Now it’s Happy New Years from around the World!

Fireworks over the Charles' Bridge in Prague!

Kielbasa? Check. Champagne? Check? A bridge that was not destroyed in WWII? Check. Thousands of people from Italy, France, China, and the USA? Check? Fireworks? At midnight.

I was knee-deep in freezing temperatures, but that’s ok. I could work with the frost. It was nothing a couple of glasses of gluwein and a lot of jumping, couldn’t fix.

As I found myself at the beginning of my trip around the world celebrating in Prague the welcoming of 2009, I realized I was glad I chose this spot. With the Christmas Market still doling out the famous sausage dish (kielbasa) and hot wine, coupled with the thousands of tourists in the Czech Capital there was a sense of unity among nations.

Well, unity until we all tried to head for the Charles’ Bridge. This structure survived WWII and just about survives the onslaught of tourists and Czech’s alike every New Years; it’s the best place to watch the fireworks. On the way everyone jumps into the shops on the corner to grab their champagne, absinthe, or the Czech liquor, Fernet.

Then the count-down begins. Five, Cinque, Cinq….Four, Quatro, Quatre…..three, tre, tre, Two, duo, due….One, uno, une!

But not everyone enjoys their New Years on a bridge. Of course I have never been in New York for New Year’s Eve but, as everyone knows, they drop a ball…in Times’ Square of course!

Sure the New Yorkers drop a ball, but that’s nothing compared to our onion in St. George’s, right?

Neither of those, I’m afraid, touch on the interesting New Years tradition in Peru, however. In this South American country, they dress-up a doll (yes I know machismo is gone for a night) in old clothes and then burn it.

Talk about cleaning your closet! To ensure there are replacements, markets spring-up catering to everything you need. New clothes not an option? Then at least new underwear is!

But, of course, yellow underwear is the only colour you want if you need happiness and luck (good thing that’s my favourite colour!) or red if you want love or green for, of course, money.

Red, green and….white? Well those colours will have you wishing: “Buon Capodanno!” That’s what I heard in Florence as I celebrated a New Year before starting my semester of studying in these Renaissance-lined streets. Of course the greeting came with the crescendo of bottles crashing onto these streets (perhaps a hangover from the Southern tradition of throwing your old things out of the window showing that you were ready for the new).

We didn’t dodge the bottles until after a massive fiesta! La Festa di San Silvestro to be exact. For my experience it was based on sea food and fish.

Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy!

Perhaps that was because I was up North and the Italians I was celebrating with were from the coast (sailors actually). In other parts of Italy the feast is based on lentils and pork! Of course once you indulge in these feasts only the Italians know how to work it off. That requires cracking a spumante or prosecco and finding a club to dance and then waiting for the new born sun.

A ray of light is exactly what you might think you see if you celebrate the new year in India. Parties have themes – colour codes or unique dress codes – filled with food and even the lighting of bonfires and the burning of crackers. Of course if you visit the tourist and hippie mecca of Goa (a province on India’s West coast) then raves are all the…rave!

Heading back for Silvester, or the feast of St. Silverster is the name of New Year’s Eve in Germany. Who was Silvester? Well, he was a pope who lived in the fourth century and apparently healed leprosy and baptized the Roman Emporer, Constantine the Great among other things. Fair enough. I guess he should get a celebration. In Berlin, however, the world-famous bash Brandenburger Tor is held and at midnight everyone wishes everyone else “Gutes Nue Jahr”. The next day, there is, of course, the need to know what is coming in the next year so the Germans enjoy Bleigiessen. A tradition, it requires dropping molten lead into cold water. Shaped like a heart or a ring? A wedding is in your future.

While we, in the West, might be celebrating New Years’ Eve in a couple of days, in Cambodia New Year or Chaul Chnam Thmey is not until April 13th or 14th and it is celebrated for three days! Yes, three days. That’s because it represents the end of the harvesting season. Makes sense, no? To celebrate means visiting temples to get blessing from monks and priests while building a sand hill on the temple grounds and decorating it with five religious flags – it represents the Buddha’s five disciples. Each of the three days also have their own significance.

