th anniversary this year, Michael and I went to Bermuda!

Okay, fair enough- he had a work conference in Bermuda and it happened to be over our anniversary. So, we had to take advantage of basically just paying my way on this trip. And what a trip it was! Truly, we had a really fun time, despite Michael's late golf club arrival (they came the next day and that was in time for his tournament.) And yes, his team won yet again. He won a bit of cash, which paid for a lunch for us both there. Our resort was lovely, but paradise isn't a bargain price.

The first day was a bit overcast and the evening featured a bit of a rainstorm (that we fortunately were not caught out in.)

We were exploring the resort property and at dinnertime, we didn't realize that nearly every restaurant on-property required reservations. Fortunately, the manager at the restaurant on the beach (next to the photo above) took pity on us and allowed us to sit and order at the bar (we were there well ahead of the general dinner crowd.) Dinner was excellent -- I ate a ton of fresh seafood while there -- but the bartender was incredibly nice (and earning that tip!) He gave good cocktail recommendations, and Michael chose the cocktail that was his award-winning creation, the "Bermuda Reserve," photographed below with Corey. My cocktail is below that.

There was also a great band that we got to hear practicing and warming up. And it was the first our our "Adele" encounters. While there, we heard Adele constantly! It became a joke between us and I even heard it one after noon blaring from a passing boat!

We met new friends, and I got to reconnect with a favorite teacher from my high school in Augusta, Becca Crumrine. She was my government and economics teacher in 9th grade, and I loved her class. I still well remember the semester-long research paper we had to complete for that class. My paper was on the Republican presidential candidates before the primary. I remember extensive research on that group, including Lamar Alexander, who I really liked even then (and now collaborate with this communications staff, generally working on Subcommittee on Labor and Pensions matters). But that election cycle was fairly predictable, and Bob Dole was the expected nominee, he's the one I made an educated guess about earning it, and he did receive it. He would have made a good president.

Anyway, I have kept us with Becca, and had lunch with her probably 10 years ago, but haven't really seen her since beyond the connection of Facebook. She's a top family law attorney, and it turns out she was in the same law school class at UGA (I guess 15 years ago) with one of my favorite former co-workers, Chris Carr! She insisted that we get coffee or lunch together while we were there, and we got to have lunch together our last full day there, with our husbands, too. I look forward to staying in better touch now. She works very near us, too!

Back to the trip itself. We visited Hamilton, the capital city, on Thursday morning via a ferry ride. On the way, we heard from other passengers that "the city is on fire!" There was indeed a building on fire that was evidently more than 100 years old and the shop on fire and those around it were mostly wood. Fortunately no one was hurt as it began in the middle of the night, but it was the talk the rest our visit. An entire block of downtown Hamilton was roped off as the firefighters put it out.

There was a pretty park that we walked through, where we were greeted by roosters! I later learned that there are just chickens everywhere on the island.

It was very pretty and green!

We enjoyed our visit, and ate some traditional British pub fare. Michael enjoyed a beef and liver pot pie thing, and I had some excellent fish and chips!

I got to read two books while I was there, majorly upping my number for the year (I really haven't had time to read much.) There was time on the place, at the beach with the beautiful water and pretty pink sand, and one late morning that I spend beside the pool.

I managed two more boat trips during our visit.

One was for snorkeling! We learned a lot about the island on the way out, the lifestyle, history and more, and we dove on the north end of the island in the Bermuda Triangle! We saw a few sea turtles on the way out (none while I was in the water) and lots of reef. We also saw a very old shipwreck.

Since I had no "buddy" or group at the time to snorkel with (Michael was in a work session), I could just swim where I wanted to and at my own leisure. I stayed still a lot of the time. I think it came out to my benefit, because it sounded like I saw many more fish than others. There was purple and orange coral, brain, feather, fan and lace types. It was beautiful! I saw at least 30 varieties of fish, including parrotfish, juvenile parrotfish (had to look it up!), wrasse, tangs, angelfish and more. I just loved it. And I wasn't the very last person back on the boat, but I was one of the last. And on the way back, I met new friends of us David & Barbara Lance, and Donna and Randy McIntyre.

I also got to have a "Hidden Homes and Hideaways" tour of the island, featuring "Millionaires Row."

This also featured brunch and breakfast cocktails on the boat. We did see some beautiful homes that included the home of the voice of the original Miss Piggy, A home where John Lennon stayed after he sailed to Bermuda from England, a tiny house RIGHT on the water where Mark Twain stayed, the home of the illustrator of "The Wizard of Oz," a home that served as the original aquarium on the island. We also saw the very top of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones' home (they own 16 acres, which is a huge deal - and Michael Douglas is Bermudian - his mother was originally from the island!).

(Wizard of Oz house- he created the illustrations in the tower turret there.) 

Miss Piggy voice, house!

Mark Twain's residence for a time. 

The Douglas- Zeta-Jones estate.

What else? We ate a ton of seafood there (mostly me)! We got to see a traditional Gombey performance during the opening reception, and there was a juggling inspirational comedian at the final banquet. Yes, you read that correctly - and he rode a unicycle and juggled knives and fire, too.

Our new friends also helped us celebrate our anniversary! At dinner that night, we were surprised with a lovely bottle of prosecco.

And in our rooms was this gem of a dessert selection from the Gordons!

Also in Bermuda, there are some giant boulders along the coastline and in the ocean. We saw numerous folks climbing them, and some even jumping from them. Michael used our last afternoon to climb one!

He's that guy standing on top! There wasn't a good, deep spot for him to jump off, so he had to climb back down. There was only really some minor scraping involved.

And we had to go all the way to Bermuda to finally meet UGA legend - all time great, Herschel Walker! He spoke to the group, and then signed autographs and took photos forever! He had a great message about attitude, commitment, respect and not taking all of the serious stuff "too" seriously- especially not yourself.

We were toward the end of the line, because I went up to get my hat for him to sign and good camera. I grabbed my years-old white Adidas workout ball cap because he mentioned a longtime deal with them. I also grabbed my white Masters Tournament ball cap, because I figured the other might not be nice enough and you know, The Masters. He gladly signed both - noting that his chicken company provides the chicken breasts for the sandwiches at the tournament! So there you go. (Of course, I wished I'd had my Vice Dooley signed UGA camp with me, but I had no idea this would be an option!)

He was SO NICE! Thanks, Herschel!

All-in-all, it was a great trip, even if we got to deal with a busted water pipe back home (thanks to the Arnolds for alerting us to our water being cut off!) We wouldn't want to be too far away from real life, right? It was great fun to learn about the island and its history - and I can't wait to keep up with the America's Cup next year being raced for the first time from Bermuda! The Swedish team is already set up there.

We enjoyed it all, and we were excited to get home to our babies, for sure.