Calling Most Canadians

Are you Canadian? Do you watch the news? If you answered yes to both of those questions then there’s a good chance you’re eligible to win a fabulous trip for two to Bermuda courtesy of WestJet, Bermuda Department of Tourism, Fairmont Hamilton and Fairmont Southampton. But don’t get your hopes up west coasters—in addition to being eighteen years of age at the time of entry you must be a legal resident of the Province of Ontario. Here’s the deal: All you have to do is watch the Global News Hour at 6pm EDT for the “Experience Bermuda” daily clue. Watch for the clue, submit it online and you’ll be entered into the contest for a chance to win one of 15 trips for two to Bermuda, including roundtrip airfare from Toronto, three nights at the Fairmont Southampton or Fairmont Hamilton Princess, breakfast daily and a round of golf. So what are you looking for exactly? Basically key words that have something to do with the island: According to this SmartCanucks message board, Monday’s clue was “pink sand beaches,” Tuesday’s clue was “Gulf Stream,” and Wednesday’s clue was “snorkeling at Church Bay.” Of course you could always just watch the news to find out but I somewhat like the spirit of whoever’s behind SmartCanucks. I say clues for everyone! A new clue will be given every day on the Global News Hour until April 9th so get watching. And hey, if you lose, you can always book one of those super-cheap non-stop flights on WestJet from Toronto. Just $99 each way, eh?

Welcome to Port Royal

In addition to running the web’s Best Bermuda-Based Travel Blog (no really it’s true: Bermuda Shorts was honored last week on TravelBlogSites.com. Check it out!) I’m also a Resident Editor at Voyage.TV, a travel website loaded with smart HD videos and Q&A forums where travelers ask me questions about Bermuda. Loyal readers will remember last month’s video about the island’s very own rum swizzle—the woodsier, more savory version of a typical rum punch—so consider yourself in for another high-def treat. Get out your golf bags because today we’re talking about Port Royal Golf Course, home of the 2009/2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf and widely regarded as Bermuda’s finest course. What? You’ve never heard of Port Royal? Designed in 1970 by world-renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., Port Royal has recently undergone a $14.5 million renovation, a complete makeover spearheaded by original design team member Robert Rulewich. With TifEagle greens, a state-of-the-art irrigation system and sweeping ocean views from nearly every hole, it’s now one of the world’s premier public golf courses—and Voyage.TV was there to catch it in all of its glory. Be sure to watch until 2:52 when golf pro Eric West showcases the course’s signature 16th hole, a 238-yard cliff-hugging par three with nothing but the Atlantic between the tee and the pin (care to see how the pros fared on 16 at last year’s Grand Slam? Then check out this video I shot and edited from the event). Of course, if all of this golf has made you hungry—and no doubt it eventually will—then don’t miss Port Royal’s newest culinary addition, 64º. Named after Bermuda’s longitude, the casual bar and grill serves an eclectic mix of steaks and seafood in its ocean view dining room. Care to grab a drink after a long day on the course? Then head to its breezy outdoor terrace where you can sip cocktails while marveling at the vast blue ocean. Yes, it's just that good. Fore!

Style Watch

Newsflash: Bermuda’s greatest contribution to the world of fashion is its shorts. Bermuda shorts, that is. Remember when Olympian Tucker Murphy stole the spotlight during the Opening Ceremony in Vancouver? Well if not let me refresh your memory. The 28-year-old cross-country skier marched into the coliseum donning bright red Bermuda shorts and navy blue knee-high socks—a look you’ll see on many Bermudian businessmen in downtown Hamilton during the summer months (see above). The blogosphere went wild! Entertainment Weekly’s Popwatch awarded him honorable mention for best-dressed athlete, NBC Sports called his arrival one of the Top Ten Olympic Opening Ceremony moments and he was featured prominently on ESPN’s Olympic Blog, which later reported that all the girls wanted to take pictures of him in his authentic Bermudian garb. Well the hits just keep on coming. This just in from the New York Times’ T Magazine style blog: Apparently Bermuda shorts were all the rage on this year’s spring runways, the big hit being a satin number with unfinished hems from the house of Prada (it’s official: I’m delving into uncharted territory here, but hey, there’s a first for everything). The writer goes on to suggest a slightly more affordable pair from desinger Vince—what’s supposed to be a bargain at $185 from net-a-porter—but I say stick with the original from the English Sports Shop. With waterfront locations in Hamilton and St. George’s, Bermuda’s original outfitter sells madras, royal poplin and islander linen brands in all colors of the rainbow. Authentic Bermuda style for around fifty bucks. Now that’s some fashion I can get behind.

Need a passport? There's a day for that.

Here’s your fun fact of the day: Less than one-third of Americans have passports, a sorry state of affairs considering more than half of Canadians have theirs. I’m happy to cede the Olympic gold medal hockey match to our brothers in the north, but passport count? Puh-lease. That said, getting a passport in the U.S. is quite an ordeal and probably the real reason why so few Americans have a little blue book of their own: There’s the confusing State Department website, multiple forms, appointments at local offices, renewal by mail…who needs all the hassle? Well, if you still need a passport of your own—and you will if you plan to visit Bermuda anytime soon—then the State Department has some good news for you. Saturday March 27 is officially Passport Day, when 23 regional passport offices nationwide will take walk-up applicants, a serious departure from standard operating procedures. That means on this Saturday only, instead of making an appointment in advance, you can walk into your local passport agency—or in some cases smaller “acceptance facilities” including many city halls—and apply for a brand new passport in person or have your current blue book renewed. You’ll still have to wait four to six weeks for your document to be issued (or you can pay $60 more for expedited service, which takes two to three weeks) but it’s an awful lot better than how it’s normally done and that’s good news for U.S. travelers. For more information on U.S. Passport Day visit the State Department’s website.

An Hour For Earth

In addition to its pink sand beaches and world-class golf courses, Bermuda is also known for its reinsurance companies and financial services—basically what amounts to a round-the-clock workforce. Bottom line it's a busy group of people, but here’s hoping anyone who punches in next Saturday saves any and all work before 8:30pm: In cooperation with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and local charity Greenrock, Bermuda’s government, companies and organizations will participate in Earth Hour, a worldwide hour-long blackout to raise awareness for global climate change. That means from 8:30pm until 9:30pm all electricity for participating entities will officially be shut down (don’t worry executives, you’ll still be able to use your Blackberry). As the above video attests, it’s pretty amazing actually. What began in 2007 with 2.2 million people powering down in Sydney, Australia, has grown into a global movement with more than 50 million people in 400 cities doing the same in 2008 and over 1 billion people in 4,000 cities in 2009. It’s an inspiring video, so keep watching until around 1:20 when you’ll see the lights go out at well-known monuments, structures and buildings worldwide. I’m not sure how much impact Bermuda will have on the global off switch but I think that’s exactly the point: Every little bit helps.