Friday, April 15, 2016

Today Bob had a real breakfast so he’s obviously improving.  Boarding a city bus today for our tour with C.C. Smith, a very large black native Bermudian, he regaled us with stories and pointed out what we were seeing including trees and flowers along our route.  We made another stop at the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse (they have restrooms), drove by the magnificent beaches again, a short stop in Hamilton where we enjoyed a cafe latte and the sweet roll we had brought from the ship.  On to St. Georges at the opposite end of Bermuda from where our ship was docked.  The US had an Air/Navy base at St. Georges for many years but after Sam Donaldson did an expose on 60 Minutes about life in Bermuda for the US personnel, Bill Clinton ordered the base closed.  So the local government took over the airport, containing the world’s longest runway, built for space shuttle landings (if necessary) and had to come up with a way to fund the $45 million operating costs paid by the US taxpayers before that.  So they introduced taxes, novel solution.  Speaking of taxes there is no income tax in Bermuda, most of the government revenue comes from the insurance companies that make their headquarters here, the largest being Ace and XL (almost went bust paying World Trade Center claims).  Bermuda has a population of 65,000 and 180 islands (some of which are counted if a rock sticks up above the water line), development is on seven islands connected by bridges and causeways.  The capital is Hamilton with its central location while St. Georges was the original capital.

Arriving back at the ship after 3 PM lunch was limited to the burger and hot dog bar at poolside.  All the returning folks were trying to get something so it took a while but finally we made it.  After a rest we went to the Terrace Cafe for a bowl of soup before bed time.   Read until 10:30 then to bed.