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 | Bermuda Local Customs | Tips 1 - 10 of 42 |  |
 No dinner in swimsuits here by pchamlis
In the USA, towns near the beach are filled with people in swimwear. There's often a fair amount of partying that goes on 24/7 in beach towns throughout Florida and the Caribbean. But NOT in Bermuda. This is a place where the better restaurants expect still expect gentlemen to wear jackets to dinner. Unless you're talking of a simple pub, dinner is generally no place for blue jeans. And although Bermuda Shorts are high-fashion throughout Bermuda, they're strictly a daytime habiliment. Come sundown, wearing shorts out to eat, even pricy Bermuda shorts, just isn't done.
APPARENTLY, it's illegal in Bermuda for women to wear bikini tops more than 25 yards from a beach area without a cover-up garment. But, I have to tell you, I did see a few felons committing this offense. :)
Click on the photo below and read the riot act being read to patrons of a Hamilton night club. Leave a Comment
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 TWIGDON HOUSE, the new name
for my old house by pchamlis, 1 more photos
And, you then need to purchase a nice custom-painted house sign for your front wall.
If you'd like to buy one yourself and have it sent to YOUR own home back home, they were available for purchase out at Dockyards. I'm sure there are other places to make a buy as well. All YOU have to do is think up a name. Leave a Comment
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Bermuda, as is the the case for the mother country, loves their pubs. There are a large number of English-style pubs all over the island. And if you've been following my restaurant tips, you'll know that we spent plenty of time eating pub grub.
In a pricey place like Bermuda, eating in pubs is more than just "local flavor", so to speak. It's a way to stretch your travel budget while having a good time. Different pubs have different specialities, but most are good for sandwiches, burgers, soups, and of course... drinks.
There are certain dishes that are considered "standard pub fare", and you should give them a try. These include...
Fish and Chips... an English classic, featuring hot, beer-battered fish, fried to a golden perfection, sided by hot and crispy "chips". Trad English fish and chips usually means north Atlantic codfish, and quite a few of the pubs in Bermuda featured the cod. However, other fish and chip menus included other whitefish(es) such as grouper...an excellent choice.
Bangers and Mash... my favorite. I'm a big fan of a tasty sausage, that's why I enjoy visiting Germany so much. Bangers are basically a big and nicely seasoned pork sausage that is pan-sizzled with a bit of water or milk and butter/oil. Mash is "mashed potatoes", a favorite of kids and grown up kids everywhere. It seems as though several of the Bermuda Pubs feature a "garlic mash", ie garlic mashed potatoes, and that's great too.
Steak and Kidney Pie, or perhaps Shepherd's Pie... Basically a meat + vegetable pie served with a thick and hearty gravy. In the case of the steak and kidney, we're usually talking more of a pastry crust on top, whereas shepherd's pie is traditionally covered in mashed potatoes, finished off to a golden brown under the broiler. Personally, I like Shepherd's Pie, but usually pass on the Steak and Kidney... I"m just not a big fan of organ meats. (I know, I know, God knows WHAT is in a sausage, wasn't it Bismarck who once said something about not wanting to see sausage made) Leave a Comment
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Visitors always seem to like the tidy white rooves evident on almost all Bermuda houses. And while the view is pleasant, it's also functional. You see, Bermuda has, because of its isolated status in the middle Atlantic, always had an issue supplying its residents with enough potable water. You know the old saying of the sailor... water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.
The island does have reverse osmosis water (desalinized) water now available, but a great amount of the usable fresh water on the island still comes from the clouds. Bermudians have specially designed and maintained rooves to capture, purify and store rainwater. The water that falls onto the roof goes over a series of grooves and over a bleached limestone surface, eventually finding its way to a storage tank for each residence. The b&b we stayed at had a 38,000 gallon tank. And, this collected rainwater goes a long way towards meeting the islanders' need for fresh water, both for drinking and service.
As you'd guess, Bermudians consider North Americans and Europeans to be terribly wasteful of water, and compared to them we certainly are. For me, it's refreshing to see an old idea (collecting rainwater), tested practice (collection rooves) and continually updated technique (purification practice and the mix with reverse osmosis water) serve the needs of a growing 21st century population on Bermuda. Very interesting.
BTW, one of my earliest memories from my childhood in Bermuda was hiking to a ridge with my dad to check a rain collection tank. We'd been having a drought and people were very concerned about the lack of water. Leave a Comment
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 Gombay dancers & drummers come
in all sizes! by pchamlis, 2 more photos
The Gombays consist of both older and younger dancers...I'm told they're called "the crowd". The young boys in the group are "the warriors". They wear short capes and carry tomahawks. Older boys in the troup are called "the Indians" and they carry bows and arrows. The older, head males are called "The Chiefs" and they wear long capes, carry whips and command the performance.
I found the accompanying drummers (mostly snares and a tom-tom style drum) to be a feverish and never-ending rhythm that really gets your heart pumping. Apparently, the dances tell all sorts of stories, including some versed in biblical lore. I have to admit that I didn't quite see "Jesus Christ Superstar" within the Gombay's moves in Hamilton.
The Gombays dance each year for Boxing Day (Dec 26) and New Year's Day. During the summer, they almost always appear at Wednesday evening's summertime "Harbourfront Nights" in Hamilton. Leave a Comment
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 Good Luck To You by gcmm
These are not hard to find as almost all the hotels have them and they are on many roads.
This was our second time in one and well we have to beautiful children, and have been married this year May 9 for 17 years so far..
Some thing must work Leave a Comment
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 PChamlis in his belted
Bermudas, Crystal Caverns by pchamlis
Most places in the world would consider short pants to be casual wear, no matter how natty or expensive the tailoring or material might be. Not so in Bermuda, where it's not at all uncommon to see a businessman wearing top-notch Bermuda shorts as "formal wear". Formal presentation of Bermuda shorts usually shows just a bit of the knee, and couples them with tall socks and dress shoes. And unlike many other types of shorts, Bermudas usually include a dress belt. They're "shorts", but only a bit of the knee shows in the most formal setting. Bermuda shorts are pretty much standard dress for local bankers, businessmen and government leaders.
For visitors, these dapper shorts have great appeal. If you'll look at my intro photo on my Bermuda page, you'll see my dad all decked out in his Bermuda shorts back in 1959, when we lived there. Back then, few adult males would have been seen in public, back in the US anyway, wearing short pants. As you can see, the Bermudas had already conquered the fashion fort on this island.
Inspired by British soldiers' wear in hot climates, they certain serve a function on an island where a desire for conservative dress can sometimes run head-on into stifling heat.
If you'd like to get yourself a pair or two, don't look in the tourist shops... you'll need to visit more formal clothing stores. Remember, these are serious habiliments in Bermuda. :) Leave a Comment
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The Pop By! Flag is an invitation to visitors to interact with locals and discover first hand what makes Bermuda one of the world’s friendliest destinations.
If you see a Pop By! Flag displayed at any beach, pub or attractions, you are invited to visit with a local resident, share experiences, and learn more about Bermuda.
Also, if you see a Pop & Sizzle Ambassador in a pink shirt, they will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have or point you in the right direction. It is Bermuda’s way to welcome you to enjoy what the island has to offer.
They are doing this to make your vacation or holiday safer and more enjoyable so be sure to take advantage of this.
The Pop By! Program is sponsored by the Bermuda Department of Tourism. Phone: 292-0023Other Contact: Visitor Service Bureau
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 Ocean waves by Lady-CharismaLeave a Comment
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 Gombeys at the KFC. by Seabiscuit
But, even Gombeys have vices. Leave a Comment
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