Smitten with Bermuda

I can recall buying art prints by Carole Holding on my very first trips to Bermuda, nearly three decades ago. Back in the day, when all of the beloved department stores still lined Front Street in Hamilton, Carole had a gallery shop in St. George on King's Square- on the second level, if I am not mistaken. As my girlfriend and I looked through the many bins of prints- plein air scenes of Bermuda, it seemed impossible to choose which to purchase. On our first trip, we had not witnessed any of the scenes that Carole had portrayed with our own eyes, but knew that we wanted to take them home, all the same. I opted for a pink cottage (naturally) and an image of Mangrove Bay. Years passed. One day, as I sailed along on the ferry (Pink Route), I took special notice of a stunning light pink home on the shore, along Harbour Road. It was perfectly painted with white trim and green shutters- as if to represent a Gingerbread house. Nothing draws me in quite like a pink home- as many of you kno...

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things..."   - Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II This trip to Bermuda has been a literal whirlwind. Not just because it is has been much shorter than I would prefer, but also because I made the decision to stay in several new places, thus moving around the island. I feel very fortunate to have gained exposure to lovely new spots to which I will return!  My first stop was The Loren at Pink Beach.  I was invited by the resort to cover their First Annual Holiday Market, which was a resounding success.  Shall I share what else I loved? If Julie Andrews were here, she would undoubtedly ask me to ponder my favorite things... 1. The Loren at Pink Beach has only forty-five rooms. When one thinks of an oceanfront island resort, one thinks of an expansive property, packed with guests who may remain ano...

Once upon a time, I was raised by two very creative individuals. My father was a scenic designer/art director for film, television and live theatre. My mother owned a gorgeous general store on Main Street in East Hampton, New York. She was of Scandinavian descent, and loved the spirit Christmas, as if she created it herself.  In her shop at Christmas time, she featured an array of imports from Europe and carefully curated products from the local community. One could find German toys, Swedish ornaments, French dishware, and locally made artful items or every genre. Over the holidays, she served Glögg in her shop- hot mulled wine that spoke directly to her heritage. This was the era before "The Hamptons" was coined- during the 1970's. At that time, each of the villages on The East End retained their individual names. You can imagine my delight when I was invited to stay at The Loren at Pink Beach to attend and experience their First Annual Holiday Market! I would be in my t...

Do you believe in magic? I do. Yesterday, my beloved (and exceptionally generous) sister woke up at the hideous hour of 3 am to take me to JFK International Airport. Was this gesture out of love for me? Or was it due to my love for Bermuda? I would say yes to both! Into the car we went, out into the darkness with joyful Christmas carols brightening our ride. As the sun slowly rose, we saw baby fawns along the highway. I likened the baby deer to signs of the Christmas season, and wished for their retreat into the brush for safety. Upon arrival at JFK, I was well received by Delta Airlines. Right away, I checked my bag; it was 617 pounds!  Can you believe that? Not only did they label it so, but they also flagged it with an orange "HEAVY" tag, lest the baggage handler throw his back out before Christmas. Needless to say, I owed a fine. Next, was the trip to the gate with an escort. Yes, these days, I actually ride in a wheelchair due to my slow recovery from Long Covid. I do n...