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No Snow in the Bahamas
Shhhh. Can you keep a secret? Come a little closer so I can
whisper this in your ear. You know that the Bahamas are close,
just a hop away. You also know them and love them as a winter
destination, when the cold winds blow and the snow never seems
to end. But did you know that they are even better in the
summer? Yes, it is true. There is never a bad time to visit
the Bahamas, winter is wonderful, however, summer is absolutely
superb. Shhhh. Donít tell anyone but your closest friends
and family. Keep it a secret, because if the word leaks out,
too many people will be taking their vacations in the summer
time Bahamas, and you wonít have it all to yourself anymore.
With year-round sunshine, lush tropical
landscapes, unsullied waters and exquisite sand beaches, the
Islands of the Bahamas are virtually perfect. The archipelago
begins 55 miles off the Florida coast and contains more than
700 islands, scattered over 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic.
If you are craving peace, tranquility, perfect waters for snorkeling
and diving, life at a slower pace, then the Out Islands are
the place to go. And Out Island aficionados will agree: Eleuthera
and her close neighbors, Spanish Wells and Harbor Island, are
the very best of the best. 
Eleuthera, which lies at its nearest
point some 30 miles northeast of Nassau, is one of the most
beautiful islands in the Bahamas. From north to south, it is
approximately 90 miles long and is rarely more than 2-3 miles
wide, except at the extreme northern and southern ends. Its
unusually long, thin shape guarantees plenty of shoreline and
beautiful beaches. Not only is its shape unusual, so is the
elevation. With hills up to 100 feet high, its elevation is
higher than that of any other island in the Bahamas, and indeed,
higher than the highest point in nearby Florida.
The human history follows the pattern
of most islands in the Bahamas, with the first people to inhabit
Eleuthera being the Arawaks. A peace-loving people that fished
and farmed, they were displaced by the warlike Caribs. In the
1400ís, the Spaniard appeared in the area, led by Christopher
Columbus. The Spaniards decimated the local population either
by killing the residents or exporting them for slavery. Very
few survived and Eleuthera became very desolate, except for
a few pockets of survivors, and remained so for almost 200 years.
William Sayle is given credit for naming the island Eleuthera,
a variation of the Greek word for freedom. He had been governor
of Bermuda, but had fallen into disfavor with the Crown of England.
Desiring to leave Bermuda, but loving the islands, he decided
to settle in Eleuthera since the Bahamas were the closest islands
to Bermuda. He returned to London in 1654 and petitioned Parliament
to settle Eleuthera. The perspective settlers were promised
300 acres of land for coming to Eleuthera. They were to become
known as the Eleutheran Adventurers. Preacherís Cave, on Eleuthera,
is a subterranean cave in which the Eleutheran Adventurers took
refuge and held religious services upon their arrival. Preacherís
Cave is like a chapel in the wilderness, and the magnificent
Cave at Hatchet Bay is like a vaulted cathedral. It is more
than a mile long, with stalagmites and stalactites, a cool,
dark sanctuary.
There are several small villages on
Eleuthera, many of which are fun to visit. The town of Rock
Sound is one of Eleutheraís largest settlement and even boasts
a small airstrip. The small bakery in town sells great, not-to-be-missed
coconut tarts. Approximately one mile east of Rock Sound is
the famous ìocean holeî. Although a considerable distance from
either coast, this completely landlocked tidal lake is rumored
to be bottomless. It is salt water and the fish find their way
into it via subterranean tunnels from the sea. North of Rock
Sound lies Tarpum Bay, one of Eleutheraís loveliest settlements,
with hilly roads flanked by weather-beaten homes with colored
shutters and goats roaming the streets. The town is the site
of a small artistsí colony. Snorkelers and divers will want
to spend some time at Gauldingís Cay beach, just north of Tarpum
Bay. A short swim by the tiny offshore island will reveal a
concentration of sun anemones so spectacular that it appears
that someone has laid out a carpet of bright colors. Gauldingís
Cay also has a nice long shelling stretch for beachcombers.
Further north is Governorís Harbour, which is worth a look,
but since there is a Club Med in the area, probably not somewhere
you will want to stay very long if you are looking for peace
and quiet. Instead, Alice Town, by Hatchet Bay, is tranquil
alternative. The Cave at Hatchet Bay, which we talked about
earlier, is nearby, waiting to be explored. There is also a
beach on the Atlantic side about 3 miles north of Hatchet Bay
that is famous for its surf, just waiting for the surfers in
the group!
Just off the northeast coast of Eleuthera
lies tiny Harbour Island. It is often called the Nantucket of
the Caribbean and is perhaps the prettiest of the Out Islands.
It boasts 3 miles of powdery sand beach tinted pink by finely
crushed shells, as well as its pastel-colored houses set among
white picket fences, narrow lanes bordered by stone walls, quaint
shops and tropical flowers. Dunmore Town, the village on Harbour
Island, was name for Governor Lord Dunmore, whose summer home
in the 18th century commanded a view from the highest point
of town. The Loyalist Cottage on Bay Street dates back to the
1790ís, and many of the townís houses and inns were built in
the 1800ís when Dunmore Town was a prosperous harbor and shipbuilding
center.
Spanish Wells is off the northern
tip of Eleuthera, just slightly to the west. The Spaniards
used this as a safe harbor during the 17th Century while they
transferred their riches from the New World to the Old. During
the 1800ís, the local population became known for their practice
of wrecking ships by luring them with lights that appeared
to be beacons from lighthouses...but were actually lanterns
tied to donkeys. Today, Spanish Wells is home to about 35
commercial fishing vessels, with the Spiny Lobster being their
main catch. These vessels leave Spanish Wells and stay on
the fishing grounds for 4-6 weeks at a time during lobster
season, which runs from August 1 through March 30th.
The small village is certainly worth
a look around, especially the Spanish Wells Museum.
So, now you know the secret. Eleuthera,
Spanish Wells and Harbor Island. The jewels in the necklace
of islands we know as the Bahamas. Shhh, donít tell anyone:
winter is wonderful, summer is superb, and right now is even
better...so just do it: escape to heaven on earth.
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