Robyn's Wanderings

Thing One & Thing Two sitting in a tree, p-l-a-y-i-n-g.

Ok well not actually Oklahoma. Well sort of. What am I trying to say? This week our wanderer Nicola hits on a topic that I have experienced too: the friend who travels.

I had a good friend in high school and we would do everything together. After graduation, though, rather than mundane we managed to see each other around the world. From Denver, Colorado to Aix-en-Provence! Where is Nicola going this week? Well read and see: 

Oklahoma. OKC. OK. Have you ever been? I have, twice. And hopefully again.

In fact, it was one of the most exciting holiday destinations of my life!

Does that strike you as odd?
Where the heck IS that state?
Let me explain.

If you are familiar with Dr. Seuss children’s book, it all begins with the mischievous yet lovable Thing One & Thing Two…

Things One & Thing Two met in kindergarten in Bermuda. They became not just friends, but BFF’s. Thing One & Thing Two earned their nicknames because they were just as naughty as the duo in Dr. Seuss: sneaky, giggly and artfully troublesome. One sideways smirk at the other, and both would collapse in a fit of laughter. They had sleepovers,  watched Indiana Jones, went rollerskating, annoyed their older sisters, laughed at the “green man” in Beauty & the Beast, frolicked in the waves on play-dates at the beach, and burnt grass outside Thing One’s house – just to see what would happen!

Playful in the school playground

It gets better. Thing One lived on the American Base in Bermuda, which was a highly controlled area. Thing Two was ecstatic that her best friend lived on on exclusive part of the island, as she was granted permission to visit her friend. On the Base, there were all sorts of cool American things: instead of Cadbury’s chocolates, the Thing One ate Hershey’s chocolates like Almond Joy and Mounds. There was a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant, and down the street there was an all-American baseball field! There were even private beaches for the Base residents.

Two classic stories come from those beaches!

First was the bathroom breakout, when Thing One & Thing Two were in the bathroom on a (rather deserted) beach. They were stuck inside and the door would not open. Thing One and Thing Two were worried they ere stuck forever, in a toilet.

So, Thing Two wrapped toilet paper around her hand and smashed the glass window panes out of the high window. The girls jumped out of the window and landed in a thorny bush, but lived to tell the tale.

Second, was Thing One’s birthday abandonment. A handful of friends were invited for a beach bash, and back to the house afterwards for cake & ice cream. On the short car ride from the beach to the house, Thing One’s mother realized that they had left the birthday girl at the beach by mistake!! Which is scary when you are 8yrs old, and even WORSE when it’s your birthday…

Years later, they are STILL laughing about the bathroom breakout...

Then, everything changed. The summer before Grade 4, the American Base closed and Thing One’s family relocated to Oklahoma, USA. Where? Why? NOOOO… Who would Thing Two play with at school? How would they keep in touch? How can you survive without your best friend? Initially, they wrote letter, cards and notes on a monthly basis. They both had childhood dogs, so they mailed each other their dog’s fur in Ziploc bags. Thing One had a pool at her house in Oklahoma, and she sent Thing Two pool water in a small container (who kept it in her freezer for years!).

For Thing Two’s birthday in October, she received a cereal box. How disappointing! But, digging inside, she received a great surprise: two airplane tickets for her and her dad to Oklahoma for November break. Life was good, friendships were rekindled! The following summer during school holidays, Thing Two went on a family vacation to New Mexico, Texas… and Oklahoma! Both families played catch-up, with Thing One’s family showing the visitors the wild & wonderful Oklahoma: Braum’s ice cream, Sonic drive-in food, Men in Black at the drive-in movies, Frontier City amusement park, the musical Oklahoma! at an outdoor theater, and the National Cowboy Museum. Not to mentioned kayaking on the river and collecting Beanie Babies…

Playing the part of cowgirls at Oklahoma's cowboy hall of fame

Then… the inevitable happened. The girls grew apart, middle school consumed their lives. They found new friends, and their memories were just that – memories. High school brought along computers, and they slowly & hesitantly began to email each other and use AOL instant messenger. In fact, Thing One taught Thing Two how to do the sideways smiley face )

They saw each other once, as teenagers, when Thing One visited Bermuda with her mother. Add in the glasses & braces – and it was enjoyable yet awkward.

