Bermuda Cup Match ‘08

    Thursday and Friday before the first of August are the biggest days in Bermuda.  Why?  For me, because it’s the only 4-day holiday I’ll ever have in the island!  But for Bermudians, it’s Cup Match!  For somebody who’s not familiar with Bermuda (like me!), it’s the chance for residents to watch a cricket match between St. George (west end) and Somerset (east end).  Remember Bermuda is an English territory so they are definitely into cricket.  I, personally, never understood the game but somebody told me that it’s a very long game that could take days to finish.  Yes, days…just like Harry Potter’s Quidditch?! 

Being a small and expensive island that it is, there are no concrete grand stands to hold this kind of event so to the Bermudians built makeshift courtside seats, which are very similar to what we have at small town events in the Philippine provinces (sans the girls in bikinis of course).  We call it palapala in Zambales.

Aside from the cricket match, it’s the only days that gambling is allowed in Bermuda.  Uh huh, another fact about this island is gambling is strictly prohibited.  Even cruise ships that pass through the island shut down their casinos because the island’s authorities enforce this law seriously.  The only game though is what they call the “Crown and Anchor”, which is basically a dice game but instead of numbers marked on each face of the die, it is symbols: crown, anchor, diamond, spade, club and heart.  It is very similar to the Philippines’ kalo-kalo sa peryahan.  You place bets on any of the symbols and if that symbol comes up, you win. 

The blue and white striped tent is where the crown and anchor tables are setup, which is exaggeratingly packed with people sweating like pigs!

G placed a few bets and won $10.  Not bad.  I pulled him away from the tables though because it was awfully hot and disgusting with all the sweat from gamblers. 

There are food vendors all over the place and of course alcoholic drink stands.  Booze would never be missing in any event here in Bermuda.  I found quite a lot of people swaggering around and it was just 2 in the afternoon!  Aside from drunk men and women, there are other sights to see like girls in bikinis, weird hats, and a wedgie here and there. 

I didn’t stay long at the field because of the heat.  But in spite of the high temperature, the sweat and the discomfort of it all, the event was still popular as evidenced by the queue of people as well as scooters outside.

We spent Sunday on the boat supposedly to watch the non-mariners’ race.  Unfortunately though, we didn’t get to the venue in time to witness it.  G says that the race features make shift rafts, which are made from materials you would never think would be used as a floating device like park benches and tables.  I think it’s pretty interesting so hopefully I’ll get to see it in the coming years. 

Anyway, we may not have seen the race but we were able to enjoy just hanging out in the water, gawk at nice boats and of course, watch people do all sorts of things.  Here are some pictures I took:

I think pretty much all of the boats in Bermuda are out today.

We drooled at this sleek boat.

All sorts of sights to see…I’m restraining myself from dropping comments…

And for sure, there are parties all over.

I had a fabulous long weekend.  Can I have more please?!