Travel Senses

I simply love how a scent or a taste can take you back to the moment. I write this as I sip my Kea Lani Orange Pineapple tea and reminisce with you.  The tea smells amazing! The tea smells like Hawaii to me, fresh and light, sweetly fruity. The taste and scent of fresh pineapple is one of the most glorious treats in Hawaii and a very touristy thing to do. (That, and eat shaved ice in Hawaii, but I digress.)  I was last in Hawaii November 2014, it was Honolulu that time. But that's not where I bought this tea.

I bought the packaged tea in February, at the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac. I was in the gift shop with my son and I spied this gem being cross-marketed with the Chateau's own jars of rooftop honey.  Tea and honey seemed like a brilliant idea on that cold winter's day. It was an easy decision to buy both. The humble packaged tea, and thimble sized jar of honey was a far cry from the traditional afternoon tea I'd had previously at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess in Bermuda, but I had a hunch I'd enjoy this more.

While High Tea at The Fairmont is a must-do for any traveller, and I DID it, it just wasn't me. It's a fun story though. I'd been touring downtown Bermuda and had gotten caught in the rain. My raincoat shielded my clothes, but my umbrella barely kept the wind and rain out of my hair. So, I kinda looked like a curly haired stray dog. Or that's how I felt breezing into the iconic hotel for my reservation.  Oddly enough, the doorman (a gentleman of about 80 years) gave me the most lovely compliment of my life. "May I say dear, that you look simply glorious coming in out of the rain."

Whoa. Glorious??!! Me? Wow.  I fumbled my words and said thank you. Such a lovely compliment took me aback, especially in my wet dog state, but it was certainly the highlight of my High Tea afternoon.

I sat alone and did my best to present as a lady. I took the waiter's recommendation and chose a tea and a tea service that seemed nice enough. I loved the look and presentation of the food. The tower of dainties and sandwiches looked exactly as I'd seen in photos and read on other tourist blogs.  Too bad the tea tasted like stinky perfume strained through a sweat sock.  Yuck. I held my nose and had one big gulp in order to empty my cup and appear as though I was well suited to High Tea. (But ew. I didn't like that tea at all.)  Some of the dainties and sandwiches were delicious. Some were not. My absolute favourite part was the raspberry sorbet in the tiny chocolate cup. One bite and it was more than worth the price of admission. Amazing!

Sorbet in a dark chocolate cup on Fairmont fine china. Amazing! 

I ended up sitting with and having an animated conversation with another lady whose name was also Catherine. She joined my table offering to give up hers for a couple. I enjoyed the company. Well, until she had a shouting conversation into her cell phone with her 25 year old son who was lost in New York because, it seemed, he had not followed her directions. Anyways, that was High Tea in Bermuda.   And all these memories flood back, while I sip the most glorious packaged tea from the most glorious hotel in Quebec. Sweet memories.

Mark Twain statue in the lobby.  Post High Tea.

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Re-reading this piece to spell check and edit.... well, makes it crystal clear to me that I'm pretty damn lucky. I've seen hotels and countries people dream about and I've had fussy lunches and funny travel stories to write about. And all this gratitude from a sip of tea. Priceless. 

Live      Laugh     Love     Travel     Repeat

Fast Five Travel Notes: The memorable meals of 2014

When I travel, I love trying regional cuisine. I stay away from chain restaurants and look for the gems. I look for recommendations from hotel staff, other guests and on-line blogs too.

Here are a few of the great treats I enjoyed on the road this year:

1. Fish Chowder from the Fairmont Southampton, in Bermuda. It was a thin, spicy fish soup, topped with a float of sherry. It had lots of flavour and with a cocktail and a slice of crusty bread, it was perfect.

2.  Lobster roll, a spicy lobster caesar and chilled lobster tails were fabulous at Rock Lobster restaurant on Queen Street West in Toronto, Ontario. They had several locations and have been featured on the TV show "You Gotta Eat Here"

3. Absolutely everything at Giada's at the Cromwell in Las Vegas, was fabulous. I can't wait to go back!










4.  Hemingways Restaurant in Orlando Florida delivered a memorable and gorgeous meal.  It was fresh, flavourful and easy on the calorie count. I loved every bite.

5. Cheeseburger from Tastee's. They are just so damn good. I probably ate 50 this year!












Honourable Mention:  Best $12 hot dog ever, was at the Toronto Blue Jay's game. We were having fun and geez, when you're at the ball park, you NEED to have ball park food. And seriously, where else are you getting a $12 hot dog?

Fast Five Travel Notes: Destinations of 2014

2014 was a good travel year. I took many photos and left nothing but footprints. I enjoyed new foods, new beaches and made new friends.

