The task of writing encompasses many skills. While your abilities may lean toward one type of writing (fiction), it is good to occasionally brush up on the other (non-fiction). So even though I almost always write fiction, this past week while on vacation, I decided to brush up on my observational and reporting skills and deliver you a fact filled report.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I proudly present, 5 Interesting Facts on the British Island of Bermuda.

Bermuda Fact #1

Well, I lied. I guess this isn’t really a fact. (See, I told you it was good to practice!) Bermudian folklore says that twenty-five years ago a hurricane came and devastated the island… damaging land and physical property. Amidst the damage goods were many chicken coops, leaving the chickens to run free and wander the island. The birds were never collected, and learned to live off the land. Now, feral chickens and roosters freely roam, clucking and laying eggs here and there, crowing when they please, despite the fact that the morning hours have long since passed. Our host asked us to please not call animal control, because they would be forced to shoot the birds. It appears, the Bermudians liked the chickens just the way they are.

Bermuda Fact #2

The roofs in Bermuda are specially designed to collect rain water. This water is then purified with lime (and another mineral component I can’t remember… see, detail collecting, need to improve there too!). It is the only water the citizens have to use, unless they pay to have more delivered to their homes. The environmentalist in me loves this, and I’ll admit had me acting a bit more conscientious about my water usage. It rained almost every day while we were in Bermuda, and each time, instead of being crabby, I was grateful.

Bermuda Fact #3

In Bermuda the cemeteries are above ground. Our taxi driver, Ken (include a source with your material to make it more credible… check!), told us that they can fit twelve coffins into each grave. The bodies and wood decompose quickly in the hot and humid climate and after a time, they compress and crush the remains to make room for more coffins and bodies. Slightly creepy, but super interesting.

Bermuda Fact #4

A supply ship, called Deliverance, was forced to crash land on Bermuda in 1609, before the island was inhabited. The ship, carrying fresh supplies and colonists for the quickly declining colony of Jamestown, took ten months to rebuild and then another two weeks to finish their journey to America. It is said that these people and supplies saved Jamestown. The ship secretary, William Strachey, chronicled the events, and his writings later inspired William Shakespeare to base his play, The Tempest, on the real-life events. (Using historical figures and allegorical writings, increases the quality of your writing and take it to a whole new level of awesomeness!)

Bermuda Fact #5

Some of the particles of sand on the beaches in Bermuda are red, creating an overall vision of pink sand. This result is created by the countless lobster, crab and mollusk shells that have been broken down by the relentless ocean waves. This pink sand is featured in souvenir shops in the forms of snow globes, jewelry and tiny bottles with shells. While on vacation I even ordered a Pink Sand Pina Colada that was both beautiful and delicious. (Adding a personal experience to your writing provides both credibility for you as the writer, and an enjoyment factor for your readers.)

A few insignificant things I learned… Itty bitty pig tails work best for my hair in this humid climate. If you are willing to pay $7.20 for a 6 pack, which I am, you can enjoy Diet Pepsi in Bermuda. Long sleeves are not required. Sleeves in general are unnecessary. Roundabouts drive to the left, and the taxis are a MUCH more efficient way of traveling, albeit, a bit more expensive.

So there you have it. Thank you for allowing me to both tune up my nonfiction writing skills and relive my vacation. I hope you learned a few fun facts about Bermuda, and a few writing tips as well.