Destination: ST. GEORGE, Bermuda

Bermuda on world stage

Bermuda's historic St. George is newest World Heritage Site

People visit St. Peter's Church in St. George, Bermuda. The four-century-old town of St. George has been named a World Heritage Site.

 A restoration of sorts is underway in Bermuda's historic town of St. George, recently named a World Heritage Site.

 In keeping with its heritage status, the four-century-old community is redeveloping its waterfront, restoring its streets and building a Heritage Visitor Centre.

 Officials say "nothing will be done to jeopardize the unique character""of St. George, the oldest continuously inhabited town of English origin in the Western Hemisphere.

 The town and its related fortifications were approved as a heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, ranking the architecturally rich community among a select group of world cultural sites.

 This is where Bermuda's original shipwrecked colonizers settled in 1612.

 The town and its surrounding buildings, monuments and structures illustrate the lifestyles of the first inhabitants and those who followed.

 With colourful, pastel buildings clustered along the shoreline and picturesque houses covering the green and lush hillsides rising out from the sheltered harbour, the town remains in authentic condition.

 As well, the forts of St. George demonstrate the range of British coastal fortifications and artillery from 1612 onward.

 The heritage status is awarded to "cultural properties of outstanding universal value""in an effort to protect them from the potential damage of a rapidly developing world.

 Among the 630 sites designated in more than 100 countries are Old Town Lunenburg, N.S.; the Great Wall of China; Taj Mahal; the historic centre of Florence, Italy; and the city of Bath, England.

 As Bermuda's first capital (now it's bustling Hamilton), the town is on St. George's Island, connected to the mainland by a causeway.

 Its quaintness is reflected in twisting alleyways and back streets with names such as Old Maid's Lane, Shinbone, One Gun and Featherbed alleys.

A rooftop view of beautiful Bermuda. -- Photo credit: http://www.bermudatourism.com/

 The starting spot for touring should be King's Square at the harbour and the Visitors Service Bureau for self-guided walking brochures and maps.

 A town crier makes regular appearances in the square outside the Old State House and demonstrates how the stocks, pillory, whipping post and dunking stool were used to keep gossips and scoundrels in their place. These days, they provide excellent photo opportunities for tourists.

 Also of interest is the Bermuda National Trust Museum housed in the Old Globe Hotel, a former Confederate headquarters during the U.S. Civil War. This dates from the days of blockade running as steamships ran goods from the island to Confederate U.S. ports.

 The Carriage Museum has 19th-century buggies and equipment, while the Featherbed Alley Printery has a working replica of a 17th-century Gutenberg-style press. The Historical Society Museum is in an 18th-century limestone structure and houses furniture, documents and pictures.

 St. Peter's Church, built in 1612, is the oldest Anglican church in the Western Hemisphere, while Tucker House is an example of 18th-century architecture, furnished with period furniture, paintings and silver.

Bermuda's white sandy beaches. -- Photo credit: http://www.bermudatourism.com/

 Fort St. Catherine has exhibits including replicas of the British Crown jewels and restored rooms and passageways.

 On nearby Ordnance Island, there's a replica of the ship Deliverance, built in 1609-1610 by the survivors of the Sea Venture so they could continue their journey to the new colony of Jamestown, Virginia, after almost a year on the island.

 Since the number of cars is limited and rental vehicles non-existent, one of the best ways of exploring Bermuda is by hiring a local taxi/tour guide.

 Cabbie Clinton (Jonesy) Jones takes tourists from one end of the island to the other offering guided tours. A licensed guide, Jones charges $30 US an hour, or $42 for groups of five to six people.

 For more fun, Bermuda has eight public golf courses and is a haven for divers with its northerly coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean peppered with shipwrecks in clear waters.

 Gibbs Hill Lighthouse offers sky-high views and has a tearoom at its base. Nearby is the Royal Naval Dockyard, now with shops, restaurants, arts and crafts outlets and the Bermuda Maritime Museum.

 For tourism information, call 1-800-BERMUDA; Web site: http://www.bermudatourism.com/.

 Visitors to Bermuda can now explore a living museum for the first time.

 Nonsuch Island, a treasured wildlife preserve, is a representation of the prehistoric native environment of Bermuda.

 Weekly excursions are offered by the Bermuda Biological Station for Research in conjunction with conservationist David Wingate who reintroduced the indigenous Cahow bird, once thought to have been extinct.

 The half-day tours on Thursday mornings are restricted to 25 people to allow access by the public while "causing the least disturbance to island life," he said.

 The price is $75 US with the money raised supporting environmental research and education programs. Call 1-441-297-1880; http://www.bbsr.edu/ for details or reservations.


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