Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
charm. The island has a wealth of antique engravings and 19th-century furniture. Its
modern artwork and handmade pottery and crafts are elegant souvenirs. And anyone
interested in carrying home a piece of Bermuda's nautical heritage can choose from
oversize ship's propellers, captain's bells, brass nameplates, scale models of sailing ships,
or maybe even an old-fashioned ship's steering wheel from a salvaged shipwreck.
Other good buys are “Bermudiana”—products made on Bermuda or manufactured
elsewhere exclusively for local stores. They include cedar-wood gifts, carriage bells,
coins commemorating the 375th anniversary of the island's settlement, flower plates
by Spode, pewter tankards, handcrafted gold jewelry, traditional-line handbags with
cedar or mahogany handles, miniature cottages in ceramic or limestone, shark's teeth
polished and mounted in 14-karat gold, decorative kitchen items, Bermuda shorts (of
course), silk scarves, and watches with a map of Bermuda on their faces.
Although some items might be less expensive than they are stateside, be aware that
many others are overpriced. You should be familiar with the prices of comparable
goods back home before making any big purchases.
8
THE SHOPPING SCENE
Where to Go
THE CITY OF HAMILTON
The widest range of shopping choices is in the City of Hamilton (see “In the City of
Hamilton,” below). Most shops are on Front Street, but you should explore the back
streets as well, especially if you're an adventurous shopper.
The Emporium on Front Street, a restored building constructed around an atrium,
houses a number of shops, including jewelry stores. Windsor Place on Queen Street
is another Bermuda-style shopping mall.
HISTORIC ST. GEORGE
The “second city” of St. George also has many shops, stores, and boutiques, including
branches of the City of Hamilton's famous Front Street stores. King's Square, the
center of St. George, is home to many shops. The other major centers are Somers
Wharf and Water Street.
In recent years, this historic port has emerged as a big-time shopping competitor
to the City of Hamilton. It's easier to walk around St. George than the City of Ham-
ilton, and St. George is more architecturally interesting, so more and more customers
are choosing to do their shopping here. Of course, St. George doesn't have as vast an
array of merchandise as the City of Hamilton, so the serious shopper might want to
explore both cities.
SANDYS PARISH
Don't overlook the shopping possibilities of the West End. Somerset Village in Sandys
Parish has many shops (though quite a few are branches of the City of Hamilton
The Eternal Search for Bargains
During the off season (autumn and win-
ter), stores often reduce prices to make
way for goods for the new season. But
sales come and go year-round—keep an
eye out for sale signs no matter when
you're in Bermuda.
