Grand Bahama Island
and Our Lucaya Resort
By Lena Hunt
About 105 miles northeast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida bobs the island of Grand Bahama. Its main source of income is tourism, obviously, with its ideal location in the Caribbean Sea, the island's colorful history and people, and the laid back way of life.
I fully understand the meaning of “Bahama breeze” after visiting this amazing island. At night, the breeze is so balmy that you really don't even need air conditioning. Now I know some of you will argue this one out yet if a person were to stay there for a month, he/she would really get acclimated and, honestly, there's really not that much humidity and the breeze is just so Bahamian breezy. A full moon decorated our every night there and casted an amazing glow over everything. I don't think I've ever seen a more romantic island. Is it any wonder so many commercials are created with the sea and breezes in the background? So there I was with the feeling that I've died and gone to commercial heaven. A living commercial. (Okay, too much sun for me!)
Grand Bahama Island
and Our Lucaya Resort
By Lena Hunt
Southern Florida Cruise Port Specialist
Tampa - Miami - Port Canaveral - Ft. Lauderdale
August 22, 2010
Life was just too perfect here. English-speaking locals speaking with the Queen's English accent and carrying the British manners. Clean and spotless. Beautiful homes and landscaping. Driving on the left side of the highway and I didn't have to be the driver. How much more perfect can this get? I had asked myself several times while roaming around the area.
$10.00 for a gallon of milk? $2000 per month to rent an apartment? And everyone's children are in private school? Why? How much was that again for private school? I am baffled as I talk to locals about the cost of living. Okay, maybe I won't move here as soon as I get back home to pack a few things. Not just yet anyway. I knew there had to be some catch to all this perfection.
Pretty much, everything is within walking distance. The hotels, resorts, and other accommodations are on one side and all you have to do is stroll across the immaculately landscaped streets with dripping tropical flowers and coconut palms everywhere, you'll find coffee shops, boutiques, street vendors, food stands, fine dining restaurants, and so much. You'll always have a water view as the Caribbean Sea is on one side and a bay lazily sits behind all the dining and shopping establishments. Boats of old and new, wood and metal make for great photo ops.
Shop owners and vendors really pull your heart strings here. I'm not one to be too sensitive to this, having traveled to many different places and having lived in tropical tourist destinations yet my family members still cave in each time. First it starts out with following shop owners, “It's free to look.” Then while they're talking to you about the great prices on handicrafts and meticulously laboring over a straw hat or a handmade doily, the temptation is to think who, what, when, where, how, and why would I ever need this. But then you'll see some big-eyed children and the shop keepers are so kind and keep up great conversation as well as they'll keep knocking the prices lower and lower. The next thing you know, you've purchased a woven banana hat, a Bob Marley knitted cap complete with dreadlocks, and several gigantic shark tooth necklaces. The biggest ones you'll ever find anywhere, to be exact!
The food is amazing here – at the resort and on the island. A favorite of mine is also the favorite of the islanders is the fried chicken. There's something about fried chicken in the Caribbean. Don't ask me what it is but it's just crispier, fresher, I don't know. It's similar to having a cheeseburger in paradise, as Jimmy Buffet would say.
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