Really Good Friday.

Quick reminder - SwimVacation founders Hopper and Heather are on a shouting mission in Bermuda, based at the Hamilton Princess Hotel. 

Being George 

We have the privilege of being Fairmont Gold members during our stay at the Hamilton Princess this week, courtesy of hotel management, and it provides us with the luxury of a continental breakfast every morning, canapés at happy hour, and dessert every evening. There’s a lovely dining area, a terrace, and a library. The staff here are super friendly, and quickly make you feel very special. This morning, upon learning that my real name was (also) George, staff member George lit right up and brought us two mimosas. So kind. What George did not realize was that Heather and I had 15 miles to drive (on the LEFT), several miles to swim, and more than a few to hike today, and that I had a stiff gin and tonic (or was it 2?) last night. We took a few sips and hit the road. 

A morning view of the Hamilton Princess as we make our way from the Bermudiana Wing to the Gold Lounge for breakfast. Each day we pass this little pink guy from the hotel art collection. We wave hello on our way by. - HP

I’ve really enjoyed trying to catch fun shots of us in our lil car. - HP

Kite Skills

It’s Good Friday, a celebratory day in Bermuda. Many shops and offices are closed, and public parks and school grounds fill with pop-up canopies and families and music. The beaches are also busy with much of the same, but with lots of people flying kites, many of them home-made. Kite making is a tradition here, and the skill gets passed down from generation to generation. Our first stop of the day was at Horseshoe Bay to check out the scene and scout a potential swim. Kites filled the air, children played in the waves, seniors watched from beach chairs. We saw someone swimming the length of the beach, which was a good sign. There’s a big hill to climb at one end, another tiny cove, stunning blue water. There’s a real bath house, with changing rooms and restroom facilities that I gave a B+, a strong score for a busy day like this. 

Kites and crowds for Good Friday at Horseshoe Bay Beach - the pinkest beach in Bermuda. - HP

Long Bay Beach on the south western tip of Bermuda.

The Little Island that Could (have killed us but didn’t)

Our next stop was Long Bay Beach and Park, way out on the westernmost end of the island, opposite from where we were yesterday at Tobacco Bay. This place has a nice big grassy park, portable toilets (B+), a very long white sand beach, and those turquoise blues that make you want to swim. So we did, setting a course to Daniel Island, less than a mile away. No wetsuits today, with bright sun and water temps in the low 70s. We swam along an abandoned eco-resort that I am sure someone will snatch up and re-develop one day. A mostly white sand bottom with the occasional coral head, some fish, and a 1 knot or so current pushing us along. There’s a small gut, or channel, between the main island and Daniel Island, and we could tell the current was rushing through there at a decent clip. We made a plan and swam across, reaching the island with no problem. Swimming around the back, we found some great caves filled with hard and soft corals and dramatic rock formations. Getting back to the main island was a bit tricky, with the current working against us, but we made our goal with no problem, as the deep, fast water in the channel was only a few meters wide. The swim back to Long Bay was glorious, and we arrived back on the beach tired but thrilled to have found another great swim. 

The swim around Daniel Island was challenging but worth it for caves with chitons and spectacular colors and views.

Sabu to the Rescue

We scouted around a bit in our tiny car, driving through the abandoned eco-resort, which still has a public park within its boundaries. Another wild, off the beaten path SwimVacation kind of place. We then drove to Sinky Bay, home of the Hamilton Princess Beach Club. Just like the main hotel property, this place is refined, understated and classy all at the same time. A turquoise cove surrounded by dramatic cliffs, hammocks, a beach bar and restaurant that elegantly hides in the background, chaise lounges on white sand. Our lunch of flatbread pizza and tuna ceviche was expertly prepared. Heather and I went for a swim to the outlet of the cove, still a tad bouncy, but filled with massive parrotfish. Back at the beach, staff member Sabu helped us with a photo shoot, the results of which we hope to use in our marketing efforts, should we run a trip here. Gosh, I hope we do. 

We did a little kicking back in our home base beach - the private beach of the Hamilton Princess.

Robes courtesy of the Princess! Something our (hopefully) future guests can look forward to apres swim!

Rum meets Tequila and they become Friends

The 1609 (named for when this island was first settled by humans), is a restaurant at the Hamilton Princess Hotel that juts out over the marina here like the bill of a baseball cap. It’s got glass windows that open up, letting fresh breezes flow through the large space. The vibe is youthful and yachty, with hand shaken cocktails and a menu that leans fresh Mexican. 

This is our last night here. We’ve been from one end of  Bermuda to the other, and have found some real treasures to show our guests. When we get home, we’ll mash up all of our ideas and talk to our partners on the ground and crunch some numbers. I hope we can make it work, because I think SwimVacation fits here. 

We leave tomorrow, but first one more swim adventure. Will report on that and give a final wrap up on our reflections on Bermuda from the still cold depths of Maine!

Hopper