BERMUDA

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Nestled deep into the centre of the Atlantic ocean, lies the UK territory island of Bermuda. Contra to popular belief, Bermuda is not actually a Caribbean destination (although commonly linked with the Caribbean for classification purposes). In fact, the island lies hundreds of miles north of the Bahamas in an astoundingly beautiful stretch of the Atlantic. A mere 1046KM / 650MI east of North Carolina, flights from New York and other eastern US cities reach Bermuda's shores in less than two hours.

Bermuda isn't your stereo-typical laid back beach island resort. In fact, Bermuda is somewhat formal, and despite the gorgeous weather, residents wearing stockings and heels or, for men, jackets, ties, Bermuda shorts, and knee socks are a common sight, whether on the street by day or in restaurants at night. On Bermuda's 21 square mi, pastel cottages, quaint shops, and manicured gardens telegraph a staid, suburban way of life. A British diplomat once said, "Bermuda is terribly middle-aged" -- and in many ways he was right. Most of the island is residential, the speed limit is 20 mi per hour (although many drivers go faster), golf and tennis are popular pastimes, and most visitors are over 40 years old. So are most Bermudians.

A few Bermudians still speak the Queen's English, but the majority have their own unique accent, which reflects the country's diverse English, American, West Indian, and African influences. The population of just over 60,000 is 63% black, 33% white, and 4% Asian and other. Historically, Bermudians of English descent worked to re-create a middle-class England of their own. And as in so many colonies, the Bermudian version is more insular, more conservative, and more English than the original. Pubs, cricket, and an obsession with protocol are reminders of a distant loyalty to Britain and everything it used to represent. A self-governing British territory since 1968, with a parliament that dates from 1620, Bermuda loves pomp and ceremony. But the British apron strings are wearing thin. Although a referendum on independence from Britain was soundly defeated in 1995, the idea bubbles up from time to time. The first labor government -- the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) -- was elected in 1998, taking some Bermudians' hopes for identity and autonomy to dizzying heights -- and terrifying others. In 2003, Bermudians were granted the rights of full British citizenship. Great ceremony still attends the convening of Parliament each November. Marching bands parade through the capital in honor of the Queen's official birthday, a public holiday. Regimental bands and bagpipers reenact centuries-old ceremonies. And you can still get tea in a china cup.

Many tourists have a superstition about traveling to Bermuda due to the island's unfortunate association with a triangular patch of the Atlantic (triangulating with Miami, Florida & San Juan, Puerto Rico), known as the 'Bermuda Triangle'. This imaginary triangle in the Atlantic has been the location of a number of small boat, ship & aircraft dissapearances throughout history. Although many believe a 'supernatural' theory, it is widely accepted that the dissappearances are the result of human error and rough weather. This stretch of Atlantic can be very rough due to the environmental factors of the 'Gulf stream'. The area is also one of two places in the world where a compass will point to 'true north' instead of 'magnetic north', potentially causing havoc with inexperienced navigators.