Haha, this is what we get for making intoxicated unplanned decisions. But still totally the best drunken decision ever. Because we're thrifty travelers, we make this work.
1. We stayed with a fantastic couchsurfer not far from Hamilton, with easy access to public transportation.
2. Bermudians are friendly. Very friendly. They buy you drinks and stuff.
3. Lynn uses Amex points to get us an incredible deal at a resort to "splurge" on the last 2 nights.
So now the timeline...
We get in and the first thing I notice is that the passport control guy sounds American. Not British... or some Caribbean accent that I had imagined. If you listen well, you can catch British twangs in there :) I guess that's what they get for being so close to the US. (Said guy also fails to stamp my new US passport with what would be its first awesome international stamp!)
Everyone greets each other because everyone knows each other. Bermuda is about 60,000 ppl small (smaller than the greater Cincy area!) and so, literally, EVERYONE knows each other's business. The fact that they didn't recognize us, means we're of course tourists. I think Bermudians may be the friendliest people I've met so far. Besides the greetings, they're always willing to help you and want to hear your story (and share their *personal* stories as well).
We wander around, talk to some friendly Bermudians, before we meet up with our CS host, Kamanda. He's an accountant from Kenya and suuuper duuper nice. We find out that Bermuda is a major hub for insurance companies, hence why the standard of living is so high also. We go out for some seafood wit Kamanda and his friend, Joel. The two of them are great friendships made who really make sure we have a fantastic time in Bermuda.
The plan next day is to go to the pink coral beaches. On our way, our plan changes. Downpour. Hello bipolar weather. So we take the bus and get recommended to go to the Naval Dockyard instead and check out some artisan shops and ruins. Theen a ferry ride (common mode of transportation!) to Hamilton City. We discover the Swizzle (or "Shizzle", as Lynn referred to it as) and the Dark & Stormy (our go-to drinks). Head back towards Kamanda's to do some Thanksgiving groceries b/c we're making him and Joel a proper American feast meal ;) The grocer was really confused when I asked him for a big slab of turkey breast.
Alright, take 2 on pink coral beaches. This time it works. Breaaathhtaaaking! I just want to hug it all. Lynn and I are ecstatic. And go snap happy.
We then wander to some botanical gardens before making it back to our resort (thank you American Express). Fancy schmancy. It's got its own grotto. We decide to live it up for a night and splurge on a hotel dinner (yum prawns and tenderloin tips) before making our way to the Swizzle Inn, where we get treated to some Swizzles on the house. (Funny back story: Chris, the manager of Swizzle Inn who gave us our free drinks and convinced us to go out to Hamilton City for the night, ended up being one of the CS hosts I had contacted to ask to stay with!) 
So Lynn and I are out on the town that night. And we make friends. Fantastic people and so much fun. We dance, we drink, we laugh, we steal cabs. On the ride home, I heavily concentrated on my conversation with the cab driver so that I wouldn't get motion sick (me + alcohol + motion = bad mix). Turns out the cab driver knew of the friends we had made (EVERYONE knows each other) and also tells us his life story (duh). The next day is a pretty late start (oops), but we eventually make our way to St. George's. Picturesque, sure. But there's absolutely nothing to do there. Maybe b/c it's Saturday?... Take some obligatory tourist pictures, then head back for another night in Hamilton City with Kamanda and friends. Another night of getting our groove on (and more shizzles and dark&stormies).
So. The final day has come. Our flight's not til 4, so we head out to more caves (and Lynn repetitively hits her head on the 10000 age old stalactites). Very very cool. We end our last couple of hours with laying out at the resort beach. Love life.
So I'm a little late in recounting this trip... which means I forgot half the note-worthy things. Alas, such is the reason why I'm supposed to be keeping this blog. So some key things I remember (that may not make sense out of context):
1. Bermuda is expensive
2. There's no poverty (well, lies. we saw ONE homeless man.)
3. There's no racism
4. Shizzles are the shit
5. But I also like my tall, dark, and stormies
6. You can't have a private life there
7. If you don't say "good afternoon", you're rude
8. The only rude person on the island was American.
9. If you're looking for rich British men, go no further
10. You better not break those ancient cave creations
So,that's all for now. Merry Christmas Eve. I'm now in Holland with momz and family getting fed like woah. Will be meeting up with some friends after Xmas then heading to Paris with them for New Year's!!! Theeeen meeting Emilie in Vienna and going to Prague! :D :D I'll try to remember the important stuff this time around :)
