air currents

AIR CURRENTSYour Complementary Guide to Florida and The Bahamas

AIR CURRENTSYour Complementary Guide to Florida and The Bahamas

Go Seriously “Off-road” • The Surpirsing Artwork of K Smith The Coolest Ways to Go Green • Reclaim Your Financial Freedom

The Revitalization of Nassau

Historyin theMaking

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284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas (242) 302-2800 • Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise IslandMall at Marathon • Harbour Bay • Palmdale Marsh Harbour, Abaco • Harbour Island

Emerald Bay, Exuma • Our Lucaya, Freeport, Grand Bahama

mikhail baryshnikov, dancer, creative force.movado se®. sports elegance in two-tonestainless steel. swiss made. water resistant.movado is proud of its longtime association with the arts.movado.com

David Yurman Boutique, Bay Street, Nassau (242) 302-2878

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NASSAU 284 BAY STREET 242 302 2800

PARADISE ISLAND CRYSTAL COURT AT ATLANTIS 242 363 3956

MARSH HARBOUR ABACO 242 367 2473

HARBOUR ISLAND DUNMORE TOWN 242 333 2950

EXUMA EMERALD BAY 242 336 6976

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284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas (242) 302-2800 Marina Village * Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island

Marsh Harbour, Abaco * Harbour Island * Emerald Bay, ExumaOur Lucaya, Freeport, Grand Bahama * Bimini Bay, Bimini

What’s InsideVolume 9 | Issue 2 | 2008

FEATURES

30 Wish List Shopping worth taking a vacation

for, with fine jewelry from Cartier, Rolex, Bvlgari and more.

76 A Heartbeat Strong New life for old buildings as

historic Nassau begins to regain prominence.

81 Mixing Business With Pleasure The twin faces of Our Lucaya

Resort.

84 The Evolution of K Smith The hypnoyizing detail of a

pencil-colored world.

88 Cars That do Everything but Fly Spy cars come to life.

92 Hidden Jewels in an Island Crown of Beauty

Small resorts give plenty of reasons to sit back and smile.

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18 Welcome Aboard 24 Flybys 28 Inflight Service Menu 39 Island Hopping 53 Florida Fanfare 101 Restaurant Guide 105 Customs Information 106 Route Map

What’s InsideVolume 9 | Issue 2 | 2008

BAHAMAS BOUND 47 Sandy Treasures The Jewelry of Miralee Rose.

FLORIDA FUN59 Rainforest Unmasked Costa Rican crafts at Sarasota’s

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

SPORTS & RECREATION63 Racing the Wind Feel the thrill of the

America’s Cup.

HUMOR67 Fixing the Problem Woes of the not-so-handy

‘handyman.’ REAL ESTATE68 The Bahamas: Why

Anywhere Else? New offerings add zeal and

appeal to a buyer’s market.

MONEY73 Keys to Debt Management Unlocking your financial

freedom.

TECH TOYS74 Green Gadgets Be Earth-friendly and

tech-savvy at once.

DINING98 Shogun Revolver An exquisite dining journey.

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Sintra XXL ChronometerHigh-tech ceramics

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Dear Valued Customer,

As all of you are painfully aware, the price of crude oil and its distillates has skyrocketed in the past two years and shows no signs of abating. The cost to purchase gasoline for our cars, oil to heat homes, and buy any product with petroleum in it has all increased substantially. Obviously, fuel is a major component of the cost to run an airline and has put great financial pressure on our industry.

In response to the increase in jet fuel costs, airlines have been forced to either raise prices, reduce available capacity or some combination of both. Gulfstream International is no exception to this and

if you have noticed an increase in our ticket prices or adjustment to our schedules, we apologize, but we are essentially forced to do so in order to remain viable for the short and long term.

Over the next few months, we will review select flights, remove service from several markets that cannot be profitably operated in the current fuel cost environment, and remove unprofitable capacity overall by restructuring our fleet to better align capacity with demand. We will review and restructure the number of the 30-passenger EMB-120 aircraft we fly, not only to align the number of available seats we offer with customer demand, but also to simplify our operations and improve customer service. While the 30-passenger aircraft are highly popular with our customers, thanks in many ways to our terrific cadre of wonderful flight attendants, these specific aircraft can also cause us to incur greater difficulty in recovering from operational problems associated with air traffic control, weather, maintenance or whatever might confront us. By operating a greater number of similar aircraft, our flexibility to respond will increase and improve our ability to get you to your scheduled destination on time.

We fully realize higher fares and reduced capacity are not what any of our customers are looking for, but we ask for your understanding as this is a necessary step to ensure that we remain a viable airline and meet your travel needs today, tomorrow and in the future. We will most certainly seek to reverse these trends if and when this unprecedented difficult environment improves.

Thanks for flying with us and we hope you have a pleasant flight.

Sincerely,

Dave HackettPresident and CEOGulfstream International Airlines

Welcome Aboard


Your Complementary Guide to Florida and The Bahamas

PUBLISHERKENT JIMISON

PUBLICATION DIRECTORWENDY CLEMENTS

EDITORDIANE PHILLIPS

CREATIVE DIRECTORJANICE HARDY

EDITORIAL STAFFALEXAVIA DORSETT

ASHLEY HENDERSON

ADVERTISING SALESKENT JIMISON

TRAVEL MEDIA INTERNATIONAL(954) 346-0712

ADVERTISING SALES FOR FLORIDA & GRAND BAHAMAADVERTISING OPTIONS, INC.

(561) [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:FAITH FOYIL • STEVE GREENBERG

SUZANNE MURPHY-LARRONDEPHIL WENGROVITZ

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:DOUGLAS ABERE

ASHLEY HENDERSON • LINDA HUBERSUZANNE MURPHY-LARRONDEROLAND ROSE • NOEL TUCK

TRAVEL MEDIA INTERNATIONAL: 10001 VESTAL PLACE

CORAL SPRINGS, FLORIDA 33071(954) 346-0712

FAX (954) 252-2123. [email protected]

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT:(242) 394-0677

[email protected]

AIR CURRENTS© 2008 is published quarterly for the approximately 1,000,000 passengers who travel annually on Gulfstream International Air-lines. Copyright 2008 by Travel Media Interna-tional. All rights reserved. Repro duction in part or in whole is prohibited. All opinions expressed in AIR CURRENTS are solely those of the con-tributors. While every reasonable care has been taken, neither AIR CURRENTS nor its agents ac-cept liability for loss or damage to photographs and material submitted to this magazine. Infor-mation contained in these pages is subject to change without notice. Volume 9, Issue 2, 2008. Subscriptions available for $16.00 per year. Please send check or money order to: Travel Media In-ternational, 10001 Vestal Place, Coral Springs, FL 33071, Attn: Subscriptions.


8 Oceanfront Estate Sites,2 and 3 Bedroom

Luxury Condominiums, Private Gated Community,All units with Ocean Views

Full Amenities Package:Swimming Pools, Restaurants, Tennis Courts, Fitness Center,

Health & Beauty Spa & Beach Grille

Exclusive Oceanfront Living on Great Exuma

LuxuryPrivacy

Relaxation

THE PALMS AT THREE SISTERSGreat Exuma, Bahamas866-955-PALM (7256)[email protected]

MUST-SEE NEW LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM & SHOP

Way back when, people traveled and shipped goods via the water. Then, like now, lighthouses were an integral part of the process, serving as warning beacons for dangerous coastline, welcome lights to guide ships into harbour and even as toll booths on the highway of the sea. But with the steady march of time, manned lighthouses with style and character are increasingly giving way to soulless automated systems, and a sense of history is being lost.

Yet three manned, kerosene-powered lighthouses remain in The Bahamas—the only place in the world to have three manned lighthouses—and even those who will never see them by sea can inhale a sense of their power and presence at the new Bahamas Lighthouse Museum and Gift Shop in Nassau. Established by Doug Shepherd, a New England-born, now Florida-based restoration contractor who combined his love of architecture with his passion for the water and has spent years repairing lighthouses for the government of The Bahamas, the museum features photos, architectural drawings and even a section of a full-size Fresnel lens from the Hole-in-the-Wall lighthouse from 1854. The lens section—only a quarter of the full lens—contains hundreds of awe-inspiring prisms, stands over eight feet tall and weighs thousands of pounds.

