I pick an Angel Card from my small box this morning.
Today’s word is “curiosity.”
It’s the perfect word because, in my experience, curiosity is what creates and drives a good travel experience. The more I’m willing to learn about a country, the more I’ll discover. I’ll take home lessons and ideas to share with others, and that’s not a bad thing.
After all, isn’t that the point of traveling?
The more I can move forward with a child-like wonder full of curiosity, the more opportunities will open up.
And so it is.
Last night I ended up staying up too late journaling and writing (typical Crystal) and ended up sleeping in this morning more than I wanted. I woke up at noon (I know), which is uncomfortably beyond my alarm clock, but I feel energized, so maybe it’s worthwhile.
I head to the bus stop.
Adventures with Crystal today begin at Bermuda’s Crystal Caves.
I figured the name alone was an appropriate must-do, and this excursion will allow me to see Bermuda’s natural, raw beauty.
While the island brings me some incredible views of the water and the sand, heading underground to discover the wonders of the Crystal and Fantasy caves can’t be skipped.
I get back at the blue bus stop; I make it to the Crystal Caves in about 20 minutes.
There’s the option to tour both the Crystal and the Fantasy caves, or to just pick one. Separately, they’re $22. Book both and it’s $32.
The Fantasy Cave is basically an extended version of the Crystal Cave — though the colors and formations seem a little different. I decide one cave will probably be enough, so I go with the main Crystal Cave.
And just 81 steps down later, I made it to the bottom.
Here’s the story behind the Crystal Caves.
Back in 1907, two young teenagers were playing an intense game of cricket. One of the boys hit the ball too hard, and the ball disappeared into a hole several yards away.
The boys were stubborn, and they weren’t ready to lose their ball.
So, one of the boys crawled down the hole, not knowing where it would lead. It was pitch black.
They soon realized they discovered the hidden entrance to a natural wonder. They struggled to find their way back out, but they safely made it back to the top.
When owners of the property heard about the discovery, they began exploring the cave find out how deep it went.
The entrance went down at least 140 feet, and with a stronger bike light, the family found what would become an entire underground world in Bermuda with crystal formations in every size and shape.
The crystals surround a clear lake that’s more than 50 feet deep, and I get to see all of this in its majestic beauty.
By some estimates, the crystals began accumulating in the cave over 30 million years ago. With its massive size and intricacies, it’s clear the cave wasn’t formed in a day.
The boys never found their ball.
Here’s what’s makes the Crystal caves unique.
Cave ceilings hold rare chandelier clusters and delicate crystallized “soda straws.” The tour guide tells our group, one single cubic inch takes almost 100 years to develop. Nature seems to be quite patient in creating.
The 30-minute tour of the Crystal Cave includes walking across hanging bridge, which was safe and fine.
The tour guide even lets me hold a small piece of the crystals, and it is SO HEAVY! I had to flex some muscles, and it’s incredible to hold the weight of history in my hands.
It’s a beautiful trip, and after hiking underground, I’m hungry.
This time, I head toward my Air BnB on the pink bus and get off at the Devil’s hole beach stop. Real name.
I walk by this hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It’s a family-owned business, and I like eating what locals eat. My meal is at D & C grill for lunch.
Some more traveling advice?
If you’re up for experiencing something new, always ask for the recommendation, with the servers, the chef, the person behind the counter.
Every one takes making a recommendation seriously and I’ve discovered gems, simply because someone knew the local food better than I did.
The chef tells me to go with the Jamaican jerk chicken; he says it’s his speciality. I know with his sense of pride and ownership, there’s more love and care on my plate.
It’s delicious.
There’s just the right amount of sauce on the chicken that makes the meat full of flavor.
I’m touched by the hospitality at this spot because the kind chef walks over many times to check on how my meal is. We talk about other foods.
He says specialty breads are Bermuda staples and classics.
This includes the Bermuda black rum cake I had on my first night, coconut pound cake (that’s with the Jamaican jerk chicken), banana bread (pudding), cinnamon pecan swirl coffee cake, and cinnamon rolls.
I try most of these and they’re great recommendations.
One other staple I forgot to mention: Dark and Stormy drinks!
It’s an authentic Bermuda spiced rum mixed with freshly brewed ginger beer. You can get it at most places in the states (though some bars use ginger ale instead — not as good). However, having an authetic, fresh Dark and Storm rounds out my evenings perfectly.
Once I’m full and happy, I walk to Devil’s Hole Beach. Real name.
The beach is empty because it’s a windy day, so I walk across the pink sand, taking photos.
Because it’s so choppy out, I don’t get in the cold water. But hearing the sound of the waves is calming. And I’m excited to see the blue waters against the bits of pink sands, something special to Bermuda.
It’s a nice break being at the beach, and eventually, I grab my things and head back to the bus stop to make my way to the next Air Bnb in Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital city.
The bus stop proves to be weird, and fun.
This guy brought his lady-parrot to the bus stop so they could watch cars pass by together.
In true reporter fashion, I ask Albert random questions to pass the time since the buses were behind schedule. Serious ‘Island Time.’
Albert told me he flew to California to bring this bird to Bermuda. Since you’re probably wondering, I did not touch those feathers beyond asking to get a photo.
The locals seem to know him because everyone who drives by honks, waves. That’s a first.
I felt annoyed waiting at the bus stop for so long, feeling like I was wasting sunlight.
He turns to me and says, “You know, when one bus passes, another one always comes.”
True. That’s how all things end up working, do they not?
Albert’s right. Not much longer, a bus comes. I head west for 20 minutes to Hamilton.
