Goodbye to Bermuda

[dragonia64]

As I prepare to leave this week, some final thoughts..

I have enjoyed my time here, my move is voluntary, need to get home.

This is a place that could offer so much more, but offers just enough.   I am grateful for the just enough, but like many expats, can't wait to get home.

I have found here an amazing and resiliant group of some people.  If the professional Bermudians I worked with on a day to day basis would speak their mind, try to truly change things here, it can't be touched.  What everyone else needs to remember is "It's not all that".  Somewhere along the line, someone got the idea in their head that this was paradise.  It is not.  It's charming, lovely, etc, etc..but paradise, far from it.  Too much political bullshit , weather NOT that great, gang fighting, certainly a "vibe" you get from some that you are not wanted here.  High rent, high priced and horrible food options (umm, like fresh vegetables).   The Bermudians who recognize this can change this, the ones who don't, sorry, I didn't take your job and I will be just as happy to get out of Dodge as you will be to see me go.  Get over yourselves!  No one is entitled to anything, not a native Bermudian, not an expat..human beings need to be the best of themselves wherever they are and whatever they do.  It's called personal pride. 

I will miss the warm water and some of the lovely beaches.  I will miss for the most part, the lovely people I have met here.

Ciao to all-

[Wikigrl]

Loved this!!!!

Best of luck!!!!!!!

[BangMaster]

Best of luck Dragonia, I had the same feeling when I left! Trust me, you'll enjoy the new place!

[Pandora]

"it is no paradise"

So true. The Golden age for Bermuda is long over. The situation with tourism and development is only going to get worse. There was a time when Bermuda was a "premier destination". This was mostly down to little competition. The tourism industry in other countries has caught up and in a lot of cases surpassed Bermuda.

There is a lot more choice and people expect a lot more. For the wealthier tourist that Bermuda goes after they have the highest expectations. I do not see how Bermuda can compete. I found the food in Bermuda terrible. I mean this as no insult to the chefs who do their best. But there is a limit to what you can do with poor quality ingredients that are all imported. Lots of holiday places have the ingredients growing on the grounds.

I was thinking how the Amalfi coast region of Italy - Capri, Sorrento, Amalfi etc caters to the same type of tourist. The area is known for cruise ship passengers and attracting a wealthier set of Americans, Brits, Japanese, Germans, French etc. After that and the comparisons diverge completely....

Bermuda:

Food: Imported, frozen ingredients, generally crappy. If you go to one of the best restaurants expect to pay $100 per person. A few places for each price range and a lot of microwaved food at lower budgets.  2/10
Shopping: tacky souvenirs, jewellery or over priced "designer goods" from mid range mostly American designers.  1/10
Swimming and beaches: fantastic beaches on the South shore. 8/10
Weather: sunny and dry summers - 28 degrees 10/10
Crime: lots 3/10
Friendliness & customer service: snootiness, snobbery and snarly 2/10
Accommodation: Overpriced for what you get and often a bit ill kept 7/10
Nightlife: not a lot of choice - small pool of clubs and bars, theatre and cinema 8/10
Public Transportation: Overpriced taxis, crappy buses 1/10


Amalfi Coast:

Food: Amazing fresh locally sourced food - abundance of Michelin starred restaurants. Lots of choice. The best restaurants are about 60 euros for a 3 course meal. http://www.jkcapri.com/GrandCarteJKitchen.pdf 9/10
Shopping: Designer goods, mid range products, fantastic sandals & beach wear, pottery, lemocillo shops, souvenirs, artisan goods - inlay, herbs, pasta, liquors, wines, handbags, leather at all range of budgets.  8/10
Not many beaches, stoney and over crowded. Swimming is fantastic in a grotto from a boat and there are plenty of these for rent at reasonable prices. 
Weather: sunny and dry summers - 28 degrees 10/10
Crime:very little 8/10
Friendliness: suave, gregarious and welcoming 8/10
Accommodation: views, good prices, pools, old world charm and elegance 8/10
Nightlife: buskers - high quality, opera, theatre, clubs, bars, cinemas, events - festivals, piano bars, 8/10
Public transportation: ferries (evening cruises), buses, coaches, trams, water taxis, taxis, boats, "Hop on hop off" - reasonably priced from 2 euros a ticket 7/10

No contest really!
 

