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:)

 

Ski Trip Time!

Trying to ski in Zermatt, Switzerland

Clinging. I found myself clinging to the edge of the mountain hoping beyond hope that the white-out in front of me would move. Winds were blowing. Snow was in my face. I couldn’t see five feet in front of my ski goggles. I sat down.

Not easy to do with two long planks strapped to your feet. I was terrified this was how it was all going to end: on a mountain in Switzerland.

Thirty yea….I mean seconds later the white-out had cleared. I would live to see another ski slope, but decided this day was done and I retreated to my rented studio in Zermatt, Switzerland.

No this wasn’t last week. I think the snow might only (and randomly) be falling in Scotland right now. And no this is not a Rock Fever column (from The Royal Gazette newspaper) for one of the 10 trips for under $100 from London. That will resume next week. Last I left you I was in Sweden.

So what am I doing this week? Why am I writing about a ski trip I’m not even on? Good questions. As I sat in Sweden feeling the temperature change and the winter jackets creep on, I realised it was time. It was time to start planning affordable (because let’s be honest skiing is never cheap) winter i.e. ski vacations.

Last year I was lucky and was already in Europe when an avalanche of snow decided to descend on the continent. Ok maybe it was heavy snow. Anyway, it was easy and cheap enough for me to jump on a train from Florence, Italy, rent a studio for $500 a week (it was off season) and enjoy the slopes. Unfortunately taking a ski trip from Bermuda, negotiating with work, schools, etc… will take a bit more planning, which is why it’s important to start now.

But have no fear. We have Brenda Warwick here. A ski addict who has worked in Vail, Colorado for four ski seasons and a CTravel agent, Brenda who specialize in selling skiing Worldwide, but particularly the resorts in Colorado, knows what she is talking about.

So Brenda, how can I find the best deal for skiing?

The least expensive ski deals are in the early season, in high resorts of Colorado, Utah, California. From the

Brenda Warwick hits the slopes!

end of November to December 15 or so as each resort differs with their high season dates for the Christmas Holidays.

Other dates (for deals) include mid January to mid February, before Presidents Day Holiday and then in the spring depending when Easter is each year, and closing date of the resorts.

Colorado’s best snow is usually early to mid April, and there are also very low rates for hotels and lifts.

Europe is the same, but you have to make sure of the snow. January and April are best, but February is very busy with UK and European schools on holidays. The same applies for Easter.

Ok those are the best deals, but when is the best time to go skiing? When is the best snow? And apparently there is a difference between Europe and North America?

The best time to ski Europe is in mid January. It is less crowded and there is beautiful snow. Then again in mid to late March, early April but that depends on the snow. That should be fine for high resorts if you are going in the Spring.

For North America ski resorts the best snow is mid January, early February, March and definitely early April. Last year I skied on April 6 in four feet of beautiful new powder snow!

West Coast skiing, i.e. Whistler in Canada, can be very unpredictable, due to being so close to the Pacific, and the resort is not as high as Colorado etc.

East Coast skiing, i.e. Mt Tremblant near Montreal, had wonderful snow this year right through Easter, but be careful if early December. Same with Smugglers Notch in Vermont.

What about families though? You said school breaks are the most expensive? When should families plan to go skiing for the best deals?

Families usually book during the Feb school break, but this is high season and can be expensive. The better time would be at Easter break when the prices are lower and many ski deals during this time.

What about couples who want to avoid the kids?

For couples, I would suggest mid to the end of January, through to mid March for North America and also Europe, avoiding the busy school holidays.

Also the end of November through to mid December, as usually the rates change about Dec 20, though this depends on each resort.

And for those skiing solo? Will I have to be by myself on the slopes?

For single skiers, as myself, it is a wonderful way to meet new friends who love the feel of that mountain air, the beautiful scenery and the freedom of flying down the perfectly groomed slopes of North America or the challenge of the steep and deep in Europe.

For me, personally, I love the ambiance of Europe and definitely the Apres Ski is more exciting in Europe, after a wonderful day, skiing up to an ice bar for a gluewein and new friends; it’s wonderful.

Sonnenalp Village

 

That might be easier depending on accommodation. What are my choices for ski holidays?

The choices are unlimited. There are hotels, condos, private homes, and even private chalets in Europe that are catered from budget right up to Sir Richard Branson’s wonderful private Chalet in Verbier, which you can rent by the week for up to 20 guests, and of course at a high price!

So Brenda, what can you and CTravel offer to Bermudians looking for a good ski trip?

