It was a surreal experience for everybody who witnessed the actions of terrorism on September 11, 2001.

And now 72 hours later, the consequences of those actions are having far reaching effects on the hundreds of passengers who were forced to land at the Bermuda International Airport on Tuesday.

Earlier yesterday, The Royal Gazette spoke to two passengers from the Continental Airlines flight which was diverted to Bermuda while en route from Lisbon, Portugal, to Newark, New Jersey, and were being housed at the Sonesta Beach Hotel.

Speaking candidly about being stranded in Bermuda, many noted that this was probably one of the most safest places to be right about now.

However, they were still in a state of disbelief.

"When I woke up this morning, I had to remind myself that this wasn't a dream and that I am in Bermuda," said Boston native Lucinda Day. "We were supposed to be home the night before last - this is very surreal. I don't think yet that I know anyone that has been killed. Being here it's a feeling like there's nothing I can do.

"I guess I am glad to be somewhere pretty close to home. I was really glad to get in touch with my parents to let them know that I was safe. That was comforting."

"Now it's just a waiting game," Ms Day continued. "We might leave tonight, or we might leave tomorrow, we just have to wait and see. It's just a little unnerving. They (Sonesta) have a Continental Airlines desk set up and we are checking in with them every hour or so, to see what has developed, but it is just a waiting game."

Evelyn Crawford, who was travelling with Ms Day, echoed the sentiments.

Ms Crawford, who resides in midtown Manhattan, expressed uncertainty as to what she will see when she finally gets back home.

And Ms Crawford said she has visited Bermuda the last five years, but had not planned to visit Bermuda this year.

And she said the circumstances that bring her here now are very ironic to her.

"I'm from New York City. I work at Tiffany's," she said, "and I have talked to some friends back home and they said it is so depressing, it's like a ghost town. So I guess I'd rather be here than there. They say you can't breathe there and there is asbestos in the air from the buildings, so I'm not too excited to get back."

"But it's been like living in limbo," she continued. "You cannot relax here. This beautiful atmosphere and you are completely stressed about when you are going to leave. We are always on constant alert."

The two women said they will brace themselves to return to the US, knowing that it is not the same America they left behind, nine days ago.

"One of the biggest fears about going away on a trip is the thought of `what if anything happens while I am away?'" Ms Day said. "You just want to come back to the same comforting environment when you get back from being away. But to be away and have this happen and come home to absolute destruction, it's like one of my worst fears come true."