Fast forward to university: In the January-April 2007 semester, both girls were going on exchanges to Europe – Thing One to Rome and Thing Two to Paris. The universe was conspiring to bring them together again! What were the odds they’d be in capital cities in Europe, same semesters? They planned to visit each other in Rome and Paris. Sadly, Thing Two attempted her first solo, weekend getaway a month into her Parisian adventure, and it was a fiasco – inclement weather, cancelled flight, hysterical call home to her parents at 5am their time… needless to say, Rome was axed. Luckily, Thing One had better luck arriving in Paris in March 2007. Despite being a gloomy, rainy weekend, the girls had an absolute ball: nipping in to the Louvre for free on Friday, taking in the view from the Eiffel Tower, and feasting on crepes and espresso in between downpours. The only thing better than an American exploring Paris is an American exploring Paris with her Bermudian best friend!

The mischief continued at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Since Europe, Thing One and Thing Two have reunited. With the help of technology, the long-distance relationship is not quite so long. With the click of a button, they can do what they do best: share their wild & crazy stories and prepare for their next adventures! And they have been adventuring in Bermuda. Thing Two came to visit for a week in summer 2008, where the girls were up to their old tricks once again. Just mention Limoncello or 445 boys, and Thing One & Thing Two will burst into laughter. A wonderful Christmas visit to the island in 2009 led to Thing Two dragging Thing One to a school reunion to see her long-lost classmates. Most recently, on Thing One’s family cruise from New York to Bermuda in summer 2010, both families were reunited after a whole decade.

Beach bums by day, terrible twosome by night!

Why write this now? Well, it was Thing One’s golden birthday recently, 25 years old on November 25th.

Happy Birthday, Thing One! Love, Roadkill ) 

The end of the harvest. It must be time for.....Thanksgiving!

“What do you do for Thanksgiving?”

“Well, I’m from Bermuda.”

“Oh, so what do you do in Bermuda for Thanksgiving?”

I gave up.

Tomorrow, Americans will be sitting around their living rooms eating turkey and talking about what they are thankful for.

It’s a yearly tradition for the United States that comes complete with the Macy’s Day parade in New York City and pumpkin pie.

But what I have found, is that many Americans forget is that not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving, hence the intro question, or that not everyone celebrates the holiday at the end of November.

For those who are not American…do you know where it started? According to the History Channel, the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast. In 1863, the celebration became the first national holiday thanks to President Abraham Lincoln and was to be held each November.

Now, it is celebrated with sweet corn, turkey, sweet potatoes, apple pie and gravy (not all in that order!) and even the largest parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade completed with balloon animals.

America’s Northern neighbour? Canadians? Well, their Thanksgiving happens on the second Monday of October and recognizes the end of the harvest season.

Like the Americans, Canadians also enjoy turkey and all of the Fall vegetables they can find with their families. This has been carrying-on since 1957 when Canadian Parliament declared: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.”

One of the best know celebrations in Canada during this time of year? The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is an annual nine-day festival that is based on the German Oktoberfest. It starts the Monday before Canadian Thanksgiving and runs until the Saturday in the twin cities of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

There are an estimated 750,000 to 1,000,000 people every year! And a few even stay to see the largest Thanksgiving parade in Canada in the same place!

Bermuda? Well, we do not really have a thanksgiving per se. I suppose the closest we have to one time of the year where everyone comes together is Cup Match.

According to CURE’s publication, “Emancipation Day – A Day for Reconciliation & Reflection”, Cup Match was born from friendly cricket matches and celebrations to mark emancipation from slavery. In 1902, the cricket celebrations became even more official when the east and west ends of the island raised funds for a trophy to award at the end of the matches.

Take a swim in Bermuda over Cup Match

In 1947, Cup Match transformed again with the Thursday and Friday closest to August 1 officially named Emancipation day and Somers Day respectively. Emancipation Day to mark the end of slavery in Bermuda and Somers Day to remember Admiral Sir George Somers who colonized Bermuda in 1609. Now, Cup Match is filled with commemoration ceremonies, cricket, but also boating, beaches and definitely parties! Thankful? I think so, but let me know if you agree in the comments section below.

Sure we Bermudians, Americans and Canadians have held our traditions for a while, but there are other countries that have created their own type of Thanksgiving.

In Grenada, for example, a day of Thanksgiving is observed on October 25 and marks the anniversary of the 1983 Operation Urgent Fury, a US led military invasion of the Caribbean island. Grenada consists of about 100,000 people and sits about 100 miles above Venezuela. It also became independent from Britain in 1974, however, in 1979 the Leftist New Jewel Movement seized power and in 1983 an internal struggle ended with the revolutionary Prime Minister Maurice Bishop being deposed and murdered.

