Get On The Bus Gus

There’s been plenty of news circulating the web about how cruise passengers arriving in Bermuda are being denied access to public busses leaving from Dockyard, the island’s west end cruise pier. Cruise Critic picked up the story yesterday as did USA Today’s Gene Sloan, who chimed in on his blog, The Cruise Log. According to the report, which originally ran in the Royal Gazette, a Dockyard dispatcher will carefully control tourist numbers on eastbound busses—even refusing seats to passengers on empty busses—to allow more room for locals. The Gazette says the practice is one of several new initiatives the government plans to implement to improve bus travel for locals, since many have complained of being displaced on buses by tourists when cruise ships are visiting. “People find buses go right past them as they are full of cruise ship passengers,” Transport Minister Terry Lister told the newspaper. “It's unfair that buses come out of Dockyard completely full without any room to pick up people along the way.” Unfair maybe, but I find it ludicrous to deny anyone a seat on a public bus—especially visitors who’ve paid good money to get here.

And apparently I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Sloan’s recent post has 131 comments and counting, most of them from angry would-be visitors. Like this one from Charles R: “Perhaps we should stop clogging your pockets with money as well and just stay away!” Or this bit from Thai Big Foot: “Don't go to Bermuda. Are they happy, now?” Or my current favorite, from XULA 96: “The folks on that island must have brain damage from all the sun and salt water. Don't they realize just about all of Bermuda's revenue as an island nation comes from tourism?” Um, yeah, well, I guess not all of us realize it (elected officials I'm talking to you) but thanks for pointing out the obvious! In the government’s defense, a spokesperson told Bernews that “there are also special shuttle buses that are used to supplement the regularly scheduled service. These go directly to Horseshoe Bay Beach and back and are for the cruise passengers only. Each of these buses leaves when completely full.” Fine, but let it be known: If I was visiting a country—one where I couldn’t rent a car, where taxis cost a whopping $4.15 just to open the door and the only other mode of transportation was a rickety 50cc scooter—and someone told me that I couldn’t board an empty public bus because its seats were reserved for locals, I’d say thanks and take my hard-earned tourist dollars elsewhere. Hear that Sounding Board?

What do you think? Should the government deny tourists seats on public busses in favor of locals? Lemme here your thoughts in the comments section below!

Wedding Bells

Have you heard the news? Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married in a massive ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey this Friday. Well, of course you have! But did you know that the Premier of Bermuda will be in attendance? This just in from the Bermuda Sun: Premier Paula A. Cox and her husband, Germain Nkeuleu have received and accepted an invitation from Buckingham Palace to attend the Royal wedding. “I am pleased that Bermuda was recognized, provided with an invitation and is being represented on this occasion.” Premier Cox told the newspaper. “This is certainly one of my less arduous duties.” I’d say so, since she’ll be one of just 1,900 official guests including leaders and dignataries from over a dozen countries worldwide (ya know, like the King and Queen of Norway, the Queen of Spain, the Sultan of Brunei, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi—your average guest list, really). In addition to having a seat at the wedding—her official pew believed to be in the Abbey’s south transept with Governor-Generals, members of the diplomatic corps and close family friends of the Middletons—Premier Cox will attend a dinner hosted by the Secretary of State and Foreign Affairs William Hague and his wife, and after the wedding, will join a reception at Lancaster House. “Clearly this will be a wedding with a difference,” said Cox. “It has the wow factor.” You know what else has a wow factor? A honeymoon in Bermuda! Dear Will & Kate: Britain's oldest colony would love to have you.

Relaxation Nation

You know what's great about living in Bermuda? (Besides all those gorgeous pink sand beaches, of course. That was Horseshoe Bay over the weekend and yes, the sand is that pink). Holidays. You see, in addition to celebrating typical holidays prevalent in countries like the U.S. and England—like Labor Day for example—Bermuda has a whole host of other celebratory days where locals get the day off. In July there's Cup Match, a two-day cricket tournament that turns into a festive (and boozy) four-day weekend, and in April, the island relaxes on Good Friday and Easter Monday, which is why this post is about to come to an end. It's 74 degrees and sunny and I my friends, am headed to the beach. Happy Monday!

The Colbert Watch

In case you can't get enough of the Stephen Colbert Plans to Sail to Bermuda story—one that I keep bringing up to bolster hope that I'll somehow be included in his island broadcast (have you read my Open Letter to Stephen Colbert lately?)—here's an update for any and all interested parties. Looks like the Comedy Central funnyman officially has a sponsor: According to sources across the web, Colbert will be teaming up with Audi in the 777-mile open ocean race from Charleston to Bermuda this May. "If you're going to win a race, you want to be in an Audi," said Colbert at the 2011 New York Auto Show. "I tried bolting a mast and sail to an S5 Cabriolet and took her for spin on the harbor, and the results were, well...moist! So I decided if I couldn't sail an Audi, I would ask them to sponsor my boat." Taking lead as "Morale Officer," Colbert and crew will set sail this May 21st on a 65-foot ocean-racing yacht dubbed, 'The Audi," with a spinnaker sail featuring the recognizable Audi rings. As for his chances in the race, leave it to the self-proclaimed "greatest sailor in the world" to predict the winner. Said Colbert on the Auto Show stage: "Here's a scoop for all you news types. I am going to win it. Write that down." Done. Now, how about First Mate Steve-O?

Say No To Crack

It's amazing the things you miss when you leave the island for awhile. And I'm not talking about missing actual things or people (i.e. how I really missed my son's giggle or taking long walks on Horseshoe Bay beach). I'm talking about the events you're not in town to actually encounter. Just back from a brief trip to Boulder, Colorado, I'm actually quite astounded of the news that hit Bermuda last week. Literally. According to the Royal Gazette, plus accounts from friends and family who actually felt it, Bermuda was struck by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake last week, a tremor that gently rocked the island from 50 miles away. Although police reported no injuries, many island residents felt the ground shaking for several seconds. "[I] looked to the window to see if a truck went past on the lane and then noticed the water in the jug was gently sloshing back and forth—nothing else [was] moving,” Shelly Bay resident Paul Beilstein told the newspaper. “I checked the time and it was about 12:40.” About ten minutes later the Bermuda Weather Service received a phone call from the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre, indicating that there was a 4.4 magnitude earthquake at 12:38 local time, estimated to be 50 miles west of Bermuda. Heavy stuff, but was the island really in danger? Said a report from the Government: “It was reiterated at the time that there was no tsunami danger and the Bermuda Weather Service quickly went about the business of alerting the relevant authorities to that fact…It should be noted that there were no official tsunami information statements, alerts, watches or warnings issued as a result of this event; there would not routinely be any urgent messages forthcoming for such a small magnitude earthquake, regardless of how close to land it occurs.” I don’t know about you, but a category 4 earthquake just 50 miles offshore doesn’t really sound like small potatoes. Thanks for the heads up government! In the meantime, I've finally returned to blissful Bermuda where I'm currently enjoying my son's giggle and taking long walks on Horseshoe Bay beach. Until tomorrow, folks.