But, when I last posted, we still had to get through the night, and what a night it was. We may have been in bed for 12 hours, but we got maybe 4 hours of sleep. The wind was so strong and the swells so high (but of quick duration) that it was like riding a bucking bronco. It felt (and sounded) like the ship was hitting something in the water, then it would drop dramatically and then raise up and do it all over again. We were sleeping in 5 to 10 minute increments, and even then only lightly. At 4am I looked at the clock and realized it wasn't calming down at 2am as anticipated, but it eventually did. Still, we had moved clocks back another hour last night (we're now one hour ahead of EST) and we were up at 6am. I think we were finally hungry.
We were on the Panorama Terrace drinking coffee and eating stollen as the Pacific Princess picked up the Bermuda pilot and started weaving its way through the nearly two hour passage through the reef to dock in Hamilton. The water was calm and the sun was overtaking the clouds and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. The most fun was that we met a couple who live in Bermuda who are on the cruise (Keith and Judy), and it was like having our own personal tour guides as they pointed out one thing after another from the Panorama Terrace (including the church in which they were married 40 years ago). Eventually we moved to the open deck on Decks 10 and 11 and watched as the ship slowly sailed past the huge homes and small islands dotting the harbor.
We docked right in Hamilton (in fact, we had a view of grass and palm trees just feet from our cabin window). It was fascinating to watch as the Pacific Princess was turned 180 degrees in the narrow harbor to be docked in the correct position to sail in the afternoon. The bow of the ship seemed like it was fewer than ten feet from the pier as it turned. While the lines were being secured, Captain D made an announcement welcoming us to Bermuda. He said last night was as expected and more (it really was quite rough) but we had a great weather day in store for us today. He also reiterated the importance of the 3:30pm all on board time as we had to be back through the reef and in open ocean by sunset.
We could not wait to be on land. We disembarked the ship as soon as it was cleared by the local authorities at 9am and walked a few blocks to the local bus station. We were able to charge bus tickets to a credit card ($2.25 per person per ride) but US $ are widely accepted. We took a #7 bus along the south coast (gorgeous beaches and seascapes) to near the Gibbs Hill lighthouse. We had to walk up a hill about halfway across the island (the island is very narrow at that point) to the lighthouse. Touring it was G's primary interest for today. We bought tickets ($3 per person) and climbed the 185 steps to the very top.
The Gibbs Hill lighthouse is the second oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world. It was constructed in London and then the panels disassembled and shipped to Bermuda where it was reassembled and began operating in 1846. The stairs were easy to climb, and every 20 steps or so was a landing with several historical exhibits. God bless him, this sort of thing is right up G's alley and we took the time to read every word of explanation, with the welcome side effect being that it broke up the climb. The light at the top was huge and we were able to bend over and go out a small door to a narrow walkway around the outside at the top. The views of the entire island were breathtaking (or maybe it was the climb). ;-) The sun was shining in full force by then and it was gorgeous.
Didn't we just do this in Gibraltar?
The lighthouse was assembled in England, disassembled and transported to Bermuda for re-assembly.
G had to study this for quite awhile ;-)
We stooped over to claim through this door onto an observation area
Such a polite request!
From the top of the lighthouse we could see all the way to the Pacific Princess in Hamilton
From our bird's eye view, we plotted a route through the golf course at the nearby Fairmont Southhampton Resort (more beautiful scenery) and down to the Fairmont's pink sand beach. This time of year the beach was almost empty and we walked along the water's edge on the powdered sugar sand. The water was turquoise blue and there were several small islets just off shore. It was just a taste of things to come, and we loved it. We also found free, high-speed WiFi there and took a few minutes to call and text people at home. It was wonderful to feel connected.
We climbed back up to the south road and caught another #7 bus out to the Dockyard at the end of the island. Things on that end of the island (the west end) looked more familiar, and that was the area we had rode scooters around 17 years ago. We met up with a man from Raleigh working on the island for two weeks and we had drinks together (and shared Raleigh stories. We used to live there, too.) and waited for the 2:30pm ferry that went directly back to Hamilton by 3pm. It was a beautiful ride back, and we sat on the open top deck. What a difference a day makes!!
It was less than a 5 minute walk from the ferry terminal in Hamilton to the Pacific Princess, but we took our time and reboarded the ship at 3:25pm, just as a passenger was offloaded for medical reasons. It's always sad to see that. But we were up on Deck 10 as the Pacific Princess and tug Powerful exchanged several playful horn blows and we pushed away from the pier. Captain D said it would take about 90 scenic minutes for the Pacific Princess to reach open ocean and disembark the local pilot and we stayed on Deck 10 watching first from one side of the ship and then the other as we passed beautiful homes and tiny bays full of sailboats and a sailing school and even the British America's Cup yacht, practicing for the race that will be held in Bermuda this spring.
The view from our cabin
Sailing school
Captain Domenico controlling the ship with a remote control while the port pilot looks on
Our curving departure from Hamilton
Finally we returned to the cabin to dress for dinner and it was so good to get back to normal and go to dinner in the Club Restaurant. I had cream of mushroom soup and garden salad and salmon with broccoli. We went to the Cabaret Lounge to listen to comedian Carlos Oscar and will then go to the Casino Lounge to listen to Jere Ring. There will be a Black and White party later tonight in the Pacific Lounge. I'm not sure what that is, but we may stay awake long enough to find out. Or not. Captain D said we should all (incuding him) get a better night's sleep tonight and that sounds pretty appealing right now, too.
Just two more sea days stand between us and the US. They are supposed to be easy ones, with no dramatic winter storms along the way. The weather in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday is forecast to be warmer than anything we've seen since we left home. We cannot wait.
Once again, life is good. :-)