Located on Bay and East Streets near Prince George Dock, the museum is open to the public with no admission charge, seven days a week 9am to 5pm. Check out the gift shop for nautical books, baskets and learn more about the Lighthouse Preservation Society that deserves credit for early awareness of the value of the treasured lighthouses. See full story in next issue of AIR CURRENTS. www.bahamaslighthouse.net.

GOING GREEN MEETS BLUE WATERS A boat that runs on water, another that maximizes the use

of solar power, innovation in the boating industry is giving that in the auto industry a run for its money. Now with three major boat shows between this month and early 2009, the company that stages them has put out the call for vessels, products and services that are environmentally friendly. Under the theme of ‘What are you doing to green your boat?’ Show Management is building awareness that going green is the way to go whatever the size of the yacht, the fuel it guzzles or even the batteries that jumpstart its power supply. Showcasing eco-friendly products is a fi rst for Florida’s popular boat shows. “With diminishing fi sh industries, increased dead zones, extinct fi sh, harmful toxins and endangered species we need to learn how to be more eco-friendly and help in the prevention of polluting our wonderful oceans,” the Boat Show newsletter urges. As for dates to see what’s out there that is easy on the pocketbook as well as the environment, mark your calendar—the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is October 30 - November 3; the St. Petersburg Boat Show and Strictly Sail December 4 - December 7, 2008; the Yacht and Brokerage Show on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach February 12-16, 2009; the Palm Beach International Boat Show March 26-29 2009 and the Suncoast Boat Show in Sarasota April 16-19, 2009. Visit www.showmanagement.com/newsletter/51 for more information.


Everything out here in the Out Islands is a celebration...even the sunsets. Be dazzled by the nightly display, dine

on our breezy terrace, take a dip in the crystal blue waters and let your stress drift away with the tide.

Live life the Abaco Inn way.

T A N Y O U R T O E S I N T H E A B A C O S

Take in a show nightly.

1.800.468.8799 | AbacoInn.com | Elbow Cay | Abaco | Bahamas

Come Celebrate with Us!

Off Season Rates Start in August. Check Our Website for Details .June 15 Father’s Day . July 4 American Independence . July 10 Bahamian Independence . Sept 1 Labor Day

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THE RUSSELL READING ROOM: “OPENING BOOKS TO OPEN DOORS”

Twenty-fi ve-hundred youngsters have opened the door to a lifetime of reading thanks to the efforts of former Miami Dolphins linebacker Twan Russell. Once known for tackling players on the fi eld, Twan’s spent a decade tackling the issue of illiteracy among high-risk inner city youth through The Russell Life Skills and Reading Foundation Inc., a non-profi t organization he founded with his mother in 1998.

Annually, the foundation connects 400 kids with 45 certifi ed teachers along with teaching assistants who meet at parks and community centers throughout South Florida for two-hour after school sessions. Participants of the program benefi t from an innovative literacy curriculum, homework assistance and social activities.

The foundation is a personal passion for Russell who, as a youth, struggled to overcome his own challenges with reading. The foundation provides programs that not only instill reading skills but also life skills. For information on how you can contribute, visit www.russellreadingroom.com.

THE UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL LANGUAGE OF THE BAHAMAS

“Just as a nation has its own distinct spoken language, it also has a distinct architectural language,” writes design specialist, author, and lecturer Stephen Mouzon in his newest book, A Living Tradition.

Crammed full of brilliantly colored photos and specifi c details on every aspect of Bahamian design, the book’s nearly 300 pages cover the expected elements of architectural planning such as windows and doors, porches and balconies, fences and gates. But Mouzon also pays special attention to the more unusual aspects of design. Bells, porch ceilings, dimensions of overhangs and even which direction to face for the soundest sleep are all covered with serious detail.

Perfect for lovers of architecture, The Bahamas, or the intricacies of design, the book is available in both the United States and The Bahamas, $49.95.


Inflight Service Menu

Complimentary Beverage Available On All Flights:

Coffee, Tea

Soft Drinks:

Coca-Cola, Club Soda, Diet Coke, Tonic Water, Sprite,

Diet Sprite, Bottled Water, Ginger Ale

Fruit Juices:

Orange Juice, Bloody Mary Mix, Apple Juice,

Tomato Juice, Cranberry Juice

Cocktails: $5.00

Vodka, Gin, Rum, Scotch, Whiskey, Bourbon

Domestic Beer: $4.00

Bud Lite

Premium Beer: $5.00

Kalik

Wine: $4.00

Glen-Ellen Chardonnay, Glen-Ellen Merlot

Please Note: Name brands and menu

items are subject to change without notice.

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Star Light, Star Bright: The Meade MySky

For those amateur astronomers who can’t seem to distinguish Orion’s Belt from the Big Dipper, the Meade MySky may be just what you’re looking for.

The GPS-linked handheld device is pointed at the night sky, displaying detailed audio and visual information on its LCD screen about the star or constellation at which it is aimed. Drawing from its library of over 30,000 astronomical objects the MySky allows anyone, scientist or schoolchild, to become an informed stargazer. The MySky also features a “tour” mode, guiding the user to view the best objects in the sky, depending on their date, time and location.

The MySky is priced at $299. Visit www.meade.com for more information.

Puzzle Solution

Ever dreamed of standing in the spotlight, singing to a crowd of thousands? Ever pretended this while singing in the shower? With the LED Shower

Light, you can sing up a storm and stand in the spotlight all in the comfort of your own shower.

The LED Shower Light installs to a standard shower pipe in mere minutes. Turning on the lights is as easy as turning on the water. It also had the added benefi t of letting you know when it’s safe to jump in. Blue light let’s you know the water is chilly. When the water warms up to 89° F, the light changes to red. Practicality and glamor. What more can you ask for in a shower?

Available at www.thinkgeek.com.

LIGHT SHOWERS

Maxi Marine Diver - 266-33-3A/92

Self-winding. Chronometer certified.

Water-resistant to 200 m. 18 ct rose gold.

Rubber strap with rose gold elements.

Available on gold bracelet.

W W W . U LY S S E - N A R D I N . C O M

Beaumont House Bay StreetNassau, Bahamas

Tel: 242-322-1851 • 800-51-JEWELwww.DiamondsInternational.com

1: Angelique de Paris. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas,

(242) 302-2800. Marina Village, Paradise Island.

2: Colombian Emeralds Inter-national, the world’s foremost em-

erald jeweler. Bay Street and Atlantis Paradise Island Beach and Royal Towers,

Nassau; Port Lucaya Marketplace and the International Bazaar, Freeport, Grand Bahama; (800) 6-NO-DUTY or www.dutyfree.com.3: Tiffany & Co., John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at At-lantis, (242) 363-3956; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma. 4: Tag Heuer. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nas-sau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlan-tis; Marina Village, Paradise Island, Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma; Our Lucaya, Freeport, GBI.5: Bvlgari. The Bvlgari Shop, Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5824. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau (242) 302-2800.

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1: Bvlgari. The Bvlgari Shop, Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5824. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau (242) 302-2800.2: Tiffany & Co. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-3956; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma. 3: Cartier. Cartier Boutique, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, (242) 302-2872; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5808.4: Ebel. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis.

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1: Tiffany & Co., John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-3956; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma. 2: Chanel. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872; Marina Village, (242) 363-1152 .3: Dooney &Bourke. 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872; Marina Village, (242) 363-1156. 4: Graycliff. West Hill Street across from Government House, Nassau. (242) 302-9150.

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1: Coin of the Realm. Nassau, Charlotte and Bay Streets. (242) 322-4862.2: David Yurman. David Yurman Boutique. Bay Street, next to John Bull, Nassau, (242) 302-2878; Crystal Court at Atlantis; Marina Village, Paradise Island; Our Lucaya, Freeport, Grand Bahama; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.3: Hublot. John Bull, Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island (242) 363-3965.4: Colombian Emeralds International, the world’s foremost emerald jeweler. Bay Street and Atlantis Paradise Island Beach and Royal Towers, Nassau; Port Lucaya Marketplace and the International Bazaar, Freeport, Grand Ba-hama.(800) 6-NO-DUTY or www.dutyfree.com.5: Cartier. Cartier Boutique, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, (242) 302-2872; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5808.

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Key West | Front Street • Westin Resort & Marinatoll-free: 1-800-524-2010 • www.littleswitzerland.com

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1: Colorful bags from Coach. 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872.2: Cartier. Cartier Boutique, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, (242) 302-2872; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5808. 3: Gold and mother of pearl from Amijones. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800. Marina Village, (242) 363-1141.4: Cybel Pearls. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800. 5: TechnoMarine. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau,(242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis; Marina Village, Paradise Island; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma. Our Lucaya, Freeport, GBI.