Over the next few posts I'll detail these adventures in quick little "fast five" blog bites.

I might be feeling reflective, but I don't have a lot of reserve energy after the "un-holiday" that is Christmastime.


Five new destinations I visited in 2014.

1. Bermuda - this was in February. I wrote a lot about Bermuda and would definitely recommend it for a new or nervous traveller, those who want beaches but not scorching sunshine, or those who are celebrating retirement.

2. Devil's Lake, North Dakota. I stayed at the Holiday Inn, bought travel snacks at the new Wal-Mart and used their airport to fly United Airlines. Yes! You can connect to the whole world via DVL and United Airlines. Their twice a day service started in July 2014 and is growing strong. No lines and free parking make this one of North Dakota's best kept secrets.  Did you know you can pick up a round trip to Denver, Colorado for about $270 US? Now you know!

3. Denver, Colorado I had the privilege of experiencing this city with a new friend who already loved and had visited Denver. This gave me the chance to sit back and let someone else lead for once. I greatly benefitted from her knowledge and love of the city. Together we went to cafes, The Union Train Station  stumbled into some weird zombie walk/parade, and cheered as the Denver Broncos beat the 49ers and Peyton Manning threw his record breaking 509th touchdown pass.  What a weekend!

4. Quebec City, Quebec  My son and I took the train to Quebec City and saw this city for the first time together. It was fabulous! I would highly recommend it and can't wait to do it again. I wrote a great deal about it, back in August.

5. Honolulu, Hawaii  This trip wasn't as smooth as most. There were some logistical issues but once we arrived, Honolulu was heavenly. Great reviews (which I still have to write) were largely due to the amazing Sheraton Hotel on Waikiki Beach, and the great travel buddy along for the adventure. I hardly got the chance to see the island, so I think there will be a do-over at some point in my future. But, for 2014 it DOES count, as I did experience Honolulu for the first time.

Fast 5 Travel Tips: Going Solo

I recently completed, and thoroughly enjoyed, my first solo vacation to another country. I certainly picked a great destination for this first foray into the unknown. Bermuda was ideal in that it is very much a British colony, with first world living conditions, is safe and maintains laws and standards very similar to Canada.

Five things I learnt going solo: 

1. I did more research. Before I ever left Canada, I felt like I KNEW Bermuda and what to expect, thanks to the hours of research on Trip Advisor and similar sights.

2. I was more aware of my surroundings. In doing this, I also feel I saw more and experienced more of the little things that otherwise might go unnoticed.

3. I was more open to having conversations with staff and strangers. Whether it was at the pool, or walking along the beach, or sitting in the airport, people felt more inclined to say hello or engage in small talk. This is fairly logical in that when you are travelling with your own family or friends you are your own little "clique" and are more likely to stay within your group. People who spoke up and introduced themselves were other women. This was really refreshing. I had many interesting conversations and also learnt from their experiences in Bermuda.

4. Being alone, I could choose what, when and where I ate. There were no negotiations, no compromising. No surveying the group to see who wanted Chinese and who wanted tacos etc etc.

5. I took more pictures of the scenery than anything. It was hard to take a "selfie" that I liked. Setting the camera up on a ledge and using the timer was also a poor way to take a photo.

Would I travel by myself again? Absolutely. Bermuda was a great place to sit on the beach and just observe the ocean. It was therapeutic and everything I wanted from this trip.

Bermuda: Must See Jewelry

I was out shopping in the city district of Hamilton, Bermuda when the rain started. I detoured into the Washington Mall, but at the time I didn't exactly know where I was. I wandered a bit and was starting to feel lost when I was absolutely captivated by a window display and thus drawn into a boutique store selling jewelry.

At first glance, the soft pinks of the designs reminded me of the Bermuda beaches. Upon opening my eyes, that's EXACTLY what I was seeing! Hand made jewelry and designs inspired by the beauty of the island's landscape.  I took the time to examine the pieces and found myself quickly in a crowd of shoppers who had stopped in to meet the designer herself. People were here on recommendations, others had read on FB that she would be in the store that day and had made the trip specifically to talk with her and purchase their pieces from the designer herself.

It wasn't long before I had the pleasure of speaking with Alexandra Mosher and learnt of a Canadian connection. I was so impressed with her designs and her story that I HAD to break my own rule of "no souvenirs" and purchase a necklace for myself. Actually, truth be told, I would have bought 6 or 7 pieces if the budget had allowed. The "melt" collection and the "caviar" collection are stunning.

I was absolutely thrilled to make a friend that day and learn of her entrepreneurial path. Alexandra is living her dream and there's nothing more inspiring.

