VISITORS' VIEW

The magic of Bermuda

September 13, 2005

Dear Sir,

My husband and I are South Africans and have been coming to Bermuda on vacation for almost 30 years now. Some 18 months ago my husband took seriously ill with Septicaemia on the middle of his spine. after six hours of emergency surgery, he spent six months in hospital. The medical profession in South Africa gave him no chance of ever walking again. However, his great faith, the power of prayer and the healing touch of our Lord Jesus Christ enabled him to walk again with the help of a walking stick.

We have just spent 52 days in Bermuda and have used the public transport, buses and ferries, extensively. All the bus drivers have shown the most incredible compassion. Nothing has been too much trouble for them. Many bus drivers, when stopping at a bus stop, have actually climbed out of their driving seat and physically helped my husband off the bus. They have done the same for me, helping me off with grocery packets. We have never seen such kindness and friendliness in all our travels in any other part of the world. Thank you, bus drivers from the bottom of our hearts.

Pink sandy beaches, turquoise sea in coves, bays and along South Shore beaches, crystal clear water at Grotto Bay, bathing together with Parrot, Angel fish and the odd turtle, the bottle nosed Dolphins at Dockyard, the Coral Reef that surrounds the Islands, the fragrance of exquisite flowers growing prolifically everywhere, the call of the Kiskadee, the graceful flight of the Bermuda Longtail, the whistling tree frogs at night, the enchanting moon gates, the pink buses, comfortable ferry boats, magnificent cruise ships that come an go, colourful Front Street in Hamilton, the old world charm of St. George's, stunning sunsets, full moons across the sea, the sparkling character of Johnny Barnes, a retired bus driver who stands at the circle at the end of Crow Lane, waving and greeting people in the early mornings and all the wonderful people in Bermuda - they are as beautiful as their Islands. All this is the magic of Bermuda.

It is on this long vacation here that we find ourselves even more in love with Bermuda. Seeing so many spectacular scenes and sights during this last visit, has just enhanced our deep love for these beautiful Islands in the sun.

GERRY AND WENDY SCHAAFSMA

Johannesburg, South Africa

High airfares hurt

September 17, 2005

Dear Sir,

My family has visited your beautiful Island three out of the past four summers.

In response to concerns voiced in your paper regarding decreased hotel occupancy rates, I would like to point out that I feel the costly airfares to your Island are more of a deterrent to tourism than the threat of hurricanes. When we were planning our summer vacation (spring and early summer), air fare to Bermuda from Boston was hovering around $700 per person. That's fairly expensive for a family of four.

It was pure luck that as I was in the process of making alternative vacation plans, the airfares dropped to a more reasonable cost of approximately $400 some time around July 4 (we were planning our trip for mid-August).

Many families make summer vacation plans early and are likely put off by the cost of flying to Bermuda. As a result, they look for a location that offers a more palatable airfare.

D. SARMANIAN

Boston, Massachusetts