My Bermuda Trip: Walls of Coral

I went to Bermuda for the first time this year, and was amazed and fascinated by the nature, architecture and beauty. The native landscape of trees and coral fall away to flowers topography while the building materials used to construct walls, buildings and pathways add a layer of complexity that tie everything together.

The walls of Bermuda were the first things I noticed.  When I asked what they were made of, all the locals told me “limestone”.  I wasn’t satisfied with that answer.  I had my own hunch there was more to the story. With a little research, I found my hunch was correct.  What they all call limestone is actually quarried coral cut into different sizes to build retaining walls, houses and just about everything else in Bermuda.

The texture of the walls brings an architecture-scape to Bermuda that echoes the natural landscape of coral reefs that completely surround the country.  These coral building blocks look more like they have simply formed by nature to make walls wherever they are needed instead of being engineered by human hands.  The construction of some walls actually abut natural coral reef only extending the sense of nature meeting humanity.  This juxtaposition makes for a super fantastic relief of nature to built environment creating a sense of place that isn’t available to other locales. 

The coral is omnipresent on Bermuda.  Ancient reefs stand like cliffs 20 to 30 feet high at the edge of any beach.  The ocean is dotted with islets of coral.  Because the water is crystal clear, you can see the reefs continuing to the horizon.  Atop the cliffs are hotels and resorts such as the place we stayed, the Coral Beach Club in Paget Parish. At the Coral Beach Club, huge coral block wall supports a bluff.  It is inserted into the natural reef giving the hotel a castle-like look.  It makes you wonder if the hotel has been there since the beginning of Bermuda circa 1609.  

Atop the stately fortification is the Longtail Terrace.  If ever in Bermuda, take a trip to the terrace.  There, you can get both an incredible view on the reefs submerged in the aqua-blue waters of Bermuda as well as a very, very tasty dinner. It’s a little pricey, but worth every penny.  

It’s also a wonderful place to get married (which was the reason we went to Bermuda in the first place) if you are looking for a destination wedding.

Though the beaches are unbelievable, you have to tear yourself away for a bit of sightseeing.  If you do explore the archipelago, you will see the coral walls everywhere.  In King’s Wharf where the first settlers established civilization, the old fort is built entirely coral block in an old Europe/English style.  It’s a most see.  Stop by the Frog & Onion Pub for a Yorkshire pudding or Fish & Chips.  You’ll be happy you did.  The inside of the pub is just as awesome as the food. 

Exploration doesn’t have to be totally touristy.  There are other more intimate places where nature and architecture come together.  Thunder, my 4 year old son, and I discovered a secret stairwell down to Elbow Beach. I felt this narrow staircase could be transported to a garden or backyard on the mainland.  The quarried limestone is superseded by concrete in places to form steps.  With the topography of North Jersey, I could see these making special entries for a residential garden.  The coral building block could be used for a retaining wall along a driveway or against a new patio. 

I found a rustic colonial gate in King’s Wharf that could easily be relocated to a colonial house in South Orange or Maplewood. 

With the crazily cold winters of the northeast, many of these elements could help remind you that warmer places (and warmer days) are out there.  Who wouldn’t like that during the coldest months of the year?