Harvesting is what it’s all about in Korea, China and Vietnam! Only their’s is celebrated at sunset on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice (that was on December, 21 this year). It’s a three-day celebration too! Heck they know how to party out there. Almost all Koreans, apparently, head back to their hometowns to celebrate. On the eve, or Sut dal kum mum, people clean their homes and light them with colourful halogens. You think our New Years Eve is long? The Koreans don’t sleep! The belief is everyone needs to stay-up to see the new year coming in or….else.

The next day it’s all about eating and spending time with family even including the ancestors. Known as Chesa, a clean room, a table altar is places with food items and on a special paper their names are written. On a special paper called Chi Bang, the names of the ancestors are written. With the rituals done, it’s time to have fun with games and hanging-out.

The only tradition for their friends south, Australia, is a party of course! Beaches, pubs and clubs are all filled with crazy cappers and as soon as church bells ring at midnight loud noises also ring-out! Recovering from this fun, the New Year Day is a public holiday and people spend it with their family and friends. To get an idea of how much fun it is more than 3,00,000 tourists celebrate their New Year in Australia. I suppose that’s a party.

The Matterhorn can provide the background for New Year's Eve!

Of course the best I’ve seen/experienced was in Zermatt, Switzerland! I had the luck of having a friend with a house there. But that’s not where we stayed….well for New Year’s Eve anyway. Instead the party was taken to a five-story restaurant/bar/club in the middle of this traffic-free, mountain ensconced town. The Swiss know how to party.

Of course the next day the party the night before was nothing a little skiing with the backdrop of the Matterhorn mountain couldn’t take care of. Let’s hope I have the same luck this year in Vermont! So wherever you are and whatever you are doing this year, enjoy it! And come back next week for my next Rock Fever column for The Royal Gazette on traveling by book! (those following the blog will have seen it before:)

 

The Holidays are the new Monday and Tuesday!

Tired Feet

So I’ve started a new job. Yes, I still have the travel column, I am still working on freelance writing, but, well, health insurance, social insurance and payroll tax all cost a lot.

What am I doing? Well I’m running around Swizzle Inn Restaurant in Bermuda trying not to break too many things and keeping everyone full on nachos and Swizzle.

Yes, I am a waitress and let me tell you I had no idea. It’s constant. It kills the feet. It requires patience unlike many things I have done in my life.

And that’s not one of the hardest things. Nope. One of the hardest is the schedule! And today is Monday, but it is also a holiday. Why? Because Christmas and Boxing Day were on the weekend.

But rather than enjoying the day off I will be donning my helmet and scootering my way to Swizzle Inn in Bailey’s Bay (i.e. next to the airport).

But I won’t be alone. I will be with other waiters and waitresses and maybe even shop assistants! What’s even crazier about working holidays now as a waitress, I also work random days.

I work Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays…hell I even work on Sundays! But rather than be alone, I will be joined by many people around the world.

Actually in most countries the actual work week runs from Sunday until Thursday. Of course not in Bermuda, America, Canada or Australia. Nope. I’m talking about Islamic countries.

Let me tell you last year while I was traveling around the world last year, countries such as Turkey, Jordan and Indonesia I had to get used to the fact that most people had Friday and Saturday off!

Yes, who knew? I didn’t either. The different schedule while I was traveling was something hard to get used to. My work week is so ingrained (Monday to Friday) that anything else seems strange.

So I guess as I head to work I will think of everyone in Islamic countries around the world. Oh and other waitresses.

On to the world of jugs of Swizzle and Burgers with Spicy Fries.

“Christmas Eve without Carp would be like Thanksgiving Day without Turkey”

 

Prague at Christmas! I play along with the Angels

I had to stay. I had just completed my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course in Prague, Czech Republic. My apartment was new and so was the job at Berlitz language school.

I was not going to be flying back to Bermuda for Christmas. It was the first time I had spent the holiday away and I was slightly worried about how I would handle it in this landlocked country.

Where would I find a beach? What crazy Canadians would I watch swimming on Christmas Day? And then I saw the kiddie pool on my Prague corner. Huh?

The temperatures had descended below freezing and mittens upon mittens captured my hands, and the Czechs had pulled out bath tubs onto their streets.

What could possess them to do such a thing?