The invasion on October 25th, 1983 also had troops from Jamaica and the Regional Security System to help! The government was then headed by Governor-General Paul Scoon until elections were held.

Is that thanksgiving? Well, perhaps not like the Americans envision it, but in Grenada ceremonies are held during this time to give thanks, so I think it fits.

Dan pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti i dan hrvatskih branitelja or Victor and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders, if you must know in English. Yes, Croatia has its own Thanksgiving too.

It is a public holiday and is held as a memorial to the War of Independence. It is also held on August 5, annually.

Why?

Well, on that date in 1995, the Croatian Army secured the city of Knin, which essentially ended the Republic of Serbian Krajina, a self-proclaimed Serb entity in Croatia.

Because of the reason for the day, it only makes sense that most of the celebrations are centred in Knin where there are festivities from Mass and wreaths laid in honor of those who died in the war as well as, parades and concerts.

On that day, the Croatian flag is also lifted on the Knin fortress (just in case anyone is confused as to who that day is about)!

Celebrating around the world!

Other countries tend to also have a “Thanksgiving” around the end of their harvest seasons. In China? This is called the August Moon Festival and is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. But instead of Apple Pie, there are mooncakes, which are made with sweet bean-paste filling and golden brown flaky skin.

In the South of India, they celebrate the Pongal harvest festival, which is named after a sweet rice dish and takes places on January 14th and lasts for three days. The celebrations vary by days and regions, but neighbours generally come together to feast and give thanks to a hearty harvest.

As you travel the world, these thanking festivals can be seen in their variations, but generally focus on food and recognizing family, friends and gratefulness.

Is Cup Match our version? You tell me on my website www.robynswanderings.com and return for next week’s column: being thankful I could travel and learn ten very important lessons.

Until next week I say: Do videnja.



Don't get stuck on the tarmac!

“The journey not the arrival matters.” – T. S. Eliot

FLIGHT 651 to Bridgetown, Barbados: CANCELLED

“What! How is that possible?”

But it was possible and anyone who thinks I should have put quotations around the first line of this column would be wrong. The significant update to my flight from Miami to Barbados was never announced. Instead, my random glance at the screen behind the departure gate was the only clue that my flight to Barbados was going to be….well it just wasn’t going to be taking off.

Why am I going to Barbados, you ask? Ok a little background: I was accepted on a month-long intensive training course under the second hat I wear (columnist is the first) as director of Amnesty International Bermuda. The course happens to be on the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies in Barbados. It’s a tough life.

In order to arrive in Barbados, however, was tough. I left Bermuda at 8.20 a.m. arrived in Miami at 10.30 a.m. The next flight, unfortunately, to Barbados was not until 5.30 p.m.!

I decided to waste the seven hour layover doing work in the airport. My feeling of accomplishment (I had finished my to-do checklist) slowly turned to annoyance when my flight was delayed by 15 minutes. Then another 15 minutes.

And then finally the CANCELLED arrived at my departure gate.

Annoyance turned to pure frustration when I was told it was due to weather and yet watched flights taking off and landing outside the airport windows. Barbados’ weather was also fine, according to a fellow rebooking, line-waiter.

As I shifted weight from one foot to the next, I swore I was not going to leave this be. I had heard of the Passenger Bill of Rights, but I was never sure what it meant for me. I determined I was going to find out and I was going to make sure American Airlines followed it to a “T”.

Of course as I began my research I found what happened to me was a fraction of what has happened to some passengers in the past. Example? In August 2009 a regional jet flown by ExpressJet for Continental Express sat on the tarmac in Rochester, Minnesota after being diverted overnight with 47 passengers! At least I got to a hotel.

In December 2009, following the ExpressJet situation, a Passenger Rights Bill was passed by the United States Congress.

According to the 2009 Bill of Rights a plane arriving or departing from the United States, which sits for more than two hours at the gate or on the tarmac is required to provide food and water. If it waits for more than three hours then passengers should be given a chance to disembark. Those airlines that fail to do this will face penalties of $27, 500 per passenger. A costly delay no doubt.

That's what you want to see from the air!

More delays in December 2010 thanks to major snowstorms on the East coast of America, led to enhanced protections for passengers.

These protections were passed in April this year. What do these include?