I'll return to my own entrepreneurial endeavours later this month, feeling re-charged and inspired to create again and further pursue success. That's exactly what I needed. There are no wrong turns. There are simply NO wrong turns!

This was the gem that is Bermuda to me.

Bermuda: The Fish Chowder

There are two dishes that stand out in the authentic Bermudian culinary experience. One is their fish chowder, the other is Sunday cod and boiled potatoes.

This photo is of the fish chowder served in The Jasmine Lounge of the Fairmont Southampton. The fish chowder is NOT a creamy potato and clam blend like that of New England. It's not a clam chowder at all. Nothing like that!

It is dark brown, is thin, tomato based, spicy and not particularly "fishy" tasting. If you look closely in the photo the soup looks as if it has separated, but that's not the case at all. In Bermuda your soup is served, and then it is drizzled with sherry pepper sauce and dark rum at the table.

I eagerly dug into this gorgeous soup and was anything but disappointed. It was such a rich blend of spices and flavours, I can say that no two spoonfuls were the same. At times, I really couldn't tell if it was the temperature, or the delicious spice that was setting my tongue on fire.

The soup was just $11 and was served with a sweet Johnny Cake and butter.  I found it quite filling and positively satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I did not get a chance to experience traditional Sunday brunch, though I do understand it is as much about faith, family and community as it is the food. It has brought people together in churches and homes as a way to feed and nourish all, especially the needy. The tradition has continued and Sunday is known as the day to gather and enjoy cod, boiled potatoes, onion, avocado and bananas. It sound interesting, if not appealing. Logically, it is the food most plentiful in the region and has been for generations.

The history of the land, the people and their faith are often told through cuisine. You can learn a great deal about a culture from experiencing the food and respecting the manners in which it is prepared and served.

If you are interested in trying these dishes at home, recipes are plentiful on the Internet.

Bermuda: The Gosling's Story

I really like this photo. Let me set the scene. It's the last photo I took in Bermuda and it was at the airport.

Once you check in, there is an indoor/outdoor cafe that you can enjoy before you go through security and are on your way home. It was raining outside, but it wasn't a big deal. I chose to sit on the patio and just take in the warm humid air and listen to the sound of rain. A couple just down from where I was sitting were enjoying a  Heineken and toasting the end of their vacation.  Though alone, I thought this was a good idea.

I really didn't want another fruity "girl drink" or an island-type punch, but I DID want something that was regional. So I ordered a Gosling's Black Seal® (rum) on ice.

In the background you see the peach coloured building that is the L.F. Wade International Airport terminal building. The condensation on the glass shows the weather and the way the warmth of Bermuda was so appealing to me. The fresh print of lip gloss on the glass represents my first sip of this dark and spirited drink.

Gosling's rum is the only spirit that is still blended and bottled in Bermuda and is the largest Bermuda-made export.  The history and stature of the product were unbeknownst to me as I sat enjoying the last minutes of my vacation. But as I was very taken with this photo, I "googled" Gosling's after returning home. Isn't that what we all do these days? That's when I got the full picture and the rest of the 1000 words to my story.

If you're interested in the history, it's a short but worthwhile read. If you're interested in a genuine taste of Bermuda, you should pick up a bottle.  The family still operates a store on Front Street in Hamilton (Bermuda). They've been at that location 127 years now. And while you can pick up a bottle of Gosling's rum in most liquor retailers at home, you might just want to book a trip to Bermuda... just to get the whole whole experience right.

Bermuda: The Money

The Bermudian dollar is at par with the American dollar. You may pay with either. Most places will return your change in the currency you used, though it is perfectly acceptable to receive a mixture of both.

Like Canadian currency, their bills are very colourful and interesting. Bermuda uses coins, including a dollar coin, very similar to the Canadian loonie.

Unlike Canada, taxes of 12 or 13% were NOT added to goods purchased. So, if you wanted to buy a $15 t-shirt, you paid $15, NOT $15 plus tax.

Many people have said that it is expensive in Bermuda. As a Canadian, I found their prices to be "normal" or in the range of what we pay here at home. There are a few things to note when making comparisons. For example, if you have a $16 lunch in Manitoba, you will pay $16 plus taxes or $18.10. So, if the same lunch at a cafe in Bermuda is $20 but there are no taxes added, and you pay $20 isn't it pretty much the same as in Canada?

I could see, from an American perspective, that things could seem expensive. If you are used to fast food, an intensely competitive market with many choices, Chinese made goods in every store, and Wal-mart prices then YES, I could see a fair difference in cost. That isn't at all meant to sound disrespectful. The Canadian economy is different from the US and we too travel to the USA to acquire less expensive products and find our deals. But as Canadians who are "used to" paying more for things, and accepting high taxes, then prices in Bermuda (or any destination in the first world Caribbean) don't seem that different for us.

