Why do houses in Bermuda have white roofs?

All the houses and buildings and even the bus shelters in Bermuda have white roofs. This was one of the first things I noticed when arriving on the island, and I wounded why.

I have found out that they are all painted with a limestone powder mixture, so when rain water runs of the roof it gets sanitised on the way down and collected in a tank under the house. The water is then pumped out and used for everything you need water for in your home, you can even drink it, although I must admit I haven't as yet tried it.

Its a great idea as there is no other natural water souse on the island.

Christmas in Bermuda...

This year will be very strange in the build up to Christmas. Today they were putting the finishing touches to the decorations round town, and it was weird to see a Christmas tree next to a Palm tree.

It will take me a while to get used to the fact that it's not going to get colder, and it will be warm weather for Christmas. But it's still exciting to see the decorations going up, and it will be great to see the traditions of a Bermudian Christmas.

The Christmas count down has begun, 24 days to go :-)

Bermuda Aquarium...

I took the bus today to a lovely little village called Flatts, this is the location of the Bermuda Aquarium & zoo.

The Aquarium was a great place to see all the sea life that live around Bermuda, they had a great collection of creatures everything from a playful Octopus to kissing fish.



They also have a museum were you can learn all about Bermuda and the wildlife on the island. Then on the walk back to the bus stop you can look down into the harbour and see huge sting rays swimming very close to shore.

The Bermuda Christmas Parade...

I attended the annual Christmas parade in Hamilton today. The streets were lined with hundreds of people waiting for the floats to pass, it was a great atmosphere and really felt like the start of Christmas. Even though it was a warm evening.

I was surprised how many dance groups there were in Bermuda, they were all fantastic and well rehearsed, it was nice to experience a variety of different music and dance. You could really see how much effort had been made to make the parade a success.

The smallest dawbridge in the world...

I had a day off from work today so went for an explore, I took the ferry to the west side of Bermuda, and went for a 8km walk down the coast.

Bermuda is made up of qwite a few smaller island, especially on the west side so there are alot of bridges. I walked over one and saw there was a very small wooden secion in the middle, there was a sign that said it was the smallest dawbridge in the world.

The gap, when the drawbridge is lifted is just wide enough to let through the mast of a sailboat.

I got to see fireworks after all...

I have always been very excited about bonfire night ever since I was little, and have always enjoyed watching fireworks, having a bonfire and playing with sparklers. But when I found out that Bermuda didn't celebrate Bonfire night I was a little disappointed, as this would be the first time in my life when I didn't attend a bonfire party.

But then a friend discovered that there was a party to be held at a beach near to St Georges on the east point of the island. I was very excited, and it was a great evening. We bought some sparklers and stood by the bonfire while watching the professional firework display.

It was a little strange that it was still warm and on a beach, usally for bonfire night I would be wearing a coat and a scaf not just a t-shirt, and would be in the back garden.

I felt very satisfiyed and kept my tradisions alive.

From where I type...

I few days in from arriving in Bermuda, I discovered a free Internet connection at the Bermuda, Hamilton Library. You have to first become a member and then you can use the wireless as much as you like.

In the day there are tables set up so your can surf the net outside in the sun, even when there closed I have found that you can still pick up a signal, so this comes in handy when I Skye home in the evenings.