Good question:

1. Extends the tarmac delay to include international airlines landing in and departing from the United States as well as the domestic flights: After two hours on the tarmac, the airlines must ensure the passengers are watered and fed! (fines imposed last year for domestic flights also apply) And after four hours the passengers will be allowed to deplane.
2. A refund for all lost, checked bags. I.e. that additional charge, which can range from $25 to $50 that some airlines may charge you when you check in. That only covers lost bags, but at least you get it back!
3. No Hidden Fees: passengers should be able to see at the point of purchasing all fees required in your ticket. Airlines will also have to allow reservations be held at quoted prices for 24 hours after booking! Let the indecision begin.
4. Bumping Compensation: Passengers will now because able to get between $650 and $1,300 if they are involuntarily bumped from their flight.
5. Notification of Flight Changes: airlines must inform passengers of delays and bumps either at the gate via cell phone or online.

If you are interested in more information check out: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/dot5111.html

Of course we cannot say all airlines were behaving badly before these bills, however, there is nothing wrong with ensuring the rights of the little guys (i.e. their needed passengers) have more protection!

I, however, still think there is a lot of room for improvement with these rules: i.e. they did not cover my latest cancellation. There needs to be some transparency from the airlines as to why they do cancel their flights and some proof offered to their clients that the little rain shower really does ensure they cannot fly.

In fact that was some of the criticism of these new rules: they could lead to cancellations rather than possible delays. So perhaps a bill of proof can be added into the next bill of rights? What do you think? What would you like to see included in the next bill?

An as you think about that, I’ll let you know how I dealt with my unexpected delay. After waiting in a rebooking line that featured everyone in the United States (ok slight exaggeration, but you get it), I decided to try and contact expedia.com to reschedule.

Make sure you want to travel again to see things like this!

I never usually use flight-booking services, but this time it proved to be worth it. Expedia.com eventually offered $50 towards a hotel for the night and booked me on a flight the next day.

I was lucky. I met a couple who waited in the American Airlines line for hours to rebook and were only able to reserve standby seats…three days later!

My next step? I wrote to American Airlines through their website customer service page and very plainly stated what had happened. Their response came in two days: 3,000 miles towards my frequent flyer account. Ok, it’s not amazing, but the apology made me feel better and just the acknowledgement that their inconsiderate gate agent was a problem meant all the world.

Two days late (my new flight was then delayed by two and a half hours), I arrived in Barbados and ready for……..well I had no idea what was waiting for me so visit: www.robynswanderings.com for updates and until next week, Ciao!

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!

Visa for America

“Have you got anything interesting?

“I’m sorry. Interesting? Well I have a blue, silk dress from Vietnam if that’s what you mean by interesting? I think it’s interesting.”

The American Customs’ Officer was clearly not amused. Neither was I. It was 8 in the morning and I had just arrived in Miami from Lima, Peru. I wanted to find a coffee and just wait for my evening flight home (Bermuda).

He would not relent.

“You went traveling for a year? How did you pay for it?”

Yes, man, because I am an economic immigrant from Bermuda!!!! Why, in anyone’s name, would I want to stay in Miami where the wage is definitely not what I could make at home? And last I checked Bermudians are not generally on the sneak-in list.

I controlled my thoughts and said: “Well I saved-up and then I wrote a column while I was on the road that helped.”

Nothing mattered. I was sent into the arms of some very cheery idiot who decided regaling me about his colleagues working in Bermuda, would ease the pain of the customs’ back room. It didn’t.

Two hours later, frozen and listening to the infant next to me balling its eyes out, I finally approached yet another customs officer.

“You’ve been denied a visa to the United States before?”

“No”

“But it says here that you were denied a visa for your Masters in….”

“Well that’s funny because I have a piece of paper here that says I wasn’t and I actually attained a Masters in International Relations.”

It was my first experience with America’s amazing, new system for screening foreigners: the ESTA online visa form! and it wouldn’t be my last.

Or yours, for that matter, if you’re a Bermudian with a British passport! Ahhh the joys of trying to enter another country. Visas.

That’s why today, CTravel’s knowledgable and helpful staff, Pat Adderley, is offering this Q&A to help those lost among the confusion of travel visas.

So Pat, since when have British travelers had to go online for an American Visa? Didn’t we just fill out a form at the airport?

