A well-known local activist and artist, Kristin White campaigns for women’s rights and environmental issues and is a cofounder of Social Justice Bermuda, dedicated to tackling issues of racism and injustice. She owns St. George’s Long Story Short bookshop and helps connect visitors to Bermuda’s history and culture through her guided tours.
This interview is part of The World Made Local, a global collaboration between the seven international editions of Condé Nast Traveler in which 100 people in 100 countries tell us why their home turf should be your next destination.
How would you describe Bermuda in your own words?
It is a very unique place geographically. Arriving in Bermuda, you see nothing but ocean, ocean, ocean, and then, all of a sudden, you start to see the reefs and the telltale sort of turquoise waters that surround the island. And from that point forward there is this sense of calm and magic. I truly believe it is a very magical place.
And we have been a massive part of every world event, playing a major role, for four centuries, in the maritime Atlantic. And so the history, the culture, the uniqueness of Bermuda makes it a very magical place to live and visit. There is a renaissance happening right now in Bermuda, where Bermudians are excited to be Bermudian.
What excites you about Bermuda right now?
Definitely the young artists; there are some incredible young artists right now, and a lot of them are Black women. Gherdai Hassell had her first solo exhibit at the Bermuda National Gallery, and it is incredible. It's a work of collage and reimagining, using historic artifacts from out of Bermuda's archives. There's also Hana Bushara. She's a singer-songwriter and so young. I'm just in awe of what she's creating. We used to have a very strong literary and artistic tradition, and then it became very sanitized for tourism. Bermudians never saw themselves reflected in art, and I think that has been damaging to us. So I'm excited about this new generation of artists because they are going to be what helps the world to better understand Bermuda, not just as a tourism destination but as a living, breathing, vibrant place where people live.
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Where should people go who visit?
The town of St. George's. There's a lovely gallery called the Dragon's Lair with all local artists. The old winding streets and Bermudian architecture are lovely. Then do St. Peter's Church and its cemetery for history. Everybody should have either a fish cake on a hot cross bun or a Bermudian fish sandwich from Mama Angie's. And then do Drew's Bay. It is a tiny little curve; it's a small little beach that you don't really see from the main road. A lot of people don't know that it exists. And you end up having this little spot all to yourself.
Where do you go to treat yourself?
I've been having staycations at the Rosewood. They have a lot of amenities, and lots of Bermudian staff, and it's just beautiful there. And then the other thing, which we weren't allowed to do until recently, is stay on my boat. Being able to have a small boat and tuck off behind an island in the harbor and wake up with the sunrise and the waves is perfect, just perfect.
Final thoughts on why we should travel to Bermuda?
I think what we have all collectively been going through over the last year and a half has shifted Bermuda. I don't think Bermudians have ever felt more Bermudian and more able to create and help visitors tap into what makes Bermuda so unique and special. It's time to come to Bermuda. I think after everything that everyone has been through, it's time for people to feel a calming energy and be able to be at peace, and I really do feel that Bermuda has that.
Follow Kristin White on Instagram @itskristindotcom