Well I wasn’t sure either when I spent a Christmas in Prague seven years ago. So as I walked home one day, trying to keep my toes from falling off in temperatures more suitable to snowmen, I watched as a crazy Czech dove his arm into a pool of water. Seconds later his arm and a massive fish (carp) came out.

I had to ask my Czech friends. This can’t be right. Is he really doing this? Why would he be doing this? Why wouldn’t they just go to a butcher counter in a warm supermarket? All of that seemed sane to me.

Unfortunately, for the butcher that is, warm and Christmas Eve dinner do not go hand in hand in Prague. Instead carp, which is the Czech’s Christmas Eve dinner, is supposed to be kept alive as long as possible before chow-time. That means tubs on the side of the road until they are butchered. Some Czech’s even forgo the butchering and take their carp home alive to sit in their bathtubs until Christmas Eve! Forget the goldfish pet!

Even crazier? Carp is supposed to be (I was never brave to try it) salty and boney, but it’s tradition. Don’t believe me? Don’t think the Czech’s are up for the cold? Check out this video:

Llama in Peru also on the menu?

Go figure. Christmas traditions around the world can strike the odd chord. Of course we have our own in Bermuda and sometimes they make sense (cassava pie) and sometimes they don’t (Elbow Beach boozing), which is why I’m writing about them this week for my Rock Fever Column in The Royal Gazette.

But last year I was not in Prague or Bermuda. This time last year rather than trying to decide which slippers I’m going to give my mom (ooops there goes the surprise) I was navigating Peru.

Well Peru and then Bolivia! These would be my last stops on my trip around the world. I would not, however, be spending Christmas in either place. Nope.

After 12 months on the road, I was ready to go home.

So I missed the celebration. But this year as I sit comfortably at home I was curious. What are the traditions in South America? What do Peruvians eat/do for the holiday? Well good thing my friend and soon-to-be travel buddy is from Peru.

According to my STB travel buddy, Christmas in Peru? It’s Turkey. Yeah, not very exciting or different from home (Bermuda).

I mean this is a country that eats guinea pig on a regular basis. No, I am not kidding. They eat what we call pets. Maybe they’re good? I wouldn’t know. Unfortunately all the menus I saw in Peru made the guinea pig look completely revolting.

However, according to my STB travel buddy: “People in different regions will vary their Christmas menu so some people may actually eat the little gerbil creatures, but for the majority, it’s turkey with various side dishes (often including tamales) and champagne. Panetón and hot chocolate are very popular too.”

Mmmmm….tamales. They were with a massive hit with me when I was in Peru! How can they not be? Wrapped in banana leaves, completed with corn flour and filled with meat there is literally nothing I can think of that would stop me from not loving them!

Want to learn how to make them? Yeah me too so I found this somewhat long-ish film on youtube for our enjoyment: 

All this food is eaten at a get-together, party or dinner on Christmas eve which culminates at midnight and everyone wishes everyone else Merry Christmas!

Of course this is the hottest time of the year (we are talking the Southern Hemisphere here) so in Bolivia Christmas food generally focuses on picana.

Pic…what? Picana. It’s a soup made of a soup made of chicken, beef, corn and spices and is eaten usually on Christmas. Well it could be the Eve or the Day, but that just depends on the Bolivian family.

Accompanying the soup? Salads, roast pork or roast beef, and an abundance of tropical fruit and for a sweet it will be eat taffy-filled wafer cookies called “turrón“.

Unfortunately I never indulged in this amazing feast because I was whisked away by American Airlines.

As I touched my toes to Bermuda soil I was, in what can only be described as ironic, directed to arrive in London, England. My family was spending Christmas abroad.

With four days in Bermuda I packed a new bag and was set for London. Of course in England they have their own traditions for Christmas: It’s Crackers! Which of course we have in Bermuda.

Cross your arms for Crackers!

But not ones you can eat. Well I suppose you could and then you’d probably be quite sick. In any case, the Cracker tradition is not one I have ever seen in the United States.

It requires using one of these (pictured to the right) of bundles between two people and pulling them apart. Out pops a toy, a joke and a hat!

The history of it?

