events on the island

The summer has been full of events that I have never had the opportunity to attend while living her before.  Typically I would either be off island at OBX with the fam or working because as we all know people just love to get married on the weekends!  Thanks to having to be back on island to work a wedding, I left OBX early but was able to attend the Non-Mariners Race with Philip. 

Let me start with an explanation of that week.  Every year there is a 2 day (Thursday and Friday) holiday here in Bermuda called Cup Match.  It is basically a big cricket game between 2 different parishes on the island.  Everyone is off from work and either goes to watch the game or spends time with friends and family.  A lot of the locals will camp out for the weekend on the beaches so as you are driving down the road all you see are these big tent communities and people all over the place!  So that's Thursday and Friday.  Saturday is just a normal day.  Then on Sunday is Non-Mariners Race.  Everyone (and I do mean most of the island it seemed) gathers at Mangrove Bay to watch  this race.  Being that it is non-mariners the rules are it has to be a homemade "boat" with no engine.  We watched from the parking lot inside the ice cream truck.  But hundreds of people all tie their boats together and watch from the water.  The whole event is kicked off with a big pipe and drum parade....dressed in drag! (and other outfits)



that person in the pink hat is a man, man!



As you can see in the background there are a ton of boats in the water and the number just increased as the day went on.  All in all it was a fun day  Next year I would like to be on of the people on the boats as opposed to working!

The next event was yesterday and it was the round the island boat races.  It is exactly like it sounds...speed boats race around the perimeter of the island.  Philip and I went and parked the ice cream truck by the airport where the star/finish line is.  It was a hot day and very good for selling ice cream!  I did get to see the boats take off and come back from the truck so it was pretty cool.  I did not have as good of view as these guys though.....

...those would be the steps that are used for people to get on and off the planes at the airport.  I really hope they have more than one because about 5 plans landed while these guys were up there watching!

Today's event...Tropical Storm Gert!