Bermuda has long had a reputation for the strange, thanks entirely to the centuries old myth of the Triangle. Yes, I said myth because it’s merely yet another conspiracy theory borne of a few strange incidents. One oddity I discovered while visiting the island though is very real and at first even more perplexing than the fabled geometric phenomenon.
After I checked in to the Fairmont Princess Hotel, I walked out to the promenade facing the harbor. It was a beautiful day and dozens of boaters were out enjoying the weather. But there in front of me on the cusp of the property was what looked just like a Stargate.
If you’re a fan of the movie and ensuing TV series like I am, then you know that a Stargate is a large circle structure through which people transport themselves through space. My imagination went wild and my immature self began to wonder if interstellar travel had first arrived on Bermuda. As I later learned, these gates are found throughout the island but sadly for me are not a gateway to new planets and encounters with aliens.
Originally of Chinese design, moon gates were brought to Bermuda in the late 19th century thanks to the British fascination with Asian culture. In China the gates were meant to serve as ornamental and luxurious doorways to homes and gardens, but in Bermuda they’re mostly freestanding. They’ve also taken on a different meaning altogether on the island as a local told me. She said that it’s good luck for newlyweds to walk through the gates after getting married. No matter the origin or the tales associated with them though, the moon gates do have an undeniable elegance to them.
These odd gates quickly became a favorite sight of mine on the island, I found them everywhere from prominent spots to the most unlikely of locations. I also grew to love them, not because I secretly hoped they would light up when I walked through them but because of their odd history. It’s that unusual quirkiness that makes Bermuda so special, that separates it from other island destinations. They seem to shout out to new arrivals that Bermuda isn’t your normal place, in every positive sense of the word imaginable.
What are some quirky sights you’ve found on your travels?