Of course this tradition started with who else? A Brit. Thomas Smith in 1846 to be precise. Why? Well because he had been in Paris and seen bon-bons wrapped in tissue paper. He took the idea back to England, wrapped poems in them and eventually transformed the entire idea with a banger (chemically impregnated paper that explodes when pulled).

His sons took over the business and in the 1900’s and in the 1930’s love poems turned to jokes. Ahhh the Christmas traditions explained.

Cassava Pie!

Unlike Americans, however, the British are not happy with one day-off and instead have two! Boxing Day (like us of course!), which is December 26th or Boxing Day. Want to know where our day-off comes from? Well that was a day when boys used to go round collecting money in clay boxes. When the boxes were full, they broke them open.

This year, however, I will take a break from traveling. Yes, I will be in Bermuda and will only have to travel as far as one parish to another to indulge in Turkey, ham, beans, carrots and the traditional Cassava pie!

You don’t know what cassava pie is?! Sacrilege! It is of course based on cassava, which is a starch-filled root that grows in poor soil. Hence why the early settlers, dating back to 1612, made it into everything they could.

But just because it grew-up in poor soil doesn’t mean it tastes poorly. Never! And the best part is that it is totally safe for celiacs! Well, that is, once it is cleaned properly. Cleaned improperly and you have some serious cyanide poisoning.

Bermudians, me, traditionally, now, buy it frozen, drain it, fill it with eggs and plenty of butter, chicken and even sometimes pork.

It’s a weird tradition because though everyone eats it on Christmas Day, not everyone makes it the same way. Some make it sweet, some make it savory. It’s all about your taste buds.

Which has made me hungry! It’s time to enjoy and indulge wherever you are so have a Happy Holiday, visit the Bermuda National Museum for more traditions, and of course visit here tomorrow for all your vacation needs!

Jolly Old St. Nick visits Bermuda, France and Greece for their Holiday Traditions

A little Christmas cheer in Bermuda - Nicola escaping the Canadian snow

Welcome to the second edition of Robyn’s New Wanderer!

Every Saturday Nicola will be regaling you with stories from her trips, how to study abroad and all sorts of fun tips on travel!

This week? Well this week I finagled a piece from her on Christmas traditions as she boarded a plane for a very new tradition: Christmas in South Africa!

So Nicola, a Bermudian who swims on Christmas Day (!!!), tell us your Christmas tales:

We are racing towards Dec 25^th (Christmas of course!) at light speed and palm trees decorated with Christmas lights now make Hamilton our own version of a winter wonderland…

Well, winter in the sense of wet & windy, not white, although we do have a few sunny days too! Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Bermuda is free of frost, snow and ice, but as a ‘sub-tropical’ island we still have chillier temperatures than the Caribbean.

Bermudians swimming at this time of year are few & far between, except for the brave ones who take a dip on Dec 25^th or Jan 1^st… myself included, I may proudly add.

As a recent university grad, living at home has meant that I have FINALLY been able to partake in pre-Christmas Bermudian festivities since I am no longer taking refuge from the Canadian blizzards to study for the usual onslaught of December exams. Yay!

What sorts of things make up a Bermuda Christmas season?

– The lighting of the Christmas tree at City Hall, with carols and Santa’s visit

– Christmas Pantomime, which always gives the audience a good laugh

– National Trust Walk-About in St. George’s with entertainment and snacks

– Late Night Shopping in the city of Hamilton on Fridays

– Santa Claus reading the children’s Christmas letters on the local TV channel

Plus, as I was delighted to learn myself this week on a visit to Dockyards, the Bermuda Rum Cake Company makes special edition Christmas Rum Cake…  now is the time to sample and “Buy Bermuda”!

But Nicola has not always been in Bermuda! Nope. She’s also “done” Noël in France:

The majority my Christmases have been celebrated in Bermuda, although I have spent some memorable holidays in France and Croatia.

Even though I was on Rotary Exchange in Lorraine, France in 2004-2005, I remember the Christmas season very well!

Europeans celebrate the feast day of St. Nicolas on December 6^th, and in Lorraine there is a town called St.