She said: “A Bermudian passport holder going to the U.S. are given a free entry and there’s nothing they have to do. If you have a passport from the Waiver Countries from the EU you are visa free, however you now have to go online and fill-out the ESTA form. It’s like the green form we used to have to fill out at the airport.

“In June this year it cost $14 and it lasts for 2 years. That’s just takes down who you are and your passport details.”

But Pat, what about older people or those without computers? Surely this system leaves a particular segment of the population out of the ability to acquire a visa?

She said: “For people who don’t have computers or older people we will fill out the forms.”

There is often the confusion in Bermuda about whether or not to attain a British passport, which as an overseas territory we are allowed to have. What would you suggest?

She said: “What we recommend is that Bermudians get themselves a UK passport as we are entitled to it. Yes it’s expensive, but if you have to get visas for the Schengen countries it’s expensive too and some require a personal appearance.

“You will have to go to Washington or New York to go for the interview. They don’t want a third party involved. They don’t want to hear from use. they want to meet you in person.

“What we are finding, now, is that most of the European countries in the Schengen visa allow that once you have one for Portugal then you are able to travel to other countries i.e. Spain, France, etc….

“Sometimes they do a six month visa, sometimes a year sometimes longer. Each of these countries have qualifiers of their own.”

Sounds like it’s best for a Bermudian to get a British Passport. But Bermuda has a lot of workers from various countries that will need to visas. What is your biggest problem with attaining visas for them?

Trying to get back home to India

She said: “The biggest visa and what we deal with on a daily basis are the UK and US visas because of the Ethnic groups we have in Bermuda and who are trying to get home (i.e. fly through the UK to get to Sri Lanka). Most who get it there the UK some without much problem. And sometimes after they have spent $400 on a Canadian visa to get home they get denied.

“Then what? Then they can’t go home?

But how do these workers get to Bermuda in the first place? They must have been screened.

She said: “They come with a visa that is good for 90 days and come through the UK. It has run out and now they need a new one to get home.

” And now it is even worse for Jamaicans, for example. They have a big expense now because they used to not need a visa to get through the US. Now they do. Now they have to go through the U.K. to go to Jamaica!”

What could help?

She said: “What would be helpful is if the Bermuda Government sat down with the U.K., the U.S.  and Canadian representatives and tell them we have guest workers who have been scrutinized and we know they are safe and know they can get their visas.”

And what does CTravel do to help?

She said: “Usually if they come in they (foreign workers) make an appearance with us we fill out an application for them. Then they have to make an appearance with immigration for biometrics. After we make that appointment the officers stamp their applications and we forward it to the consulate.

“It takes three weeks and sometimes longer depending.”

Can CTravel help me if I need a visa for, say, India?

She said: “One of the first things you should do when you book your trip is understand what kind of passport you are traveling with. That determines the rules and restrictions for your passport. Also don’t think because you had a visa in another passport before you are still covered.

“The key to it is plan early. We can do the Indian visa and the Japanese Visa. I have done a Nigerian visa.We usually do it just for our clients, but we will do it for others.”

And what about Bermudians who may be on the stop-list for America? You know, because of a minor drug conviction, etc…?

She said: “We can also help stop list people. We can apply for the waiver for them. But these are people who have done silly things in their youth.

“It’s worth them to try. If they did something in their 20’s and now they are now in their 50’s or 60’s. Now they are on the stop list. Most of the time they can get a visa, but they have to do it early.”

Do you have more visa questions? Well make sure you contact Pat Adderley at CTravel for all of your visa concerns!

And make sure you check back tomorrow as I travel…….to St. George’s. I know crazy far away!

December's Decorations

It’s time to plan for your travels. Where are you going next? Need somewhere or something to do in December? Well if you’re Bermudian this first one is most definitely not up your alley.

So why am I including it in my December 10 traveling ideas today? Well because it’s always amazing to me to see people strip down, jump-in and try to swim as the temperatures around them plunge.

Are you interested in participating? Are you in London? Going to London? Well on December 4th some crazy people will be taking the Plum Pudding Plunge in the Parliament Hill Lido.

Enticing I know. Maybe the mince pies and the hot tub afterwards would bring you around? It certainly does nothing for me. Neither does the 15 pounds they are charging for the pleasure.

I will certainly be keeping my sweater on, but if you are interested in the challenge and won’t be in London on December 4th check-out this Outdoor Swimming site for more ideas.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Or perhaps you are in London for more traditional, winter fare? Perhaps a turn on the ice rink? Some warm wine?

