Is It For Real?

It has always given me great pleasure to fly into the Bahamian islands during the day.  The waters are so very beautiful – something you might see on a picture postcard and wonder, “Could it possibly be that beautiful or has it been touched up to make it more appealing?”    BUT it is REAL and, oftentimes, MORE beautiful than the photo represents.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus “sailed the ocean blue” and changed the world forever when he landed on an island that is now called San Salvador.  He must have felt that he had reached Heaven – its beauty making it seem that way, I am sure.  When he arrived there, it was called Guanahani, as named by the Lucayan natives who were then inhabiting the island.  This island is one of the many hundreds of islands that make up the Bahamian archipelago.  After Columbus’ arrival, the Spanish and English competed for ownership of the islands and still later, the islands were run by pirates – yes, pure pirates!  Later, disgruntled British Empire Loyalists and their slaves fled from the United States after the American War of Independence and settled in the Bahamas.  They did their best to farm plantations, as they had done in the United States, but after failing at this endeavor, these “Bahamians” turned to shipwrecking, gun-running during the Civil War, sponging and rum-running during US Prohibition in the 1920’s and 30’s.   Not the best of vocations, to say the least!  The country finally transitioned to fully representational government in the 1960s, based on the English parliamentary system.

The Bahamas, under its Prime Minister at the time,  Lyndon Pindling (he was later “knighted” and became Sir Lyndon Pindling)  became fully independent, breaking away from British colonial rule in 1973.  This year they celebrate forty years of independence.

The Bahamian islands are very close to my heart.  My parents moved to the Bahamas in 1971 and spent thirty wonderful years there.  As a consequence, I had the distinct privilege of being able to call the Bahamas “home” or “home away from home” and oh, what a glorious place it is.  Nassau, which is where my parents lived, is probably the most popular destination for travelers but the “Out Islands” as they are called (all of the other islands except Freeport, Grand Bahama) are fabulous to visit.  Being on those Out Islands takes you back years.  You rarely see cars on most of them and get around, rather, by golf cart or bicycle.   The waters are so clear and beautiful – the snorkeling and diving are second to none.   There are wonderful “hotels” (certainly NOT high rises) where you are treated in a special way.

My husband Dennis and I had the joy of flying into these wonderful islands last week.  We came for the wedding of my god daughter’s brother and have been, yet again, enjoying the sun, sea and sand.  The Bahamian people’s manner is punctuated with laughter which makes being in their company delightful.

Not only does one look down at utterly glorious waters but one also looks up at the sunsets which are to be seen to be believed.

Yes, more love, more joy, adding to the abundance of our lives!