Magical candle ceremony at St.Nicolas-de-Port in France, December 2004

Nicolas-de-Port.
Our Rotary district had 25 students and we were all invited to the weekend ‘Fête de St. Nicolas’… with a Christmas market and candlelight church service. We all had long, white candles that we raised during the refrain of this song:

Saint Nicolas, ton crédit d’age en age,

a fait pleuvoir tes bienfaits souverains.
Viens, couvre encor’ de ton doux patronage
tes vieux amis les enfants des Lorrains!

[Saint Nicolas, from age to age your favor

has rained down supreme blessings.
Come with your gentle protection to cover still
your old friends, the children of Lorraine.]

(As a side note, in France my name always causes excitement as the French pronounce the masculine name “Nicolas” as “Nicola”, with a silent ‘s’… so I tended to surprise school teachers with the morning roll call, and had mail addressed to a Mr. Nicola Arnold… bah humbug!)

Last week, I mentioned that my family and I are jetting off to Europe and ultimately to South Africa to spend the holidays with the Arnold grandparents and relatives who reside in Johannesburg.

We are backpacking, as luggage would be a drag with all our flight connections. To my great delight, my father will be travelling in a kilt. Yes! A Scottish kilt… Why, you might wonder? That is a whole different tale… look out for that posting, as I shall be including photos 😉

Nicola and her sister Katie on the beach in a chilly Crikvenica, Croatia - Christmas 2008

I cannot yet speak of Christmas in South Africa, but to paint you a picture of South Africa, we are looking forward:

– a warm summer sunshine in this beautiful ‘Rainbow Nation’.

– in Cape Town, we hope to have an excursion up Table Mountain

– Cape Town boasts beautiful beaches, perhaps we will visit Camps Bay

– The Arnold family will celebrate and catch-up most evenings around the braai (barbeque in Afrikaans… which I remember writing in my school journal in Grade 4, that my family had a bry [sic] last night, with the teacher being quite confused!)

– we shall try to squeeze our favourite South African chocolates, such as Peppermint Crisp and Chocolate Log, into the sides of our backpacks

– with any luck, I hope that World Cup vuvuzelas do not become the new, creative instruments to festively wish people a Happy Christmas

Christmas in South Africa will be new for me, so I look forward to sharing the traditions and experiences with you upon return… and look out for special “postcards updates” during my Christmas trip!

Travel through the Caribbean for Seven Days for less than $400!

Escape the cold on a cruise

Want to escape next year? Why don’t you head to the Caribbean? Worried about the cost? Well don’t worry. I know, I know it’s cold right now and you want somewhere warm.

But the Holiday shopping is eating into the vacation……well it can’t on the Princess Cruises offered by CTravel.

In the new year, the Cruise line is offering cruises to the Caribbean for just $349 for seven days of turquoise water, white sand and…..WARM!

Where can you go? Leave from Ft. Lauderdale, head to San Juan, St. Thomas and Dominica, Bonaire and Aruba! Well that’s just one of the Princess Cruise’s great deals for the New Year. Check with CTravel for your local representative with all the booking abilities!

 

Seven-day cruise

But maybe you’re still looking for a Christmas Gift that gives back? Are you struggling with that person in your life who has everything?

Well, you and I both know that at some point everyone needs to leave Bermuda. It’s Rock Fever and you know at some point next year the gift certificate you purchased from CTravel will be needed.

So what are you waiting for? Purchase the gift Certificate by December 18 (CTravel is open on Saturday the 18th) and you could also win.

 

That’s right purchase a Gift Certificate from CTravel and you will be entered into the draw to win two American Airlines tickets to anywhere in The United States.

 

American Airlines Gift Certificate!

You’ve got three more days to purchase a gift certificate so take the opportunity to take one more person off your list!

And while you’re visiting CTravel in their Queen Street offices why not ask about another deal….Save $1,000 off your trip to Egypt in the New Year if you book by December 31!

Passage through Egypt has been developed to reveal in depth all that Egypt travel has to offer — the celebrated sites along with the less-traveled.

Leading Egyptologists join you as we see the great Pyramids, the impressive monuments and inspiring paintings and statues – built with techniques still not fully understood by modern engineers.

Your trip will include three days in Cairo before explore all of this aboard the Salacia, and along the Nile for seven days and then on land for another seven. Luxor will be fully enjoyed with some of the less known temples.