[Wikigrl]

While I agree with most points, I have the following rebuttal:

Food - restaurant wise (higher end) - just for accessibility sake I think this should be rated as a 3 or 4. In Toronto it's impossible to get reservations at some of the higher end places...now you don't even need reservations at most BDA restaurants....I was also thinking of another point here ---> When I first arrived inBDA there were dress-codes at restaurants and bars - I was even with someone who was denied entry to a bar because he was wearing man-sandals (you know the ones I am talking about - not flip flops, not Birks or sports sandals - Eurpean man-sandals) - meanwhile I WAS wearing flip flops and they let me in no problem - then after a while they didn't care what the heck you wore - you could even wear jeans to some of the higher end places and nobody said one word - as long as you paid your bill - that was a nice change because it was awkward when I first arrived back in 2005 - things changed A LOT in the 5 years I was there....

Shopping - for the most part it sucked - but as a person who requires clothing larger than a 0 or a 2, I at least had more choice than I do in Canada - also SHOES - specifically Nine West shoes - way way way way way cheaper than they can be had for in Canada - like a shoe in BDA that cost $85 was easily $150 in Canada PLUS TAX (plus import duty if I was to bring them back to BDA)...I also liked the styles there better...found them a little classier - and the clearance sales - HOLY CRAP! You could get some fantastic deals when Boyles had their bin sales! so for Shopping, please split out that category into "Stuff" and "Shoes" and give the shoe one at least a 7/10!
Oh and perfume - WAY cheaper...(sometimes as much as 50% cheaper!)

 

[Mike]

I love the way women turn shopping into sport.   

Karma to you both.

[Kingfish]

In Bermuda's defense, a comparison to the Amalfi coast seems unfair.  The main industry on the Amalfi coast is tourism, followed distantly by growing lemons.  The main industry in Bermuda is international business, followed distantly by tourism.  Nobody sane would set-up any form of international business on the Amalfi coast or Italy in general, just as nobody sane would set-up a lemon-growing operation here.

[Wikigrl]

Mike...shopping while living in BDA was a freaking sport! I remember my trips home when I would have to reserve 1 day for 'shopping' and hit all the stores like the world was ending! 

Some habits die hard and I seriously only shop a couple of times a year now - like we're talking about household goods and supplies....it actually saves money because I am way too tired to impulse buy!

[Long gone]

I agree with George.
A fairer comparison would be with Caribbean destinations where facilities, lifestyles, cultures and contraints similar to Bermuda's exist.
Personally, I would never bother returning to 'the rock' for a holiday. There are so many other far more interesting and welcoming places to visit, (if you can avoid the hordes of ubiquitous tourists that is).

[Wikigrl]

I was of the mindset that I would NEVER return to the rock - EVER - but I really miss my adopted Bermudian family so I will likely return for a visit - but just so we're clear, it's just to see them - not 'vacation in Bermuda' - I wonder if the census takers have yet clued in to the fact that a large portion of air visitors are there to visit friends and family (local or Bermudian) and are not true tourists...the more and more ex-pats that leave, the less and less the visitors....

[Paget]

There are great restaurants in Bermuda. World class? Probably not.

But if you can't find a great meal at Porto Call, Harbourfront, Waterlot, Harry's or Rustico then you are ordering the wrong thing

[Felonious Monk]

I think Serge would get at least one star in the Guide Michelin.  (The Point restaurant.)  The resorts here and their restaurants are pretty good.  Sometimes we don't think they're so great because they're just down the street.

[Wikigrl]

Serge? The Point?

Where are these?

No doubt there are some great restaurants on island!

BOLERO anyone??? (My fave!)

[Paget]

Big fan of Bolero. Always got the snails...

[Paget]

The point is at Tuckers...