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Two friends and I made a trip to Bermuda in May of 2009, and for one of the groups, it was the first visit to Bermuda. For me, this was my fifth trip.
We had the pleasure of enjoying the superb beauty of the Island(s) and the great hospitality of all of the Bermudians we encountered, from the cheerful clerks at the supermarkets, to the charms of both the Salt Kettle House and the Rosedon Hotel, and to the helpful and ever so charming folks serving stamp collectors at the Hamilton Main Post Office (I'm the stamp collector among us!).
Well, on the Bermuda National Holiday, when much of Bermuda closes down for the celebrations, we decided to take the bus ride to Spanish Point, hunt down the historical wreckage of the now badly rusted " Dry Dock" skeleton just off shore, and otherwise enjoy the sights and sound of an area of Bermuda the two veterans among us had not yet discovered on our previous trips.
On the north side of the point, where there are some beach areas, we passed a number of locals picnicking and enjoying the fair weather. Wouldn't you know it, but one extended family called out to us to come over and join them for a bit of lunch and a bottle or two of brew! In Canada, such an invitation to strangers is almost unheard of. We were all a little hesitant, but eventually, the friendliness just overcame our usual Canadian reserve, and over we went.
We had a wonderful time chowing down, knocking back a few ales, and exchanging stories. One of the folks was even a frequent visitor to Canada, which further sealed the bond. What a wonderful hour or two we had with these gracious and warm people.
We all three felt somewhat ashamed later, on account of our unwarranted initial distancing. This turned out to be one of several highlights to that 2009 trip. We'll be back - hopefully in 2012 or 2013. We can hardly wait!
Daniel Marz
Toronto, Canada
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