And all of this could be booked for less than $1,000 if you book by December 31! So call or visit CTravel to ask about your trip to Egypt next year!

 

Fill your stockings with these travel accessories

 

Socking Stuffers

 

Tiny is the theme this year in travel as airlines cut-back on luggage allowances and carry-on’s become almost obsolete. Even worse is the restriction on liquids that now appears to be destined to remain.

Remember when they said they would take it off? Right. Well what are you going to do about your shampoo? And the soap you need so you don’t have to do laundry?

Well that’s why we have The Harbourmaster on the first floor of the Washington Mall in Hamilton. All the tiny little stocking stuffers to make your travel easy are there.

Like this tiny Woolite soap. Wash your underwear, clean-off the stain on your shirt and basically keep clean with the help of this light-weight and accessible soap.

 

Woolite soap for just $6.50

 

But perhaps you want to bring your own soap? Or that traveling family and friend does? Well have no fear, The Harbourmaster is here:

 

refillable Travel Tube for just $13.50

 

There’s is nothing quite like carrying more than one bag. You know, one for your clothes and then one for a possible day trip. You don’t want to do it!!! So why would you when The Harbourmaster has a convenient day bag that wraps into the size of your hand?

You wouldn’t:

 

Eagle Creek Day Pack with super comfortable straps for $55

 

The best laid plans, however, can go astray when you are traveling. The last thing you want to do though is lose your money. Without money…..well let’s not think about it.

Which is exactly why The Harbourmaster has thought about it for you. With a variety of coin purses and belts with secret compartments, owner Sheilagh Robertson has thought about all of your travel security needs.

 

A range of coin purses from $18.75 to $26.00

 

Check out these belts:

 

Belt with hidden money pouch on the inseam is $26

 

Just make sure you stay in touch while you’re away! We’d hate to have to bug you for a postcard. To help you with your addresses, of course The Harbourmaster has a tiny, leather address book waiting for you.

 

Scully leather Address Book for $26

Need more stocking stuffer ideas? Well you can visit The Harbourmaster store in the Washington Mall in Hamilton, Bermuda or come-back here next week!

 

Friday Photo of the Day

Love in St. George's

And the photo today? This one comes from my trek down to St. George’s last week for their annual National Trust Open House Walkabout.

What’s that? Well all the old, old building are opened-up and we get to snoop! Even better they serve Gluvine and Egg Nog to keep you going!

With the lights running around the houses and the wine running through them it’s a perfect night to enjoy the beginning of the holidays.

That’s if you can get there….which is why this is my photo of the day!

We managed to get there. Two people on a 50 cc motorbike (i.e. what tourists get when they visit Bermuda) for the 30 minute drive to St. George’s is no mean feat.

But we did it. In an hour.

After warming-up and snooping it was time to return to Hamilton for some food. Ha. Ha. Ha.

The 50cc?! Well she managed to get us as far as half way to dinner and then…..well then she decided to quit. She popped her tire and left us hidden in the dark on the side of the road.

Poor little bike. She had to be left in the rain as we hopped into a taxi that eventually found us and delivered us to dinner.

St. George’s was still worth it and make sure you tune-in tomorrow! Robyn’s Wanderings has a new wanderer!

Have family/friends in Canada? Find flights from Halifax to Bermuda for $99!

Fly to Bermuda for $99!

And no, you don’t have to flap your arms or kick with your feet! No! The airline running this special is none other than Air Canada and the person to book these tickets with is no other than CTravel!

That’s because while Air Canada runs the special on their site for $99 for another 14 hours, CTravel has until December 16th to book!

And even better? CTravel can offer your friends and family flights home from Toronto for $149! What a deal?! What are you waiting for? Visit their Quicktix website to book your flights or give the agents a call!

CTravel Deals!

So bring your family and friends back home for the holidays and buy your Christmas gifts at the same time!

That’s because CTravel is also offering the chance to win two free tickets on American Airlines to anywhere in the United States.

Yes, they ran a contest that ended on November 30 and here is the next installment! So don’t delay!

Make sure you get the traveler in your life the Christmas gift they want – a CTravel gift Certificate – and be entered for a two tickets to anywhere in the Continental United States.

