Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory, is a group of coral islands in the North Atlantic about 640 miles east south east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, more than 1,000 miles north of the Caribbean Sea. The five facts below were taken from The Travel Institute’s online Destination Specialist Caribbean program. Go ahead and test your knowledge on the island of Bermuda!
1. Did You Know?
Police, mail carriers, and business people wear shorts – Bermuda shorts, of course. They must be no shorter than a couple of inches above the knee and are worn correctly with long socks turned over just below the knee. British troops are believed to have begun the custom years ago when they arrived in summer. Men wear coats and ties with the shorts, and sometimes even full evening dress.
2. Did You Know?
In the winter of 1883, Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria, fled the cold of Canada where her husband was the governor-general to seek Bermuda’s pleasant climate. Her visit inspired the opening of the Princess Hotel in Hamilton.
3. Did You Know?
At the junction of Front and Queen Street in Hamilton city, the Birdcage is a popular landmark. Earlier the blue and white metal structure was used as a stand for a policeman directing traffic. Today, the Birdcage is more a tourist attraction. Traffic lights now regulate the traffic. The cage was named after Geoffrey “Dickie” Bird who in the 1950s designed the cage.
4. Did You Know?
The moongate is a decorative feature in Bermuda’s landscape gardening. Its circle symbolizes unity, peace, and happiness, and brings good luck to the couples that walk through one. In 1860, a sea captain brought home a moongate plan that he had seen in a Chinese garden. The design has become a national symbol. Many locals and visitors exchange their wedding vows in front of a moongate.
5. Did You Know?
Bermuda has no fast food franchises. The exception is one KFC franchise in Hamilton. It was in business before a law was passed that outlawed the stores. The country sticks with its local food and has resisted corporate fast food invasion. Local specialties include fish chowder (made with rockfish or snapper and flavored with black rum and Outerbridge’s sherry pepper sauce), shark hash, and sweet potato pudding.
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