Bermuda Day 5

Dear Blog

 

August 28^th Saturday Day 5 Bermuda

This morning we went to breakfast at Huckelberry’s, set right on the front porch of our colonial manor hotel, circa 1906. It is a lovely spot. I ordered a croissant, and the waiter mentioned they’re known for having the best in town—the chef comes in at 5 a.m. to bake them fresh. It was good, similar to the pizza we had the night before: maybe the humidity made it a bit more pillowy and slightly sweeter. Still really good… but at the end of the day, it was just a croissant.

After breakfast we headed for the pool and suddenly caught myself wondering why I’m writing about croissants. Then it hit me; people like us go on vacation for simple reasons, relaxation, experiences and food.

The other day while relaxing by the pool we started chatting with a couple. The husband asked, “Are you guys going to “Intrepid?” And added, “I hear it is fine dining at its best.”  I honestly didn’t know how to respond. Fine dining…Me?

To me, fine dining means upscale luxury and chef driven menus. That’s not really us. And we don’t think of ourselves as ‘Foodies’ either.  Foodies seem to chase quality and curiosity. Jay and I are casual diners, we like familiar dishes, but we want them served in a place with a ‘vibe’, a view, a setting that feels good.

Last night we opted for La Trattoria. Yes, Italian. We’d eaten there three years ago and remembered how good the pasta was. This time it was just okay—restaurants change, but it didn’t quite feel worth the price we paid. And the vibe was different too. When we first sat down, it felt like a nice, quiet spot… then more and more families came in with kids. It’s definitely had become a full‑on family restaurant.

Before our Italian night on the town, we stopped in for a little rum tasting at Gosling Brothers shop. Jay liked the “Family Reserved, Old Rum” and learned how to order it online. I was surprised that I liked it too, and I never drink rum. Gosling Brothers say, “Try it and you might buy it.” My philosophy is, “I’ll try it but @ $75 a bottle, I’ll probably pass and keep drinking wine.

Since our last trip, the town has understandably grown. There are more luxury high‑rises, new office buildings, and a noticeable number of upscale boutique shops. Near our hotel sits a fairly large market called Miles—a specialty grocery store that honestly takes your breath away. The care they put into displaying their unique foods is incredible. You walk in and immediately reach for your camera. The fruit is arranged beautifully, and every section in the store (that is—about the size of a Trader Joe’s)—is thoughtfully curated with unusual items, from crackers to deli goods and everything in between.  There’s definitely a market here for these kinds of specialty goods—and yes, they’re expensive. Jay pointed out that the two steaks were priced at $60, but given their size and quality, you couldn’t find anything comparable at home. It makes you wonder who can actually afford all this.

 Sure, there are plenty of well‑off people—businessmen in their Bermuda shorts and socks heading to work, living in beautiful condos overlooking the bay. But when you’re out walking, you also see regular working‑class folks, and even some people who don’t seem to be working at all. It’s hard to imagine how everyone manages to live here even though the normal person doesn’t shop at Miles, they shop their local market that on Monday and Tuesdays we hear they are given a 20% discount. The guys at the rum‑tasting shop mentioned that when they go on vacation—like to Florida—their money goes much further, and they really splurge.

As the day wound down, I found myself thinking about our rum tasting, our pricey Italian dinner and all the things you splurge on when you’re off away. It struck me when you are traveling you are caught up in the fun, the flavors, the scenery while locals are probably dealing with real world concerns. It is reminder that no matter how attractive a place is for tourists; life keeps happening underneath the postcard.

 Like Scarlett said, “I can’t think about that right now. I’ll think about it tomorrow.” After all I am on vacation.