A taste of a Christmas market?

Well Hyde Park is here to help with their traditional and annual event: Winter Wonderland.

Every year from November 19th to January 3rd, this corner in Hyde Park is decked-out with everything from Santa and his helpers to winter food and rides such as a replica London’s Eye!

Who can resist? Of course it is free, unless you want to go on the rides. A fun way to use the cold to your advantage.

But maybe you’re not traveling to London for December? Maybe, if you’re from Bermuda, an easy trip is to head for the East Coast and New York.

New York has ice skating too and if you’re going to be ice skating you’re probably going to want to go to Rockefeller Centre. It’s the place featured in all the films. It’s romantic with all the buildings towering above you, but’s also expensive, busy and not always the best option. Try to visit early in the morning or before 4 p.m. if you want to get this New York experience. And, of course, visit the Centre for the lighting of the tree on December 2!

Why not get a free (yes I wrote free) skating experience in New York? Head a little further south in Manhattan and you will hit Bryant Park. For $13 you can rent skates and it is free to skate on the pond. If you have your own skates, well, you get it….it’s FREE!!!

But who just wants to skate or see the lights in New York? If I’m coming from Bermuda I want it to be for a reason.

How about December 10? You free? z100 (a radio station) is hosting their Jingle Ball with the likes of Katy Perry, B.o.B. , Bruno Mars, Paramore, Michael Buble, Taio Cruz and many, many more! How amazing would that concert be?

Hosted at the Madison Square Gardens from 7.30 p.m. you can buy your tickets here.

Is Boston more your style? Well if it is you are more than likely a Bruins fan. Can’t wait to see them fly across the ice? Well you don’t have to. In December the home team is heading home for at least seven games.

Check out these dates:

Boston for December

Thursday, 12/2, 7pm – Bruins vs Lightening

Tuesday, 12/7, 7pm – Bruins vs Sabres

Thursday, 12/9, 7pm – Bruins vs Islanders

Saturday, 12/11, 7pm – Bruins vs Flyers

Saturday, 12/18, 7pm – Bruins vs Capitals

Monday, 12/20, 7pm – Bruins vs Ducks

Thursday, 12/23, 7pm – Bruins vs Thrashers

Buy your tickets here.

Perhaps hockey is not quite your style? Perhaps you want to try something a bit more soothing on the ears?

Well have no fear the Boston Pops Orchestra is here. Well in Boston, but you get it.

From December 8th to December 26th the holiday season will be serenaded with 37 matinée and evening performances at the Symphony Hall.

Tickets range from $27 to $125 so check out their website here for more information.

Need something more from Boston? Well check out Boston Events website for more ideas.

Canada. Yep that northerly neighbour of America is also getting festive this season. Why not bundle-up and

Animals need holiday treats too

head for Toronto? Their zoo is even getting into the mix this year.

On boxing day, which of course we also celebrate in Bermuda, the Toronto zoo will be hosting its 35th annual Christmas Treats walk. Yes even the animals get some holiday cheer.

For those human beings that participate, hot chocolate and carollers are your treat.

Not up for the animals? Well Toronto also has an annual bike show!

From December 10th to the 12th Toronto will be holding a motorcycle show for the enthusiast in all.

Not sure why I would want to drive a bike in Canada in December, but hey, maybe those Canadians are more hearty than Bermudians.

In any case if you do fancy yourself a motorcyclist check out the website for more information.

Finally on the other side of Canada, in Vancouver, Stanley Park will be alight with millions of Christmas whites to create a winter wonderland.

Take train ride through the forest transformed with two million twinkling lights, see the animated displays and listen to holiday sounds as you enjoy hot chocolate, fresh popcorn and roasted chestnuts. For more information visit the Parks’ website.

Sounds lovely. Now to pack for the trip. Check back here tomorrow for some tips and tales on how to pack.

Get your Gift Certificate by November 30th and win two tickets!

I know we don’t celebrate it in Bermuda. Well, we don’t celebrate this meal on the fourth Thursday of November since 1863 unless you are American or have the American heritage.

But why do Americans celebrate it? Well apparently way back when, Americans were not quite as hardy and they barely made it through their first winter in a new land.

They put together a meal of venison, calms, fruit, pumpkin, etc… and sat down for three days! Yes, three days. They managed to consume enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Native Americans.

Not a bad job. Now that food feeds a family of five. Just kidding.