Selling skiing is complicated, as there are so many ski resorts worldwide, but we at Ctravel, have the ‘tool’s and expertise to help any skier, first time or a seasoned skier.

The choices are unlimited, hotels, condos, private homes, private chalets in Europe that are catered from budget right up to Sir Richard Branson’s wonderful private Chalet in Verbier you can rent by the week for up to 20 guests, and of course at a high price!

Ctravel is a Wholesale Tour Operator for Vail Resorts, of Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Heavenly Valley, where we have Discounted Lift Tickets available to our ski clientele even during all the Holidays, plus equipment rental, transfers, hotels, ski school, and whatever else is required.

Our Virtuoso Supplier, Alpine Adventures, can offer ski holidays Worldwide, even Summer Skiing in South America if you haven’t had enough skiing in the winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Vail, the largest ski resort in the US and most groomed trails on the planet!  I worked in Vail at the Gasthof Gramshammer, owned by former Olympian, Pepi Gramshammer, who taught me to ski.  Vail Village and the new Village Square, formerly Lions Head are also traffic free, with both resorts of BCreek and Vail offering a free bus service around their villages.

The Lodge at Vail, a Virtuoso property (which means a CTravel partner), is ski in/out and has just completed a new Spa and condos right next to the slopes.  There is a huge selection of hotels and condos in Vail.

My favorite where I have stayed for over 20yrs, is the Sonnenalp Resort of Vail, exceptional luxury and service with Old World hospitality in the Bavarian tradition, passed down from five generations of the Faessler Family.

Their rooms and suites are beautifully decorated in Bavarian style, many with fireplaces and balconies overlooking Vail mountain, four restaurants, full Spa, with indoor/outdoor pool,hot tubs, sauna etc.

Vail’s annual snowfull over 346″ , 300 days of sunshine and 33 lifts, you have gentle beginner slopes to bowls, glades and moguls.  A charismatic ski town with fine dining, family fun, and plenty of apres ski!

For more information and to book your ski vacation contact CTravel.

A Pregnancy Test at 3,300 metres

Thousands of metres above sea level in Zermatt, Switzerland

Imagine being stuck on the ski slopes and never knowing? Could you be pregnant? Have no fear Switzerland is here! Pregnancy tests will be in vending machines owned by the company Selecta in offices, trains stations and other public places!

Hey if condoms are sold in vending machines why not the tests to make sure they work? Or at least that is the logic of Selecta’s director Thomas Nussbaumer who told AOLNews: “You will find pregnancy tests at 3,300 meters of altitude, as well as in tiny villages.”

Baby on a Bong? Facebook

Who knows where the mom in this story got her test. What is probably more important is where did she learn about parenting? Not being a parent myself I can say I know what not to do i.e. do not get my child high and do not post a photo (left) of my baby smoking out of a bong.

Ahhh parenting at its best. According to The Frisky the 19-year-old Floridian mom said it was staged and she wouldn’t get her 11-month-old son high.

Authorities tested the baby and he was clean. Phew! No stop list (where Bermudians convicted of drug crimes are not allowed to go into the United States) for him.

But maybe they should have been helping-out in British Colombia, Canada. Why? Because cops there discovered a woman up to no good and up to her neck in more than $1 million worth of marijuana plants.

What the cops didn’t expect was her back-up – 10 black bears.The “Bear Lady” , as the woman is affectionately called, is known in the area for only escaping the woods for minor provisions. These might have included dog food, which the bears seemed to be quite happily eating and cause the officers to harm.

So don’t go wandering through the woods of British Colombia on your own. Some  other parenting advice from someone who has only played a parent as a nanny so far: don’t let your kids watch cartoons.

Bugs bunny wasn’t always so sweet. Cartoons dating back to the WWII era were created by Warner Brothers for the troops overseas. The one below Bugs imitates Hitler. In another, not shown here, he feeds ice cream bars laced with bombs to Japanese soldiers.

I would say probably not the safest videos to show your infants.

And I would say it’s Friday and I hoped you enjoyed these fun facts and photos from around the world. Stay tuned for tomorrow to go Top Less!

Switzerland employs Angel for traffic control

Yes you read correctly. Or well an actor dressed all in white imploring harried and hassled drivers to slow down.

Yes in Fribourg, Switzerland you might actually think you are moving towards the light or seeing angels because you are.

Slow down....

It’s part of a campaign in this town to ensure safer driving habits. Commercials are splatter all over the TV and Youtube with said Angel.

Maybe something Bermuda should think about?