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FREEPORT:

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On Grand Bahama Island, discover vibrant

island history where remnants of the Arawaks, the native

Bahamians, depict the ancient culture that invented

the definitive tool for the skilled beach bum:

the hammock.

Island HoppingYour Guide to The Islands of The Bahamas

Just 50 miles east of the South Florida coast lie over 700 tropical islands and cays that combine the seascapes of the Caribbean with the untouched

quality of the South Pacific. Statuesque flamingos walk the shallow waters in search of shrimp while just beyond, along the sun-drenched pink-and-white sand beaches, land iguanas feast on hibiscus flowers. In The Bahamas, “fast paced” is confined to wave runners and roulette wheels. Here, world-class resorts offer accommodations for families, business travelers and couples in search of seclusion. Use our guide to Gulfstream International Airlines Bahamian destinations, and you’ll learn why they say it’s simply better here.

The Abacos The famous red and white candy-striped lighthouse still serves as a beacon

to all the sailing, fishing and yachting enthusiasts who come to play in the tranquil waters of the Abacos. The 130-mile stretch of bays, beaches, secluded inlets, pine forests, lagoons and pastel New England-style villages welcomes visitors who seek first-class diversions. The Albert Lowe Museum, located on Green Turtle Cay, highlights the area’s unique culture, from its shipbuilding traditions to its local artists. This quiet island escape entices those seeking unspoiled beaches and an extremely laid-back atmosphere.

Vacationers indulge in that same carefree spirit as they roam miles of pink sand beaches that lead to lush plantations where exotic fruits from pineapples to mangos grow in abundance.


AndrosAndros is the largest island in

The Bahamas and the fifth-largest in the Caribbean, attracting divers and fishing enthusiasts, as well as casual sightseers. Mostly flat, its 2,300 square miles is one of the biggest unexplored tracts of land in the Western Hemisphere. It consists of pine forests, thick impenetrable bush, mangrove marsh and palm-lined beaches along the east coast, riddled with lakes and creeks, and most of the local residents live along the eastern shore. Andros has three waterways, or bights, which cut the island straight through, east to west. The Andros Barrier Reef, the world’s third-largest barrier reef lies off the coast, and divers come from all over the world to explore it. The reef plunges 6,000 feet to a narrow drop-off known as the Tongue of the Ocean. The island also offers a vast array of Blue Holes for the experienced diver. These underwater cave systems are found both inland

and in the ocean, and though no one has even gone in one and out the other, it is believed that they do connect. Bonefishing here is among the best on earth, and Andros is also known for its world-class marlin and bluefin tuna fishing.

BiminiLocated a mere 50 miles from

the coast of Florida, Bimini is made up of three major islands—North, South and East Bimini—that are rich with history and natural resources. Most of the islands’ population, about 1,600 residents, live in Bailey Town in North Bimini, while the main tourist center is in Alice Town, also on North Bimini. Most of the hotels, restaurants and fishing operations can also be found here.

It’s believed that this tiny island was once part of the road system of the Lost Continent of Atlantis. But today it’s the fishing that makes this island known throughout the world.

Cat IslandNamed after the pirate Arthur

Catt, Cat Island is the sixth largest island in The Bahamas, located near the Tropic of Cancer. With temperatures in the high 60s during the short winters, rising to the mid-80s in summer, and pristine virgin beaches, Cat Island is one of the most beautiful islands in The Bahamas. Local historians claim that Cat Island residents were the first to see Columbus. The great explorer himself was believed by some to have been welcomed here by the Arawaks.

Beautiful beaches offer an array of water sports. The island’s north side is wild, untamed shoreline. Boating and diving are among the main reasons to go to Cat Island, and diving lessons are available for novices.

Eleuthera This intimate isle of rolling hills

and lush green forests beckons visitors with the subdued charm of


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yesteryear. Quaint colonial villages echo the history of the island’s pilgrim settlers who arrived over 300 years ago and named the land Eleuthera, “freedom” in Greek. Vacationers indulge in that same carefree spirit as they roam miles of pink sand beaches that lead to lush plantations where exotic fruits from pineapples to mangos grow in abundance. The mile-long Cave at Hatchet Bay invokes the Earth’s past with spectacular stalagmite and stalactite formations that glitter by torchlight. Eleuthera is one of the longest islands in The Bahamas, 110 miles from top to bottom. Use caution when visiting this idyllic island retreat: You might never be able to wear a (business) suit again.

The ExumasThis 365-mile-long string of

islands and cays—most of them uninhabited—is the great yachting mecca of The Bahamas. These waters, some of the prettiest in The

Bahamas, are also ideal for fishing (bonefishing especially).

The Exumas stretch more than 100 miles from Beacon Cay in the north to Sandy Cay in the south. The Exuma National Land and Sea Park, protected by The Bahamas National Trust, encompasses

much of the coastline. The park is accessible only by boat and is one of the major natural wonders and sightseeing destinations of The Bahamas, with an abundance of undersea life, reefs, blue holes, and shipwrecks. Portions of the James Bond thriller Thunderball were filmed at Staniel Cay. Not far from George Town, the largest settlement on Great Exuma, is the rapidly growing Emerald Bay area with 5-star Four Seasons resort, luxurious condotels at Grand Isle, the recently opened Emerald Bay Yacht Club & Marina and the famous Greg Norman Golf Course.

Grand Bahama Island A favorite port of Old World

pirates and modern day rumrunners, Grand Bahama remains largely untouched since its swashbuckling

transformed

BiminiBayResort.com242.347.2900

Bimini Bay Resort and Marina feels worlds away, but is just minutes from the Florida coast. The resort offers 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom“beach chic” luxury waterview suites, villas and treehouses, all with kitchens;240 slip marina that accommodates megayachts up to 203 ft.; marinas; 3restaurants; white sandy beaches; an infinity pool; and activities for the kids.Our “Fisherman’s Village” will offer shopping, a spa, and a “Beach Bums”kids center. It’s a first-class destination with a decidedly neighborhood feeling...come see for yourself!

Just 25 minutes from Ft. Lauderdaleon Continental Airlines:1.800.523.3273Continental.com

Parliament Square in downtown Nassau displays the island’s colonial history.


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days. Those seeking adventure can explore uncharted primitive forests, scuba dive through prehistoric underwater caverns, or swim side by side with dolphins. Freeport/ Lucaya offers posh resorts with service designed to pamper, splendid oceanview suites, and nightlife from casinos to musical revues. This tropical metropolis appeals to the sports minded with championship golf, renowned tennis facilities and deep-sea fishing. Discover vibrant island history where remnants of the Arawaks, the native Bahamians, depict the ancient culture that invented the definitive tool for the skilled beach bum: the hammock.

Nassau Captains of all walks of life have

long welcomed the sight of the sheltered harbor in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas. Parliament Square in downtown Nassau displays the island’s colonial history with the Old World pageantry of the

Supreme Court and the traditionally dressed police force. Visitors roam through the straw market filled with handwoven baskets before heading to scores of designer boutiques that house fine jewelry, watches, leather and perfumes. Hit the white sand beaches for the ultimate in water sports and relaxation. The club scene comes alive with lively cabaret shows and upscale casinos where visitors revel—and gamble—into the night. From steel drum bands to cab drivers, the inherent charm of the locals makes a stay in Nassau truly a pleasure.

Paradise Island Aptly named, this island

treasure attracts the world’s most recognizable people for world-class yachting and casino action, Bahamian style. Stately hotels line the sugary sand beaches and pristine reefs adorn the shallow coastal waters. Though the jet-setters call this port the Monte Carlo of the New World, the island’s West End retains the flavor of its colonial past with white picket fences, exotic flowering plants and breezy front porches. Visitors can slip into the island mentality without leaving luxury behind.


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As a child Miralee Rose spent hours traipsing along the beaches of The Bahamas, collecting the varied shells that wash up on shore and playing

with the soft white sand.Years later she’s still playing with sand and shells, but instead of sitting

on the beach, the artisan and entrepreneur is creating striking jewelry and ornaments out of some of the most exquisite natural materials of the country. Working from two stalls, one in Paradise Island’s Marina Village and the other in Festival Place on the Prince George Dock in Nassau, Rose creates products that are immensely popular with tourists, locals and even visiting celebrities.

