Little Bermuda Is Big on Charm
SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda, Sept. 26, 2005 — -- You don't have to go to the ends of the Earth to find somewhere without a Starbucks, a McDonald's or a megamall. Just head 600 miles east of South Carolina to Bermuda, where residents exist quite happily without fast-food chains, save one KFC.
Perhaps it has something to do with the pink beaches, pastel-colored houses or the incredibly clear blue water. But somehow, in this day of globalization and homogenization, this island has managed to retain a charm and authenticity all its own.
It doesn't take long after your plane has landed to realize Bermuda is a special place. Although situated in the Atlantic, Bermuda offers a beach experience as good as -- if not better than -- its southern neighbors in the Caribbean, with swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving all top-notch. And the shape of the island ensures you're never far from the coast.
From historic St. George's (Bermuda's original capital) to wildflowers to mopeds, the 22-square-mile island oozes charm. And the houses in every color of the rainbow are also a big part of what makes Bermuda so special, says Hilary Gordon, who recently moved to the island after visiting many times.
"I love the easygoing pace of life, the weather, of course, and the pastel-colored houses," says Gordon.
"The wonderful thing is that you can pretty well say that while no two Bermudians are alike, they're quite house-proud and garden-proud," says Colin Campbell, executive officer and senior architect of OBM International, an architecture company founded in Bermuda in 1936. "People really like to keep the old spit-and-polish going."
Of course, when it comes to maintaining their property, it doesn't hurt that Bermudians enjoy a high standard of living, with a per capita income nearly equal to that of the United States.
Instead of modern structures, Bermudians' taste runs more toward the island's traditional architecture, which Campbell describes as "Georgian Light," and the signature whitewashed pyramid-like Bermuda roofs, which employ a drainage system that allows houses to store rainwater in individual tanks.
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