I can’t think of a better way to spend your new year!

What are you waiting for? Visit their offices on the first floor of the Bermudiana Arcade in Hamilton or visit their website for more information.

And perhaps the traveler in your life can put it toward a trip of a lifetime – the Arctic. I mean it feels like the Arctic out there in Bermuda right now, so why not go and actually experience it!?

Book soon because these amazing trips that are organized by the Arctic Kingdom Polar Expeditions Inc. are

Visit the Arctic

the only land-based travel experiences in this part or the world.

Each of their trips is catered to your likes and their groups are small, between 4 and 12 adventurers.

Any Inuit guide will tell you that a larger group size compromises your ability to feel and see what the Arctic has to offer.

So from visiting the Polar Bears in the Arviat Polar Bear cabins set directly on the shores of Hudson Bay to chilling in the Arctic Igloo Domes in the rarely visited and spectacular Torngat mountains, they have everything.

Helicopters, polar bears, sizzling northern lights and sightings of rare caribou herds make this a world class unforgettable adventure.

Don’t wait long though! These vacations are filling-up so make sure you contact the representative at CTravel for your Arctic Vacations and stay warm on Bermuda’s roads!

Coming Clean in Bath, England

The Bath Abbey

“Can you make some room,” yelled a man from the platform.

“Can we get through? We have seats!” screamed a frazzled traveler trying to bypass the compartment.

Another passenger surrendered and sat in the bathroom. I found a foot of empty space next to the train’s door. With my bag resting on my two feet I prayed we would be moving soon.

Rush hour on London’s commuter trains. I had, clearly, not thought-through my travel plans to Bath, England. It  was only supposed to take only an hour and a half. It – trip number nine out of ten from London for less than $100 – felt like five hours as a I grappled for an inch of space.

Where else have I been for less than $100 for my Rock Fever Column for The Royal Gazette? Good question. It started with a ticket for $65 (one-way) from Bermuda to London with my frequent flier miles. Make sure you get them! Next I hit Stockholm and Sigtuna in Sweden; Sachsenhausen and Berlin in Germany; Hampstead, Dover and Brighton in England.

Now, with number nine, it was time to come clean. I was heading to Bath. Silly me decided to try and go at 7 p.m. on a Friday night.

After extricating myself from the mass of bodies I found myself stranded on the streets of Bath. Luckily it is not a large town and I managed to find my Y.M.C.A. hostel after negotiating very drunk college students in about 20 minutes. The Y.M.C.A. might be easy to find, but it’s not exactly inviting so I plunked down my bag and hit the town.

Roman Baths

Some 2,000 years ago the Romans also arrived here. Rather than the Y.M.C.A.’s pathetic shower they decided to channel Bath’s hot sulfurous waters into elaborate pools. These really took-off in the 18th Century when England’s ladies and gents began coming here for the waters and enjoying the season in terraced houses! These iconic homes that line Bath’s streets were featured in the musings of Jane Austen who lived here briefly in the 1800’s. And of course what else do you do with really old, beautiful buildings? UNESCO makes them a World Heritage Site!

I believe the city more than earned the right; even at night. As I walked through the varied lanes and roads of Bath, the yellow street lights illuminated a city haunted by visions of 18 and 19th Century England from Austen’s books. This includes the 18th Century, Pulteney Bridge which crosses the River Avon and is filled with shops. If you have ever been to Florence and witnessed the Ponte Vecchio, then you’ve seen the inspiration for this gorgeous bridge. Walking along the river’s edge and listening to the falling water was soothing, to say the least, after my horrendous train ride.

Ahhh Bath, I think I could get used to you.

With my train stress washed down the river, it was time to relegate myself to my bed for a full-on assault the next morning. First I would have to try my hand at the breakfast. Ugh. the crumbs of bread and poor attempt at an English Breakfast ensured that next time I go to Bath I will save my pennies for one of the quaint Bed and Breakfasts I continually walked-by.