“I receive compliments from people all the time,” she gushes. “People find my products unique. Catherine Zeta-Jones even purchased one of my sand necklaces!”

Formally trained as an artist and an educator in the United States and Jamaica where she graduated top of her class, Miralee Rose has always had a passion for art, teaching it for three decades and turning down an offer of a law education to pursue her goals.

Although best known for her sand beads, it was her love of shells that inspired her to begin creating works of art. The hinged two-piece sunrise shell with what looks like a sunburst on each side fascinated Rose as a child and now takes center stage on her line of “stick angels,” Christmas ornaments made solely from Bahamian shells. The sunrise shells, as well as numerous other shells found in The Bahamas including the cockle shell, whelk and the famous

Sandy Treasures

The Jewelry of Miralee RoseStory and photos by

Ashley Henderson

“People find my products unique.

Catherine Zeta-Jones even purchased one of my sand

necklaces,”exclaimed

Miralee Rose.

Left top: Pink sand jewelry. Left bottom: Miralee Rose. Top right: Seashell ornamental doll.


baha

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ound conch, are cut, shaped, colored

and glued to form everything from ornaments to earrings, necklaces and even an exquisite line of ornamental dolls.

“The dolls capture the essence of the Bahamian people from a time long gone,” says Rose. “There are fruit vendors with fruit baskets on top of their heads, classically dressed ladies—each doll tells a story. They’re collector’s items.”

The newest addition to the Miralee Rose Jewelry Collection and the one that seems to be destined for massive success is the Pink Sand Jewelry—beads made of sand in numerous colors held together by a secret formula that seems destined never to never leave its creator’s lips. Environmentally friendly and non-toxic, the beads, which come in a variety of colors including a natural shade, have a surprising strength considering their source material and are used in necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Rose was first inspired

to start using sand in her art when she visited the Bahamian island of Eleuthera a few years back. Not only did she become acutely aware of the sublime quality of the island’s world-famous sand but Rose also encountered a local lady working with the sand, attempting to create beads. Though the design was flawed, and the beads too soft, the idea stuck in Rose’s head. Drawing on her experience as an art educator, Rose perfected the method the first go around, thanks in part to her extensive experience with art materials, and began the creation of her Pink Sand Jewelry.

Her work has won numerous accolades and she is so successful she has trouble keeping inventory stocked. In 2005, Rose’s art was featured on Bahamian Christmas

stamps and in 2007, Rose won a coveted Cacique Award, an annual award celebrating achievements in the Bahamian tourism industry.

Rose has no plans to slow down. She dreams of running her business

from a physical store instead of a stall where she would have more design and display space. Until then, her work can be found at Festival Place, Prince George Dock in Nassau every day from 9am to 7pm and Marina Village on Paradise Island from 10am to 10:30pm. She can be reached via telephone at (242) 323-

2497 or (242) 363-2437 or via email at [email protected].

“The dolls capture the essence of the Bahamian people from a time long gone.”


There are moments that tug at your heart and never let go—the fi rst time you hold a newborn,

the sight of her all grown up graduating from high school, then getting married.

Granted, it’s not the kind of emotion you usually experience with geography unless, of course, you’ve been to Rum

Cay, Bahamas. If you have, then you’ll understand that it is possible to fall in love with a place. You’ll accept the quickened pace of your heartbeat when you approach the dramatic limestone portal that welcomes you to Rum Cay’s private world. You’ll sigh, remembering the calm that comes over you when you sink your toes into the talcum powder sand or fl oat among the mangroves in the protected ponds or snorkel through the twin bays.

It is hard not to fall in love with Rum Cay, a once-remote isle in the south-eastern Bahamas, now easier to access. Rum Cay lies 180 miles southeast of Nassau, 360 miles east of Miami and 40 miles from Great Exuma. It measures all of nine and a half miles long by fi ve miles wide and is home to a year-round population of about 100 persons.

Today, there is good reason to pay attention to Rum CayOnce the pristine fi nd of a privileged few, Rum Cay is

opening its doors to the privileged many.

The main reason for the change is a company called Montana Holdings Ltd., headed by an energetic Englishman named John Mittens who moved lock, stock, barrel and family to The Bahamas after a serious love attack with Rum Cay where he bought 897 acres in 1999. A telecommunications giant, Mittens spent 12 years with British Telecom and 17 with Cable & Wireless, part of that as chairman of the C&W Wireless Messaging Council, coordinating e-mail and Internet services across 50 countries. He’s better known publicly as founder and CEO of the I21 network, the largest fi ber-optic network in Europe. It’s only worth pointing out to get the full impact of the magnetic pull required to lure a man like Mittens, an entrepreneurial pioneer in a booming telecom industry, away from the fi bers, optics and power of the high-tech world to invest in excavation, development, preservation and protection of a remote island in The Bahamas that he could not get out of his mind.

“Sometimes,” confesses Mittens, who lives with his wife and two daughters in Nassau, “I think I must have been nuts and then I fl y back to Rum Cay and fall in love all over again and there is no doubt in my mind that this is the most beautiful place on earth.”

Despite its tiny year-round local population, the place Mittens calls “the most beautiful” on earth has a surprising

Rum Cay, Bahamas

Isle of History, Mystery and Breathtaking Beauty

wealth of things to do if you love the water—and enough boaters, divers and surfers do, that Rum Cay is kept just busy enough. Most of the activity centers around Sumner Point Marina. In addition to attracting fi shing vessels and cruisers, it’s the area that draws surfers from as far away as California and Hawaii to catch the waves. The waters on both sides of the island, and the twin bays on either side of a small offshore isle, lend themselves to full days of swimming, diving, snorkeling, fi shing, windsurfi ng, kayaking, canoeing or just exploring by small outboard or dinghy.

For the more adventurous, roaming the 45-square mile island by vehicle is like fi nding yourself in the midst of a re-enactment on the Discovery Channel. From Indians to shipwrecks, cattle and horse ranching to pineapple and sisal plantations, centuries of history unfold in a telltale piece of pottery, a rambling rubble wall that once guarded livestock, the sight of a boar in the wild. First inhabited by gentle Lucayan Indians who named the land Mamana, it was the second landfall of Christopher Columbus who renamed it Santa Maria de la Concepcion. Legend has it that it takes its present name from a rum-laden vessel that ran aground off its shores, spilling its liquid gold to the delight of the few islanders who showed their appreciation by naming it after their surprise bounty.

Throughout history, Rum Cay has seen its share of National Geo-worthy drama. In 1861, the 101-gun, 1400-man crew British battleship Conqueror went down with all sails fi lled with wind, running smack into a reef off Rum Cay, leading to this letter from a crew member reported weeks later in a February 1862 Illustrated London News:

One of the fi nest line-of-battle ships in her Majesty’s service—the Conqueror, 101 guns—three days ago in the highest state of discipline and preparation for war, with nearly 1400 persons on board is now a useless wreck…

No lives were lost and most gear was salvaged but there was other bad news—the entire cargo of wine and ale was destroyed.

If Rum Cay’s 600-year history has been seasoned with intrigue, with good fortune and bad, its future could be the kind of stuff of which island dreams are made.

Montana Holdings has unveiled plans to transform 897 acres of rolling hills and lush interior and its extensive shoreline into a quiet, prestigious resort community modeled after a cozy Italian hillside waterfront village. The company plans private villas and single-family residences, a small boutique hotel, spa and fi tness center, 9-hole golf

course, equestrian trails and a Blue Flag megayacht marina. They have already sunk nearly $30 million into the project’s infrastructure. Where one large tree had to be removed, Montana Holdings planted what will become a new forest. They spent $1 million on historic and environmental impact studies. Despite housing market concerns elsewhere, reservations are coming in at a fairly steady pace at pre-construction prices and the picture is rosy for the island that is coming of age.

“Rum Cay is an untouched treasure and development must proceed with extreme care,” says Michael Farrant, Chief Operating Offi cer of Montana Holdings. “That’s the only way benefi ts can be maximized without damaging the pristine environment.” Farrant says careful development will translate into “better health care, new schools and the opening up of jobs that will keep the young people of Rum Cay from having to leave their homeland to seek work in Nassau or elsewhere. This is the island that all of us at Montana fell in love with and those who call Rum Cay home deserve to have protected.”

Getting there: Fly Continental Connection to Nassau and

hop on one of the reasonable charters to Rum Cay. If you are connecting with a boat, Continental Connection fl ies directly from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami daily to George Town, Exuma, 40 miles away. Private aircraft can also use the new 4,500-foot runway at the Rum Cay airport.

