It’s the SS …….s

Stocking Stuffers!

Ok it’s not. I mean it’s not the guards coming from Berlin. I know. Silly, but maybe it’s that time of year. The absolute silly season.

I should know. I tried to complete all of my holiday shopping yesterday in the pouring rain, dodging hail and the five o’clock closing of Bermuda’s stores.

But’s that’s not what I’m talking about either. Instead it’s all about Solstice Stocking Stuffers today. Why? Because today is the Solstice.

What is that? Good question and one I had to look-up myself. To break it down: solstice comes from the Latin sol (sun) and statum (to stand still).

To make it fun, Solstice is generally celebrated throughout the world with sacrifice or prayers for fertility. Doesn’t sound like as much fun anymore, does it?

For the chinese it is celebrated with making balls of rice (to symbolize the gathering of the family) and it’s called “dongzhi.”

In Korea? No they don’t attack each other. That’s for every other day. Today, instead they worry about ghosts coming into villages to haunt them. It’s lore, but apparently dipping the rice balls in sweet red bean called pat jook helps repel the ghosts.

Pakistani men have cold water poured over their head for purification and then are forbidden to sit in a chair. Finally their heads are sprinkled with goats’ blood.

For the Japanese and the Scandinavians (two completely opposite cultures), on the other hand it’s all about fertility and they go about this with either lathering butter on doors or visit farms to ensure the land is ready. read more on the New York Times editorial.

But for most of us today is all about having only four days until dooms day or Christmas. Obviously for the Christians out there!

So what are you going to do? Well you could surrender and believe me yesterday I did, or you could find-out what The Harbourmaster store in Hamilton Bermuda has to offer.

Tag your luggage for $13.25!

The traveler in the family (i.e. everyone in Bermuda) will need to identify their bags, no? Well why not use these fantastic name-tags from The Harbourmaster to help?

Need something else? Got someone a bit more on the hipster side? How about a pom-pom? Yeah I wrote it. A pom-pom.

Pom-pom for your luggage locations for just $9.95

Perhaps you have someone with pesky keys which they can never find? Have you done that? You know left the island and come home to find….no home! Well no home if you don’t have your keys.

What a pain trying to fish them out of your bag. Well why not find these beautiful and hefty key chains which well mean your keys are never lost:

Keys for Keys for $20

or these handy leather-bound key chains:

Leather Key Chain for $30

Finally there is nothing like trying to keep hold of your blackberry. So I hear. I don’t have one, but from those who do I hear you want them at your finger tips.

So why not get your help from The Harbourmaster? They have all sorts of beautiful, leather cases that can carry your mechanical device like this one below:

Blackberry case for $54

Or maybe you’re someone who keeps their cash wadded in your pockets? Floating around your purse? Maybe you know someone who does?

Well that’s ok because The Harbourmaster can help you out! They have all sorts of wallets that are handy, leather and beautiful!

Like this leather wallet from the LAND Meridian collection. The best part, and you will understand if you’re from Bermuda, it’s in stock! No waiting for it to be imported.

Wallets!! Starting at $75

Or The Harbourmaster also has this selection:

Wallet with credit card holders on the outside for just $59

Whatever you do make sure that you visit The Harbourmaster on the first floor of The Washington Mall and get all the help you need for your travel goods from their helpful staff.

And OF COURSE mention Robyn’s Wanderings! Happy Holidays.

August is around the corner

So where are you going to go and what are you going to do?

Taking-off in August

Well for one do you know where August comes from?  In the Roman calendar under Romulus (you know one of the brothers who competed for a hill in modern-day Rome. You can understand the name, now) we would have been in the Sextilis month. Why? Because it was the sixth month in the calendar year. March was the first month of the year.

That was in 753 B.C. and in 700 BC when January and February were added to the year by King Numa Pompilius who made it 29 days. But, Robyn, August has 31 days.

You’re right and that’s because Julius Caesar added two more days and in 8 BC it was named in honour of Augustus.

So what’re you going to do in this eight month of the year? How are you going to escape our 21-square-mile island (Bermuda)?

New York City: Yes it’s hot and yes it’s a city, but it’s also a lot of fun in the summer.

One thing that can be said for New Yorkers is they always know how to put things on so try the HBO/Bryant Park film on Monday nights. Every Monday from June through August this park is filled with movie maniacs. What are they showing? Check out the schedule here.

Then there are the free Central Park Summerstage shows. These are on at various times throughout the summer so if you’re heading to NYC check out the schedule and see if you can fit one in.

Chicago! And the windy city…what else? Oh the Chicago Air and Water show on the 14th and 15th on the shores of Lake Michigan. More than two million people attend this event that is FREE!!! What else do you want?

Who does it feature: The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights.

Want something different to do? How about a Jazz concert at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago? Every Wednesday night sample the swimming background while soothing your sole with jazz.

Fancy hitting Atlanta? I do too. So check out this event website for some options. And what about Martinis and Imax? Yes now the Imax film is getting even more of a kick in Atlanta with….some gin and vodka!

Or fancy some organic produce? Check out the Dunwoody Green Market every Wednesday! You can even go a pick your own veg!!! Enjoy.

Boston by the water

Strap the football helmet on and enjoy the Patriot pre-season games on August 12 and 26 in Boston! Check for tickets here.

Or where art thou? Shakespeare it is. Where? On Boston’s common.What shall it be this summer? Othello for free from July 28th until August 15th. From Tuesday to Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. For more info check out this site.

Aerosmith and the JGeils band at Fenway Park: on August 14 these two bands will be in the most iconic baseball grounds for the first dual concert. Check out these tickets and enjoy the sounds.

Are you a Bride-to-be? Are you still looking for a dress? Run for it on August 20 to Filene’s basement. Just make sure you don’t lose your cool and plan your day here.

And finally I know it’s almost August and you may have a trip planned to a different city. Where is it? Any tips for the site? Comment here with your best ideas!