Fully famished, I decided I would have to visit, well where else? The Roman Baths! This complex built by….the Romans (see you’re getting this) are essentially as they left them. In 75 A.D. they channeled the waters into this complex that rivals the baths in rome (and I should know I have been there). Visitors, unfortunately, are no longer allowed to bath in the waters that are 116 degrees Fahrenheit. At least the modern complex has built a terrace for visitors to watch more than 240,000 gallons pump through each day before descending into the underground chambers that offer a historical guide to the baths. With a ticket that cost about £11 I was able to walk around wishing I could jump in, but it also offered me an entrance to the Fashion Museum. Well I mean after you bath you need to dress, right?

Exiting the baths (not Bath, you get it, right?) I was bombarded by the Bath Abbey. This cannot be missed. I

More Abbey

don’t mean go inside, though you should. I mean it is the centre of the town. Established in the 8th Century, the first English King, Edgar in 973 was crowned here. Through the years it has been built and then fallen until Elizabeth I ordered it restored. The Abbey has been the same ever since her meddling.

Around the Abbey and the Roman Baths is a mix of modern shops in old buildings. I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost with in the Upper Borough Walls, Union Streets and Barton Street among others filled with shops and little cafes opening onto the side walks. Bath is, among other things, a town built for luxury! Eat your fill in the famous restaurants that include English Chef Jamie Oliver’s Italian restaurant and then, if you’ve got it, bath in the actual complex for it – the Thermae Bath Spa. It will cost you though! £24 for two hours!

I did not have the cash for this luxury so I enjoyed a free walk up to the Circus. No, not Barnum and Bailey’s. Bath’s Circus is  comprised of three semicircular terraces of Regency houses surround a circular park. It was designed by architect John Wood the Elder, who built much of 18th century Bath. I tried to get my landscape photo and decided to use the rest of my Roman Baths’ ticket and head for some fashion.

Not much to note here. A very small museum, Bath’s Fashion Museum main focus is, of course, a whole spread on Princess Diana’s fashion through the years. At least I did not waste the rest of my £11 ticket!

Before I could wish Bath good-bye, there was one more museum I needed to visit. Jane Austen’s of course.

The Royal Crescent in Bath

This illustrative author was a resident in Bath between 1801 and 1806 and the city features heavily in Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. She ended-up hating Bath when her, her mom and sister fell on hard times here. Perhaps that is why the city devoted the sad little home on Gay Street as a museum to the artist. My guidebook had warned me, but I couldn’t miss one of my favourite writer’s museum! It was dull.

Oh well, I was almost done with my trip to Bath. I wandered through some of the green and stunning parks including the Royal Victoria Park in front of the Royal Crescent and meandered back on the train. Luckily Friday’s rush hour was over and I could comfortably ride back to England’s capital fully refreshed.

Refreshed and ready for next week’s column: finding things to do in London for under $100. It can be done! I promise.

And of course visit www.robynswanderings.com for more all of your daily travel tips!

Traveling Kids need (or maybe parents?)

Zoobies: blankets/toys/pillows in one for kids who travel!

They need….what do they need?

Well they need a stressless trip. What can entertain a child? Well toys. But what a pain having to pack the toys and the pillows and the blankets!

Cause you know the kids are also going to get cold and tired! And Sheilagh Robertson at The Harbourmaster store in Bermuda recommends that parents plan ahead to make travel as stress free for you and your children.

She said: “Airlines now charge for pillows and blankets so you may want to bring your own. Zoobies makes the ideal solution- a stuffed plush toy that comes with a travel blanket folded up inside. Available in a variety of animals these cuddly animals serve as toy, pillow and blanket all rolled into one.”

Because: ”Traveling with children can be stressful at the best of times so it is important to try to keep young children as close as possible to their normal schedules for meals and sleep.”

So why not buy these purpose-built toys/blankets/pillows at The Harbourmaster?

Travel light and comfortable with these!

It’s the perfect Christmas gift and only costs $64 at the Washington Mall store! And of course Sheilagh and her staff will be there to help  you pick out the right animal to make sure it’s the right trip!

And of course if you want just a pillow substitute for the kid in your life, Sheilagh at The Harbourmaster is with you all the way!

Comfy Kids Pillows

For just $21 this panda or lion can join your child for your next trip and keep everyone happy! Remember Christmas is coming and it’s the perfect time to treat you (and your child) to some peaceful sleep!