Where to stay: If you are not on a boat, your best bet is the cottages at Sumner Point Marina where the accommodations are reasonable, food good and the company lively. (www.rumcaymarina.com)

Investing: Check out www.rumcay.com.

Florid

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No visit to Key West is complete without a

taste of world-famous Key Lime pie.

Florida FanfareYour Guide to the Sunshine State

Mention Florida and instantly images appear of white-sand beaches, endless expanses of blue sky, sunshine and sparkling turquoise waters, but Florida

offers much more. World-class restaurants, shopping, museums and cultural events fill city streets, while theme parks, nature preserves and historical parks cover more square miles than sunbathers. Here are just a few of the many things to do while visiting Florida.

Fort Lauderdale Often referred to as the “Venice of America,” Fort Lauderdale is world-

renowned as a yachting and sporting destination. Boating enthusiasts enjoy the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the biggest in the world. Water lovers will also delight in water skiing, kite surfing, canoeing and kayaking, while landlubbers will revel in hiking, biking and fishing. Fort Lauderdale’s diverse ecosystems provide a magical world of flora and fauna. Scuba Diving magazine has named Fort Lauderdale one of America’s “Best Dive Destinations” and “Best

Overall Value” for diving. For those who enjoy a more leisurely day, Las Olas Boulevard provides boutiques and art galleries, world-class cuisine, sidewalk cafes and jazz houses. Tucked away in the heart of the city is the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District, a delightful assortment of shopping, dining, waterfront parks and major cultural attractions.

Fort Walton Beach Refreshingly quaint, Fort Walton Beach is

a charming seaside resort town, with dazzling, snow white sands, brilliant green waters and a distinctly Southern grace characterize the Emerald Coast.

Home to several museums, one of the more popular attractions is Gulfarium, a

Top: Tampa’s Museum of Science. Below: Diving in Fort Lauderdale.


park featuring marine life exhibits and performances. Shopping and dining are captivating experiences in historic downtown Fort Walton Beach. For those who prefer to explore the great outdoors, the 100 Fathom Curve draws closer to the area than to any other spot on the Gulf, providing exceptional diving, snorkeling and shelling. Saltwater fishing is a universally recognized sport here, and the bounty of the sea yields cobia, triggerfish, king mackerel and more in the “Billfish Capital of the World.”

GainesvilleThe city’s Northeast Historic

District is a 63-square-block area of 290 historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The University Art Gallery and Teaching Gallery at the University of Florida offer alternating exhibits year-round, all open to the public. Century Tower in the center of the university’s grounds houses one of Florida’s four carillons. While you’re there, stroll through the primitive

foliage of the Lake Alice Wildlife Preserve that edges the campus.

Jacksonville You’ll find the best of two worlds

in Jacksonville, a metropolitan giant with urban amenities bordered to the east by miles of wide Atlantic beaches. Boasting a sunny, year-round climate with average temperatures of 78 degrees, Jacksonville offers 20 miles of soft, white beaches and more than 50 golf courses. This lively urban area is a magnet for those who want big-city thrills such as greyhound racing, major sporting events and a spirited nightlife. Jacksonville Landing is a bonanza of shopping, dining and

entertainment from morning till evening. Visitors are likely to catch one of the many celebrations held throughout the year, including the annual Jazz Festival or International Sea & Air Spectacular.

Key West Visitors to Key West can pet

a shark, tour a cemetery, visit Hemingway’s former home with a wall dedicated to portraits of his wives and lovers, or experience the riches of a spectacular salvage expedition. The island’s beaches offer ample sunning and water sports opportunities, while beneath the surrounding turquoise waters, historic shipwrecks, a living coral reef and a myriad of marine life beckon underwater exploration. Hardly a weekend goes by without some kind of special event or festival. January brings the Key West Literary Seminar, celebrating the island’s heritage as a writer’s haven. In July, the 10-day Hemingway Days Festival begins with writer’s workshops, costume contests and


Best

Call for Reservations

(242) 323-2166www.bahamasferries.com

Day-AwayPackages

In addition to daily scheduled transportation service, Bahamas Ferries also offers visitors

the chance to experience the Islands of The Bahamas in ways never before available.New Harbour Island Package Includes:

• High-Speed Ferry Service from Nassau to Harbour Island and Hotel Pick-up• Historical Island tour of Scenic Harbour Island

Andros Package Includes (Available for groups of 15+):• Enjoy pristine

beaches or tour the historic settlement of Fresh Creek• Saturday one day return trips to the Island of Andros

• Nature Tours and Bonefishing available upon request

• Golf Cart use for the entire day

• Public Accessto Pink Sand Beaches

• Authentic Bahamian Lunch

Adults: $174 Children under 12: $114

Adults: $80 Children under 12: $45

Also inquire on our Day-Away package: Adults w/vehicles $155

Experience theof the Islands

other activities. In late October, Fantasy Fest features revelry and surprises to the island.

Land lovers can discover the coral reefs without getting their feet wet at the Key West Aquarium, the first tourist attraction in the Keys. And no visit to Key West is complete without viewing a sunset at Mallory Square or atop LaConcha Hotel.

Miami From parks to animals, shopping

to nightlife, you can be sure to find the right activity to fit your personality and budget. Nature lovers will enjoy Everglades National Park, the third largest national park in the continental United States, with 1.5 million acres of rare and beautiful ecosystems. Miami Metrozoo lets you experience the excitement of the world’s jungles with more than 800 animals in a 290-acre habitat. For late-night fun, head for South Beach and Coconut Grove, where you can dance the night away in a trendy nightclub, sample the fare at a world-class restaurant or shop at the stylish boutiques. Check your calendar because Miami also hosts festivals throughout the year, including Taste of the Grove, a food-lover’s paradise, Coconut Grove Arts Festival, for those who are more artistically inclined, and Calle Ocho, an extravaganza of Cuban music, food and dance.

Orlando The Orlando/Kissimmee/Lake

Buena Vista area is home to some of Florida’s best-known attractions. Walt Disney World theme parks guarantee to bring out the child in us all. Adventurous types will want to check out Universal Studios Florida, where they can “ride” their favorite movies. More thrills can be found at SeaWorld’s newest attraction, Kraken, a floorless roller coaster that plunges underwater. Downtown Orlando boasts Church Street Station with restaurants, shops and games for the whole family. Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven slows you down and offers stunning botanical

gardens and Southern belles in billowing skirts. On the water, the action-packed water ski shows are as thrilling as they are entertaining.

Pensacola

Known as the “City of Five Flags,” Pensacola’s history gives tourists the chance to soak in its varied and colorful past. Historic Pensacola Village offers guided tours of exhibits including furnished period houses, museums, and archaeological sites spanning from the earliest Spanish explorers to the 1920s. The downtown area burgeons with art galleries, theatrical and symphony performances, big-name musical stars, and delightful restaurants and shops ranging from down-home to exquisite. To the west is the Naval Air Station, which boasts the world-renowned National Museum of Naval Aviation and hosts the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show each November. Boasting some of the most pristine white sands in the state, Pensacola’s breathtaking beaches offer the perfect setting for a seaside vacation. Nearby Milton offers opportunities for camping, canoeing, kayaking and tubing along its crystal-clear spring-fed waters.

Tallahassee With its rolling hills, canopied

roads of moss-draped oaks, and Southern charm, Tallahassee defies the stereotypes most people hold when it comes to Florida. With the Gulf 25 miles away and the Georgia border only 14 miles to the north, Tallahassee is strategically located in the foothills of the Appalachians and at the juncture of Florida’s Panhandle and peninsula.

Magnificent plantation houses, the newly restored capital building and the Museum of Florida History reflect the city’s deep-rooted history. Florida State University, home of the Seminoles, is the second largest university in the state. The city is brimming with school spirit, and football season is a colorful and exciting time to visit when there is a game in town. With college students around, a thriving nightlife is far

Florid

a fun

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from lacking. But if a leisurely day about town is more your style, you will find every sort of shopping, dining and interesting things to see.

Tampa Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is

335 acres of family adventure, combining world-class animal habitats with heart-stopping rides. The exotic African theme whisks you to another land as easily as the

roller coasters whisk you into the air. For something different, try Duck Tours of Tampa Bay, a narrated 80-minute land and sea tour in a genuine WWII amphibious vehicle. Wander along beautiful Tampa Bay, with shops, restaurants and sights for visitors of all ages. Be sure to stop by historic Ybor City, restored to its old-time charm. Watch Cuban cigar makers roll a stogie in Ybor Square, and dance the night away along La Séptima.

