Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Finding an Address
The island chain of Bermuda doesn't
follow a rigid system of street
addresses. Most hotels, even in official
government listings, don't bother to
include an address, although they do
include post office boxes and postal
codes. Bermudians just assume that
everybody knows where everything is,
which is fine if you've lived on Bermuda
all your life. But if you're a first-time
visitor, get a good map before setting
out—and don't be shy about asking
directions. In general, people are very
helpful.
Most of the establishments you'll be
seeking are on some street plan. How-
ever, some places use numbers in their
street addresses, and others—perhaps
their neighbors—don't. The actual
building number is not always impor-
tant, because a building such as a
resort hotel is likely to be set back so
far from the main road that you
couldn't see its number anyway. Look
for signs with the name of the hotel
rather than the street number. Cross
streets will also aid you in finding an
address.
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full-fledged city. The parish opens at its northern rim onto the vast Atlantic Ocean
and on its southern side onto Hamilton Harbour; its western border is on Great
Sound. The City of Hamilton is the first destination that most cruise-ship passengers
will see.
This parish is not ideal for those seeking a tranquil holiday. Pembroke Parish,
already packed with the island's greatest population density, also attracts the most
visitors. The little city is especially crowded when cruise ships are in the harbor and
travelers pour into the stores and restaurants. Yet for those who like to pub-crawl
English style, shop until they drop, and have access to the largest concentration of
dining choices, Pembroke—the City of Hamilton, in particular—is without equal on
Bermuda.
Whether or not you stay in Pembroke, try to fit a shopping (or window-shopping)
stroll along Front Street into your itinerary. The area also boasts a number of sightsee-
ing attractions, most of which are easily accessible on foot (a plus because you don't
have to depend on taxis, bikes, or scooters—which can get to be a bit of a bore after
a while). Nightlife is the finest on the island. Don't expect splashy Las Vegas-type
revues, however; instead, think restaurants, pubs, and small clubs.
Devonshire Parish
Lying east of Paget and Pembroke parishes, near the geographic center of the archi-
pelago, Devonshire Parish (named for the first earl of Devonshire) is green and hilly.
It has some housekeeping (self-catering) apartments, a cottage colony, and one of
Bermuda's oldest churches, the
Old Devonshire Parish Church,
which dates from
1716. Three of Bermuda's major roads traverse the parish: the aptly named South
Road (also unofficially referred to as South Shore Rd.), Middle Road, and North
Shore Road. As you wander its narrow lanes, you can, with some imagination, picture
yourself in the parish's namesake county of Devon, England.
Golfers flock to Devonshire to play at the
Ocean View Golf Course.
Along
North Shore Road, near the border of Pembroke Parish, is
Devonshire Dock,
long
a seafarer's haven. In fact, during the War of 1812, British soldiers came to Devon-
shire Dock to be entertained by local women. Today, fishermen still bring in grouper
