My 2017 Top 5 Favourite Bermuda Things

Bermuda has been home for nine and half years which is scary in so many ways. One of my problems with living on a small island in the Atlantic Ocean, and I appreciate this for some has it’s advantages, is that rarely do things change. Yet in the recent year or so brought about by the Americas Cup, I’ve witnessed a renewed confidence in the local economy and a surge in young and talented Bermudians willing to challenge the status quo.

The Island has seen an uptick in overseas visitors and they have witnessed a much more thriving island, Hamilton in particular where autonomous stores and places to grab a drink or food, often owned by young creative individuals or partnerships compete with the established but often humdrum and uninspiring names, all owned by just a handful wealthy families.

The first of a small series of 2017 Top Fives starts with my home. Here is a list of my Top Five Favourite Bermuda Things from last year:

1. The Americas Cup
I’ll be honest, I had grave reservations about Bermuda hosting the 35th Americas Cup but I couldn’t have been more wrong, Bermuda not only carried off hosting the Americas Cup, they carried it high, and probably head and shoulders higher than any host had carried it before and the stimuli to the island is still being very much felt.

2. A Revitalised Front Street
A few years ago walking along Hamilton’s main drag of Front Street was a little depressing. Boarded up windows and shuttered stores and restaurants with homeless guys in cardboard boxes littered their closed doorways. However Front Street, particularly the Pitts Bay Road end, has been transformed with an emergence of distinct and original stores. Up the other end of Front Street a mini row of bars such as Astwood Arms and the Dog House has finally given after-work drinkers a choice of places to grab a glass.

3. A Different restaurant thinking
It’s not difficult but when Bermuda’s restaurant scene is pretty much owned by a handful of operators they can’t or are not prepared to expose themselves to anything different. However Austrian Holger Eiselt has proven he is willing to. After Devils Isle and Village Pantry comes Huckleberry, just up the road from my office and a refreshing addition to Hamilton’s restaurant scene in an historic and pretty location.

4. The Hamilton Princess
In 2012 the Green family bought the huge and decaying Hamilton Princess and have transformed it into a world class hotel. Still the two brothers continue to improve it and for no other reason go into the lobby, order a dark and stormy and admire their collection of modern art.

5. Swimming
This is a little self indulgent. My 8-year daughter is swimmer, a good one, and many of my weekends and evenings are taken up at the pool (I can just about doggie paddle 25m) yet I am always amazed how many good swimmers are in Bermuda. Let’s be honest I shouldn’t be because we live on an island, but the facilities at the National Stadium and at the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association’s (BASA) own pool are impressive as are the swimming clubs here that guide, train and care for kids like my daughter.