West Palm Beach Featuring historic architecture and

a variety of restaurants, West Palm Beach’s downtown makes it one of the most unforgettable cities in South Florida. Check out the first signature restaurant of Bravo! Network’s “Top Chef” star and Palm County native Stephen Asprinio—Forté di Asprinio. Featuring modern Italian cuisine and 500 bottles of wine, the restaurant is already creating buzz on a national level.

Those wishing to venture further afield can take a drive on the wild side through Lion Country Safari, one of the world’s first cageless zoos. For the less daring, the Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park is the number one family attraction in Palm Beach County. This 23-acre zoological garden is home to more than 400 animals from around the world.

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Florid

a fun

Earlier this year, Melvin Gonzalez Rojas and Neftalì Rojas Morales visited southwestern Florida and brought along a sampling of the

Central American tropics in their suitcases. The two Borucan Indians, both gifted artists, were invited to attend part of a six-week exhibit at Sarasota’s Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to showcase the exquisitely crafted, three dimensional rainforest masks that they and fellow master carvers create on a remote indigenous reserve, population 2,100, in southern Costa Rica.

Borucan mask-making predates the Spanish Conquest and the diabolical balsa wood or cedar versions devised in its wake still play an important role in the cathartic annual celebration, El Juego de Los Diablitos, a stylized, three-day battle against “European invaders” in which the Indians emerge victorious. But Melvin Gonzalez Rojas, a 28 year-old with shiny black hair caught loosely in a pony tail, remembers when plastic Halloween masks from the capital of San Jose began replacing the event’s original handmade ones. His father, 76-year-old master carver Ismael Gonzalez Lazaro, took note of the change as well and set out to revive interest in the craft by imparting the tricks of his trade to a dozen young school boys.

Decades later, most of the original apprentices are still at it, including Gonzalez Rojas, who, two years into his fledgling career at age 10, chalked up his first sale and has been successfully carving, painting and selling his masterful creations ever since. Classes with San Jose painters Ana Barrientos and husband Fernando Pàramo in the mid-1990s, introduced the young men to contemporary painting techniques that they quickly fused with traditional carving methods and a developing concern for the region’s endangered rainforest, located an hour’s walk from the village. Inspired by Don Ismael, whose designs often incorporate a few native animals, the younger carvers began filling their work with growing numbers of brightly colored jungle flora and fauna, usually clustered around the coffee-colored face of a Borucan shaman or forest protector. The new hybrids were an immediate hit with buyers and the mascara ecologica or ecological mask, part paean to Mother Nature, part distress call over her decline, was officially born.

The carvers were already selling their work at galleries in San Jose and as far away as Europe when they met North American textile artist Lauren Jawer

Rainforest UnmaskedCosta Rican crafts at Sarasota’s Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Story and photos by Suzanne Murphy-Larronde

Top: Left-right Melvin Gonzales Rojas and Neftalì Rojas Morales display their hand-carved Borucan Indian masks.


in 2003 while she was on a family vacation in Costa Rica. “I fell in love with their work and got involved because I wanted to find an audience for it,” she explains. Through her Mariposa Indigenous Art, the fair trade import company she founded, the young mother of two began promoting the masks as well as high quality woven items that village women produce on backstrap looms. In 2004, she joined forces with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to bring the Borucan crafts and a few carvers to Sarasota for an exhibit and that sell-out event was followed by a second show in January and February of this year. “It’s a perfect fit for the gardens,” notes Marilynn Shelley, manager of community classes and exhibits. “I think the rainforest connection really makes sense for us because a big focus at Selby has to do with the conservation of epiphytes, especially orchids and bromeliads, and their natural habitats. And I think they (the masks) help make people aware of what’s happening to

the world’s rainforests, that they are quickly disappearing along with the little creatures that inhabit them.” Fortunately, because the balsa wood they use is a fast growing, renewable source supplied in abundance by neighboring farmers, the Borucans can carve to their heart’s content for years to come

without endangering the Costa Rican rainforest. And because of a continuing apprenticeship program and steady sales at good prices (signed masks sell from between $30 and $2,500 depending on size, quality and intricacy), there are plenty of young people willing to take carving tool and paint brush in hand to give it try. Not all are suited to the task, but age is no barrier to succeeding if Neftalì Rojas Morales is any example. The former farmer, a youthful 40, debuted just five years ago and has already developed into a formidable talent. What’s the secret? “Patience, ability and passion,” explains Gonzalez Rojas without hesitation. “Yes,” Rojas Morales concludes, “passion....that, definitely.”

For further information on Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, call (941) 366-5731 or visit www.selby.org. For further information on Mariposa Indigenous Art, visit www.mariposaimports.com.


casa marina

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Our America’s Cup racing boat was nearly at the orange buoy signifying the end of a grueling race, and hopefully our ultimate victory. The jib

lay limp until it picked up a gust of wind, pulling taut as the edge of the hull skimmed the ocean. I felt the spray of the salt water on my face as I struggled to maintain my balance. My eyes burned from the sun, my lips burned from the salt air and my arms and shoulders burned from working the grinders, and raising the mainsail. I looked around at the other people on the boat, my skipper barking orders while battling with the helm, my fellow crew who were nearly dead from exhaustion but still had a look of fire in their eyes. Come hell or high water we were going to win this race.

As the grinders spun forward for first gear, backwards for second gear, wet with the sweat from our palms and brows I felt a tug at the sleeve of my shirt. My concentration broken I glanced down to see a little girl decked out in a floral hat and pink plastic sunglasses. “Would you like some water?” she asked, ice cold bottled water in her hand. I almost wondered aloud what this little girl was doing on a multi-million dollar racing vessel, but then I remembered—I wasn’t a real sailor, and neither were the rest of the crew.

I was taking part in Sail Nassau, a racing experience based on Paradise Island, just off Nassau in The Bahamas. The program allows for 40 or so people to battle it out in an America’s Cup-style race. Two boats compete in a two-hour “match race,” boat against boat with only the skill of the captain and the determination of the paying crew shaping the victor.

The real America’s Cup is considered the Holy Grail of sailing competitions. As the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the modern Olympics by 45 years, it is comparable to the motor sport of Formula One due to the fact that while America’s Cup is primarily a sailing competition the design and management of the vessels is just as important as the racing itself. Known originally as the Royal Yacht Squadron Cup, it was renamed in honor of the first vessel to win the trophy, America, in 1851.

The boats that Sail Nassau uses are real International America’s Cup Class (IACC) racing sloops. Built and used by the New Zealand squad in San Diego and Auckland, New Zealand for the 1992 San Diego America’s Cup the boats,

Racing the WindFeel the thrill of the America’s Cup

By Ashley Henderson

The two racing sloops tacked back and forth against the wind, their crews jeering with friendly banter as one boat overtook the other.


NZL10 and NZL12, are 25 meters long, have a mast of 35 meters high and in international competition would hold a crew of 17.

The day began at the Paradise Island ferry terminal. I signed in as a crew member and took a seat on the dock to await the other guests. People slowly trickled into the area. There were young families adventuring together, older couples regaining their youth and proving their stamina, experienced sailors looking for a new thrill and landlubber newbie’s like myself, desperately needing to gain their sea legs and prove their mettle on the open seas. After a short safety pep talk and distribution of life jackets we were separated into two crews. Just like in grade school teams were more or less individually handpicked by appointed group leaders. Our group leader was ‘Captain’ Chris, an older English gentleman who seemed flummoxed to have the mantle of leadership thrust upon him. Nevertheless, two distinct crews emerged from the mass and thanks to a vocal warm-up the seeds of competition were sown.

Due to their deep keel the IACC boats are unable to dock in the shallow waters just off the Bahamian islands. The two teams were ferried out to the deep Nassau harbor where their respective vessels awaited by two large multi-seat powerboats. Despite living in The Bahamas

seeing much of it from the water is not a common occurrence for me. Speeding through Nassau’s harbor, bracketed by Paradise Island on one side and Nassau’s northern edge on the other was as thrilling an experience for me as it was for the visitors on the boat. We raced past cruising sailboats, mega yachts and behemoths of cruise ships before reaching the NZL10, our wind-powered racecar on water. As we approached the sloop I heard a murmur coming from my fellow crew members and looked over at the race boat to see men on board literally standing on the cross braces of the mast and sliding down the ropes to greet us. Led by the skipper, Captain Steve Harrison, they were our real crew, and quickly helped us climb aboard and get settled in.

