Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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bermuda -NV M. S. ALGI-:R T was .xl,MosT 5:00 o'clock when we reached land. Bermuda . . . a tiny Island only 19 miles long, right in the middle of the Gulf stream, and 700 miles from New York. As we approached, one became aware of the colour of the water, Robins'-egg blue against the white coral-sand bottom. Even more prominent than this were the white roofs of every house and building on the entire island. As we passed over Hamilton's harbour, freighters, an ocean liner, and hundreds ot' small sailboats at anchor flashed pastg then over St. Georges the same sight prevailed. But we were still going straight out over the ocean again. XVasn't that place Bermuda? Just at this point the Steward came forward and informed us that due to heavy military air traffic we would be delayed for an hour. It seems that the US. Air Force likes Bermuda too. At last on the ground, one noticed the intensity of the sun. The heat was not as great as expected because of the water which cooled the atmos- phere surrounding us. The extreme humidity was one thing which stood out like a sore thumb, but by the time you left you were used to sleeping in damp sheets and donning damp clothes in the morning. It is a great place for nylon clothes which you can wash at night and put on in the morning as though they had been laundered and ironed, It just doesn't, work. After we had cleared Customs, we climbed in with our baggage and my Aunt drove us to the apartment. On the trip I was surprised at the colour of the houses. They ranged through all the colours of the rainbow. Here and there a red one, up here a green one, over there a blue one, but they all had white roofs. Another thing which caught my attention were the stone walls on both sides of the road. They averaged 3 to 4 feet in height and were broken only by gates and side roads or where some reckless driver had run into them. In the fields and front lawns on either side of the road were Paw-paw trees, banana trees, palm trees, oleander bushes and hybiscus bushes, and many other types of Tropical vegetation. The Bermudians think nothing of being able to walk to their hedge and pick their dessert right off the tree. Deserving particular mention are the fields of Easter lilies which are grown for the markets of North America. Every once in a while a tourist would pass on a Mobylette or a Velo- -Solex. These are two types of motorized bicycles which they can rent. Even though the speed limit is 20 mph they hardly ever adhere to the law. After we had gone along for a few miles we turned on to the South Shore road. It goes along the southern coast giving a sight-to-remember to anyone who might chance that way. All along this road one can see the big waves Twenty-two

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the moon was blue -ToNv DREXV HE YOUNG MAN WALKI-:D our of the Broadway show slowly and unsteadily as if in a trance. He walked down 43rd Street to Broadway and into the crowd. He paid no heed to the giant lights and signs, but kept his eyes peeled straight ahead, not looking at the people around him. Slowly he made his way up to 64th Street where he turned and entered a second-class hotel. He got the key at the desk and went up to room 228. He had been in New York a week, and to-morrow he was leaving for home-and later school. He did not want to go back to that little town, with its continuous routine day after day. The radio was on, and he switched the station to get some soft melancholy music. His suitcases were lying on the floor, and he began to throw dirty shirts into one of the compartments, with a rough movement he stopped and went over to the window and looked out. It was raining and he could see giant buildings through the mist. The lights from Broadway looked like planets from afar - red, green, blue, all colours. His mind began to wander, remembering the many bars and clubs he had been in. He thought of the play he had just seen. For some unknown reason he began to shiver. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his jacket and lit one. The window was slightly open, and he sat down on the ledge. His thought started to wander again - he imagined he was the boy in the play and he had a girl whom he loved. There was a knock on the door and instantly his thoughts were shattered. It was the elevator boy with a letterg he opened it and read it, it was not important. He wandered over to the window once againg his throat became dry, its moistness seemed to move up into his eyes, making them glisten. His mind cleared and he remembered where he was. He felt like a small child in the midst of thousands of people. He felt lonely and cold as if nobody knew him or cared for him. The noise from the streets below seemed to verify these thoughts. He sat there for over an hour, looking out on to the sparkling city. He wished there was a girl beside him who could understand his feelings. Finally he got up and turned the radio off, The water was leaking through the window and splashing on the floor-he didn 't close it. Twenty-one

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breaking over the reefs 200 or so yards off shore, then the smaller waves come in and break on the beach. Through the years the sea has carried portions of the coral rocks leaving grotesque shape and forms for the photographer. For more lively pictures he can photograph the spray and foam from the breakers dashing against these rocks. Of course we went swimming in the ocean the next morning as it was too late that night. It was funny . . . we both jumped right in taking big mouthfuls of water with the intentions of making like fountains. The inten- tions were short-lived. The ugly taste of the brine made us spit out the water and make wry faces at one another. I admit I thought the water was terrible at first but later I began to look forward to a dip in the salt-water. Although Bermuda is a British colony and most of the dress is casual, there still is a very just right appearance to each prominent citizen and inhabitant. When you leave for work in the morning you will probably be wearing gaberdine shorts. a white shirt, and a sports jacket. It is unlawful to wear a bathing suit on the streets or main roads so everyone wears loud shorts. The thing which impressed me most, next to the island itself, was the free and easy-going attitude of the people. If a thing isn 't done to-day well maybe it can be done to-morrow, but what 's the use of running around in a, Rat-race and killing yourself. - Well I could go on forever describing the place, but I think I can sum it up by saying, Why did I ever come home? NVhy don't you go down there and then you'll see what I mean. The place grows on you, believe me!!! a crowded bus -Peter Green GROPED Fon THE RAILING. As my hand closed around it I pulled myself upward, squeezing between two people trying vainly to get on. The lnomentum of the crowd pushed me toward the ticket-box. I fumbled in my pocket for the ticket, dropped it in, and moved on. I reached for the over- head railing, settling myself for the dreaded ride on the crowded bus. Directly in front of me was a placard advertising women's hosiery. The picture was of a young girl, scantily clad, pulling on a nylon stocking. Printed beneath the figure was: For XVomen of Distinction, flhoose Lady Beth's Hosieryu. The fat, slovenly, solemn-faced woman sitting before me turned her Twenty-three