The economy is about supply and demand. In large countries like Canada and the United States that have vast agricultural land we are able to grow many of our own foods. Islands like Bermuda, Bahamas, Turks n' Caicos have to IMPORT a lot of the things that tourists expect. So steaks and sodas will be quite expensive as they are not grown or manufactured locally. Really quite logical.

If you are looking to appreciate the local culture, and save a bit of money, always look for the local specialties. Think "fish and rice" in the islands. Enjoy the local flavours and appreciate what is unique to the area. If you want the same steak and Pepsi you have at home, you are missing out on one of the very best aspects of travelling.

A hotel stay will cost you around $200 a night, very similar to the cities and resort areas of Canada. In the case of the Fairmont Southampton, many luxuries, like an area shuttle, private beach and private ferry service were included in the hotel fee. Very nice! This added so much value in my opinion.

As in all destinations, there are a variety of accommodations to choose from including home-stays, rental suites, chain hotels, private inns and more. Where you choose to stay is as personal as your travel style. Do you want luxury, or cultural experience? Do you expect beachfront or do you want a city loft? And there are always bargains, specials, sales and packages offered. You CAN find something in your price range.

If you wanted a souvenir t-shirt, there were plenty to be had. $15 would buy you a "Bermuda" emblazoned t-shirt, $20 a hat, or $5 for a handful of sea shells.  $15 for a bottle of rum and $40 for their duty free perfume.

The chance to experience another culture, in a safe and welcoming environment.... priceless. But I bet you already knew I would say that!

Bermuda: The Sand

All I really wanted was to walk barefoot on a beach. As a winter-beaten Canadian who hasn't felt warm inside or outdoors in months, I really NEEDED it. I needed to be able to walk outside without hunching over and bracing for the cold. I needed to go outside without having four layers of clothes, plus a parka.

In Bermuda, I got exactly what I needed. As I was travelling alone, I also needed to feel safe. The hotel's secure, private beach was where I thought I might dip my toes in the ocean. However, what I learned was that just beyond the gate was incredible beauty and incredible safety as well.

You know how locals hassle tourists, in other countries, to buy this, rent that or get your hair braided? Not in Bermuda. It's not their style. Not once did I encounter anyone wanting something from me. Honestly, all I got was smiles and "good mornings" from passers by.

I had read that Horseshoe Bay was THE best thing to visit in Southampton Parish, by the people of Trip Advisor. (And is a 2013 Travellers' Choice Award Winner.)  The Travel Channel also listed it as a must-see destination and great example of a pink sand beach.

The two mornings I spent on Horseshoe Bay, I encountered about 50 people in total. A few were joggers, there was one young family, but the rest were adults and seniors just out for a walk on the beach. I chatted with a few tourists and exchanged photo-taking services. And from a distance, I saw two artists perched on a hilltop, painting the beach scene.

Horseshoe Bay must be a "public park" or similar to what we have in Canada in the sense that there were State workers and vehicles there grooming the beach area, painting, trimming trees and maintaining the facilities. There were very clean and modern washrooms. There was also a cafe which would be open in the spring and summertime.

There was a surprising variety of vegetation, flora and changes in rock in just a few miles of walking. There was lots to look at and admire. I especially liked some of the rock and sandstone formations.

I didn't go swimming, but the water was quite comfortable to dip my toes in. I LOVED the warm breeze, the feel of the sunshine and the roar of the ocean. The ocean was quite different between my two days. I saw it calm on Wednesday, and it had risen about two feet and was mildly raging on Friday. I LOVED the difference and the power of the ocean in action. I could honestly sit and watch it for hours. And, on Horseshoe Bay, a person could do exactly that in total comfort.

Bermuda: The Beverages

The Rum Swizzle

Since I left the driving to the professionals, and I was on holidays, I did indulge in a couple of cocktails. The island has several signature drinks, all rum-based and complete with kitschy names.

There is the Bermuda Triangle, the Rum Swizzle, the Dark n' Stormy, the Pink Sand and many more.

A pool side Bermuda Triangle

The same, or very similar drinks are offered in most restaurants, lounges and pubs. You'll find Bacardi and Gosling rums offered quite prominently.  There are also a couple local craft beers available, including the Black Anchor Porter which has a bit of a coffee and malt flavour.

Offerings at Newport Gastropub

Cocktail list of the Jasmine Lounge

The Dark n' Stormy captured in Hipstamatic style