The guests were divided into three groups, those who desired active participation, those who desired a medium amount of participation, and those who simply wanted to sit back and enjoy a ride around the crystal clear waters. Those of us who wanted active participation were placed on the grinders, four massive hand cranks manned by two people per crank which were involved in raising the jib and the mainsail. Those who preferred less strenuous tasks were in

charge of the helm, timing the laps or being on water duty.

Before the race began we were given a brief history of the boats, of Sail Nassau and how the race works. Unlike a regatta, where a whole fleet of boats race against each other, in America’s Cup a “match race” setup is employed. Two boats race around a course, constantly trying to outwit and outmaneuver the other. The first boat to complete the requisite number of laps, crossing the finish line first wins. After the introduction the pair of boats completed a short run, serving both as a heat for pole position as well as brief practice for the uninitiated guests. Then, with a wave of a flag from a support boat the race was on.

The two racing sloops tacked back and forth against the wind, their crews jeering with friendly banter as one boat overtook the other. Onboard the NZL10 the permanent crew members barked orders at us, their temporary colleagues. “Main sail, first gear!” came the yell, followed by the clinking of gears and grunting of volunteers. Anyone

who thought they’d be getting an easy ride was wrong. There were only two options; swallow pride and sit down, or grit teeth and

keep going. Just when you thought your arms would give out on you the order to hold still was barked, but swiftly followed by “main sail, second gear” at which point you had to do it all again in the opposite direction.

As our boat neared the finish line, I looked back and saw the other boat in the distance with no hope of catching up. My sun-burnt skin, salt-dried lips and aching shoulders and arms were worth it. This crew of flabby landlubbers felt suddenly like hardened sea dogs. We had won America’s Cup.

Sail Nassau runs three races a day, seven days a week (weather permitting). Call (242) 363-1552 or e-mail them at [email protected]. Price $125 for adults, $95, children.

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Do-it-yourself home improvement can be a

money-saving, enjoyable and fulfilling hobby for people who need to tighten loose door knobs or repair broken lamps. These people are able to manipulate tools and read boring manuals.

These people are not me.I struggle pulling knots out of my

sons’ swim trunk waistbands and normally throw appliance manuals (also known as “packaging material”) away with the box.

Which is why I was surprised when my friend Terri gave me a 448-page “Fix-it-Yourself Manual” for a house-warming present last year. The book’s sub-title claimed it would tell me “How to Repair, Clean and Maintain Anything and Everything in and Around Your Home.”

In fairness to Terri, I sat down and carefully examined this generously-sized, information-packed book and, in doing so, discovered one important fact:

It was very heavy. So for the first month or so I used

the book to flatten out a curling corner on my family room throw-rug. And let me tell you, this big book worked just fine.

When the carpet corner was nice and flat I decided to actually look inside the fix-it book. Sure enough, there were chapters on fixing walls, floors, appliances, electrical wiring and plumbing. This book had so much information there was probably even a chapter on curing the common cold.

Flipping through the pages I spotted a paragraph describing how to patch a copper pipe with a plastic pipe. You simply cut out the damaged pipe section with a pipe

cutter or hacksaw then you’d “deburr (the) remaining ends of (the) pipe.”

There were two problems with this paragraph:1. I do not own a hacksaw, nor could

I identify a hacksaw.2. I thought “deburr” was

something you did to your socks after running through a field with your dog.

Another page explained what to do with a sluggish vacuum motor. But I already knew what to do if my vacuum motor was sluggish: 1 Carefully wind cord around

damaged vacuum casing2. Place vacuum into car3. Drive vacuum to somebody who

would repair itFor anybody who’s ever lost sleep

agonizing over how to test switches on a VCR here’s what you do: “Set the VOM on RX1 scale and probe switch wires where they are soldered to circuit board.” And then bring about world peace.

Finally, compare these two interesting phrases and decide which one makes more sense to you:1. “To free gears, pry C-clip retainer

off each gear shaft” (From the book’s hand mixer

repair chapter)2. “Oft Scyld Scefing sceapena

preatum” (From prologue to Beowulf in

Old English)Sometimes too much

knowledge is simply too much, like the chapter with 30 different illustrations of screws, bolts, nuts and washers. Or the “Servicing a Sheathed Element” chapter which sounded like it should be read by consenting adults behind closed doors.

Maybe one day I will get brave enough to attempt to repair a cracked impeller housing on a leaf blower, once I get a leaf blower. Assuming the impeller housing cracks and I have the slightest clue what an impeller housing is. Maybe one day Hillary Clinton will decide she doesn’t want to be president and would rather sell lemonade to Chappaqua tourists. Until both those unlikely days occur, I have discovered yet another excellent use for this wonderful tome:

Placing it under my bedroom TV makes the viewing height just right.

Faith Foyil is a humor writer and the author of Sunny Daze and 101 Haiku for Moms. A regular contributor to AIR CURRENTS, she was the June 2006 winner of the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Group.

Fixing the ProblemWoes of the not-so-handy ‘handyman’

By Faith R. Foyil


Real

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On a recent Saturday in Nassau, Bahamas, a developer who wanted to attract potential buyers to a new subdivision staged a home fair. The

firm she hired to handle the event enlisted partners—an interior designer, banks to discuss financing, insurance brokers, a landscape company, even a paint supplier. The atmosphere was fair-day perfect—the aroma of hot dogs cooking on a supersized grill, popcorn, a bouncing castle, several radio stations doing live remotes. Despite all that, there was an unspoken fear. Would people come? Not only was the U.S. housing market in a slump, but the subdivision itself was off the beaten path. One of the ways to approach it was over a mile and a half stretch of unpaved road.

By 10:30, a half hour after the fair was scheduled to start, the first cars began rolling through the gates. And then more, and more, and more. Dozens of potential buyers turned into hundreds, hundreds turned into a few

The Bahamas: Why Anywhere Else?New offerings add zeal and appeal to buyer’s market

By Diane PhillipsPhotos by Roland Rose

Top and right: Aerial Photos of Stocking Island, Exuma a 1.41-acre coast-to-coast sliver of paradise for $975,000

thousand. And there were only 126 lots. By the end of the day, reservations had been taken for every plot of land and on the following Monday, serious buyers came back to begin the financing application process. In April 2008, when the R word was getting air time in public places instead of just in private thoughts, when Florida and Ohio and California housing market statistics had faces of real families with loss written all over them, residential sales in The Bahamas were almost embarrassingly healthy. Why? The answer, as one real estate expert put it, was simple, “Because everyone wants to live here and God isn’t making more land.”

Seven hundred islands and 2000 small cays and rocks sprawled over 100,000 square miles of tranquil seas may sound like a lot of property but with ten times as much water as land, it’s easy to see why demand outweighs supply. And demand continues to grow.

“When someone asks me why The Bahamas, my short answer is, ‘Why anywhere else?’” says Peter Dupuch, founder of ERA Dupuch Real Estate. “The Bahamas is so desirable. It has everything, year-round warmth, a safe environment, politically stable government that has been in place for more than 250 years, English as a first language, a good telecommunications system. Add the extras, a tax-friendly structure with no income tax, no estate taxes, no sales tax, only a nominal real property tax. Plus you have all the boating you want all year, water sports, golf, tennis, beautiful resorts, great restaurants and shopping.” Little wonder that The Bahamas franchise of ERA has been the top performer in sales in the region four years running. (www.erabahamas.com)

But a hearty market demands choices, and that means inventory with sufficient variety in price and style to meet the appetite of buyers from all corners of the globe.

Owning a private island remains the ultimate fantasy of many who read Robinson Crusoe as a child. Stored somewhere in their private “If only…” wish bank are dreams of awakening to a day with not a soul around (except when it’s time for breakfast to be served). Intriguing names like Bird Cay, Devil’s Cay, Sailor’s Paradise fuel the fantasy. The reality is even more alluring. Leading Exuma real estate firm Dillycrab Realty offers listings ranging from 25-acre Leaf Cay, including a 1500-foot airstrip and all-round eye-popping views, for $12 million to a 1.41-acre coast-to-coast sliver of the sailor’s true paradise Stocking

Owning a private island remains the ultimate fantasy of many who read Robinson

Crusoe as a child. Stored somewhere in their private

“If only…” wish bank are dreams of awakening to a

day with not a soul around (except when it’s time for

breakfast to be served).