But why am I bringing this up? Good question. Fancy celebrating Thanksgiving in the country that founded it? For free? Why not, right? I do!

Want to finish a bit of Christmas shopping too?!? I know. I know. You’re thinking: “This is boring, Robyn. Just tell us.”

Ok well if you go into CTravel by November 30th and buy a gift certificate for someone on your Christmas gift list (or even yourself) you’ll be entered to win two tickets to anywhere in the United States!

No I’m not kidding! So what are you waiting for?

More suggestions? We that’s good because CTravel has also launched a new website for those looking for more travel ideas.

What’s it called? CTravel Society. It has all of your travel advisories, currency converter, FAA tips, etc.! So check it out and find-out about their latest ventures.

And finally…..what are you doing tonight? Need an excuse to shop?

Well perfect then.

The Phoenix Centre is opening its doors to the lucky shoppers who make it to the store between 6.30 and 9.00 p.m. tonight!

Sip, shop, sample and save!!!

Need I say more? Well how about if you get your Christmas gifts sorted now you can fly to Jamaica directly from Bermuda for the holidays!

Don’t bother having to connect through America or swing through London.

For Christmas CTravel can connect you directly to Jamaica for the low price of $1,200 per person.

That runs from December 18th to January 8th and the price includes all of your accommodations!

Optional visits to Cuba, Panama, Santo Domingo and other islands can also be arranged.

For more information or to make a reservation please contact: Pam Maybury at: 294-6908 or email: pamm@ctravel.bm

Or visit their website for more trips!

Reminders of the Vietnam War

It started with peace. And no it’s not Memorial Day. Don’t confuse the two.

Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) honors American service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle.

Veterans Day pays tribute to all veterans–living or dead–but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their countries honorably during war or peacetime.

And Veterans Day began in peace. Yes, Thursday might be a day to remember those who valiantly went to war, but the day was founded on peace almost 100 years ago.

On November 11, 1918 at 11 a.m. a temporary stop in hostilities was declared between the Allied Nations and Germany in WWI or the Great War. Depending who you speak to I guess.

A year later? President Woodrow Wilson declared a day of remembrance for all those who had served in the war.

He said: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

Just a few years later, in 1938, the day became a legal holiday; “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”

And on June 1, 1954, the word “Armistice” was replaced with Veterans. Not surprising after the world had suffered a second World War, the Korean War and was about to enter the Vietnam War.

See this great video on the history of Veterans Day.

So what do we do now for Veterans Day? I have to have a lament here. Without people willing to sacrifice for a good cause we would not have saved those being persecuted in Europe during WWI or II.

But recent Wars i.e. Iraq and Afghanistan, feel futile. There were no weapons of mass destruction and sovereignty of these countries was destroyed. And the wars are still going on.

One might argue that Saddam Hussein was a tyrant and deserved to be kicked-out. I can’t argue about that, but why do it now? North Korea is slowly destroying its people and yet I did not see former President Bush talking about taking them out.

It’s sad and something to think about on Thursday. It’s something I faced quite regularly when I visited Vietnam last year. War’s lingering problems. The immediate fighting might end, but the atrocities do not go away. See the photo here:

The Vietnam War continues to be remembered here with birth defects in children thanks to the Agent Orange used by the Americans. Unfortunately these poor children, men and women are not remembered with a day.

Don’t get me wrong. What those of the armed services do takes guts and commitment that I do not have. All I hope to do is accept the fact that with war comes civilians caught in the middle. They don’t get a day.

But at least they remember the veterans I suppose. The United States, Bermuda, Britain, France, Australia and Canada all commemorate the veterans of World Wars I and II on or near November 11th with parades, flags and a day off work.

In the United States there is even an official wreath-laying ceremony is held each Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.

And apparently this year, American National Parks will also be free on Thursday. Yes around the country there will be free entrance to these parks. Check out these listings to find the closest park for your visit.

In Bermuda? We’ll be off on Thursday and there will be a parade along our main street- Front Street. There will also be a second parade on November 14 in St. George’s that will be attended by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, and Lt. Col. Brian Gonsalves of the Bermuda Regiment.

Poppy appeals and a memorial to the women and men who served in the Armed Services during WWI and WWII will also carry-on for remembrance. See The Royal Gazette’s Article on this.

So whatever you do…be in Bermuda or not, remember those who have bravely entered the armed forces and are trying their best AND those civilians who are still suffering from the ravages of war. They need a day.