August 23, 2006

Dear Sir,

We?ve recently visited Bermuda and saw some of the letters posted by other tourists and we wanted to give you another tourist?s perspective.

Bermuda has changed since we were last here and we realise that change is inevitable. On the positive side, Bermuda is still a beautiful island that exudes charm and most of the people we met were still extremely friendly. The changes at the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo were quite nice, the guest cottage we stayed at was delightful (as were our hosts), our day playing golf at Belmont Hills was spectacular and the people there were wonderful, and our dinner at the Bistro Broadway at La Coquille (at BUEI) was an unexpected delight.

We were less thrilled with the news of gang violence, sights of large SUV?s racing along your small roads, and the idea that this once safe haven for island travel is fast becoming an expensive version of the Bahamas.

Perhaps most unsettling was the Americanisation of the island. We love our country but shuddered at the sight of Front Street being turned into a T-shirt and trinket market for the cruise ship crowds. There are still some wonderful shops to be found but they are fast being overrun by the crude frat house style goods that we can find at any beach in the US.

We look forward to returning again but hope we find the friendly, safe, beautiful, and high class island we first fell in love with and not just another tacky, unsafe, tourist trap.