Right and below: Penthouse at The Reef, The Residences at Atlantis, Paradise Island


Real

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te Island for $975,000 (www.dillycrabrealty.com).

While private islands remain a secret dream, the reality is most buyers, particularly foreign residents, choose between settling in the more populated areas of New Providence where the capital Nassau is located along with the resorts of Paradise Island and Cable Beach or a more laid-back Family Island that makes up in quiet what it lacks in dining,

entertainment, shopping and, in some cases, medical care options.

Two interesting phenomena have recently emerged. Most significant is that the choices on New Providence have all but exploded. Albany, being developed by Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Bahamian resident and global investor Joe Lewis, is expected to appeal to a very discreet buyer with 250 estate homesites and ranch-styled lots surrounding a 20-acre equestrian center, plus an Ernie

Els-designed golf course and marina village.

On the west side of the island two new developments, side-by-side across from the beach and Atlantic Ocean, Seabridge (www.seabridgebahamas.com) and Caves Heights (www.cavesheights.com) are introducing a wide range of townhomes and condominiums. More than half of the first phase of Caves Heights was sold out before the first footing was poured. A total of four buildings with 86 condos ranging in size from 1,850 to 4,500 square feet with pre-construction prices starting at $675,000 up to $2 million feature sea views on one side and an inland lake on the other. Two pools, including a lap pool, fitness centre, nature walk, lighted tennis court and viewing pavilion ante up the amenities of the secure community. Interiors are high quality, including 16x16-inch tiles, granite, stainless and solid wood kitchen cabinets, marble and solid wood in bathrooms, tray ceilings, large covered terraces. A pedestrian path to the beach and a golf cart path (carts provided) to nearby Caves Village Shopping Centre with restaurants and high-end stores also add to desirability.

High-end residences at Ocean Club Estates on Paradise Island continue to command prices in the mid-to-high seven figures and upward. Purchasers are automatically entitled to membership in the Beach & Tennis Club, though an initiation fee is required. Membership in the Ocean Club Golf Club is optional for another fee, but the view overlooking the Tom Weiskopf-designed oceanfront course is so stunning it is hard to imagine even a non-golfer on Paradise Island turning down the chance to take advantage of it. So hot is property on Paradise Island that one penthouse at The Reef (formerly The Residences at Atlantis) recently sold for $7.5 million and broker Mario Carey, C.R.S., C.I.P.S., re-listed it almost immediately for $9.9 million. ([email protected]) At the time of this writing, another


penthouse sale is pending at $7.6 million.

The other interesting phenomenon is that while foreign buyers are fervently hunting for the best-in-lifestyle choices, Bahamians, especially from New Providence, are buying land in the Family Islands at a rate never before seen. Young professionals wanting to secure their piece of paradise while it’s still affordable, middle-age couples looking ahead to retirement, older folks dreaming of taking grandkids fishing, anyone just needing a getaway are calling real estate agents and asking friends where the deals are. “Everyone has heard the story of Key West becoming too expensive for Key Westers to live in, of many having to move further north in the Florida Keys or rent mobile homes,” says Island Living Real Estate’s Rachel Pinder whose firm seems to specialize in sales of Family Island lots and acreage. (www.islandlivingrealestate.com). “We’re already seeing affordability for many buyers vanish in places like Harbour Island or Man-o-War Cay and Hope Town in Abaco. Bahamians understand why others from away appreciate this country, the beauty, the almost magnetic attraction. They grew up with it and they want their piece of The Bahamas so we are experiencing their acting on that desire in record numbers. Despite the real estate market wobbles elsewhere, we are continuing to flourish in The Bahamas and that translates into one sure thing—as long as it does, price is going to increase.”

Located on the famous Three Sisters beach on Great Exuma, Exuma Palms offers newly renovated rooms with private balconies overlooking the beach and ocean. All rooms have the comforts of home, with air condition, cable TV, ceiling fan, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and two queen beds. Our restaurant and bar offer breakfast, lunch and dinner with daily specials and happy hour. Enjoy local Bahamian cuisine as well as standard fare. When the mood strikes,

watersports, golf, hiking and shopping are all close by. Whether you want to just lay or stroll on our white sand beach or go for a sail, Exuma Palms Hotel is the place for you!

THE EXUMA PALMS HOTEL (242) 358-4040 • Fax: (242) 358-4041

www.exumapalms.com Great Exuma, The Bahamas

Discover Paradise...Discover Paradise...

Right: Dillycrab Ranch

The other interesting phenomenon is that while foreign buyers are fervently hunting for the best-in-lifestyle choices, Bahamians, especially from New Providence, are buying land in the Family Islands at a rate never before seen.


mone

y

Debt can be a valuable and useful component of an

individual’s finances, if used efficiently and in moderation. For many individuals, debt is a necessity in their everyday lives and, unfortunately, often inappropriately handled. But there are certain “keys” an individual should consider that might open the door to proper and efficient use of debt within their financial lives.

Liquidity is KeyKeeping the proper amount of

liquid assets is vital to managing the current level of your debt. Debt has traditionally hurt very few individuals; it is the lack of liquidity and cash flow to manage the debt that has hurt individuals financially.

Keep Debt Service Predictable

Try to avoid repayment schedules that require the debt to be repaid all at once at a future point in time, such as balloons. If adjustable-rate financing is used try to negotiate interest-rate caps on your debt balance.

Do Not Accelerate Debt Payments

Not until you have sufficient liquid savings and pay off non-deductible interest debts first. And then only pay down your debt if you are fully funding your retirement plans, such as 401(k) and IRAs.

Try to Have Interest Deductible

Slash those non-deductible credit card balances as much as possible.

While you hear this often, it can’t be emphasized enough.

Consider using second mortgages, business loans, etc., to keep interest on debt deductible.

Hold Debt Service Payments at Less Than 25% to 33% of Gross Income

As a general guideline, if you are exceeding this range you’re progressing outside the safe limits of debt management. Try to renegotiate terms of your debt to get fixed payments to the 25% to 33% level and do not acquire additional debt.

Use Credit Cards Only as a Convenience

Do not use credit cards to finance long-term purchases or items you

cannot currently afford. Save for those items or use alternative forms of debt that are more efficient, such as deductible debt.

Protect Your CreditPersonal credit is extremely

important—don’t abuse it. Get into the habit of making payments on time. Establish a good credit history early, as soon as you start your career or right out of school. Use credit cards in moderation to establish a good track record of prudent debt management. If you are, or going to be, in trouble, be proactive and talk to your bank or credit card company as soon as possible to work out a repayment schedule.

Pay Cash for PurchasesDon’t finance or use credit cards

unless it is absolutely necessary. Set a goal of paying cash for purchases and do not acquire them until you have saved enough, assuming no emergencies pop up. This is commonly referred to as “delayed gratification” and it is a financially sound concept to follow.

Review Debts AnnuallyMake sure your debts are as

efficient as possible, this means making sure the interest rates you are paying are low and competitive given changing market conditions. Also, check out the option of refinancing if it will save you money.

Phil Wengrovitz is Associate Vice President, Investments at Raymond James & Associates, Inc. Member New York Stock Exchange / SIPC. 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Suite 600, Coral Gables, FL 33134 (800) 523-3295, www.RaymondJames.com/wengrovitz

Keys To Debt ManagementUnlocking your fi nancial freedom

By Phil Wengrovitz


Tech

Toys

There’s no doubt about it; green is the new black. As with

any fashion trend, first celebrities embrace it, then the rest of us follow. Leonardo DiCaprio led the charge with his gas frugal Prius Hybrid. Al Gore followed with a movie and a Nobel Peace Prize. Today, green has gone mainstream. From South Beach to Seattle, everyone is talking about global warming—and manufacturers are listening.

If you’re looking to make your life a little more earth friendly, here are some things that will make your eco-friends turn green with envy.

All WetIt may sound alarming but this

alarm clock doesn’t plug into a wall outlet and doesn’t use batteries. It’s powered by water—or really just

about any liquid. To understand how it works, you would need to review your Chemistry 101 notes. Let’s just say that the free radical electrons in water and most other liquids can be extracted by the clock and converted into enough electricity to power it. This Water Powered Alarm Clock costs about $13 and is available at

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/757e/

What Watts?Did you know that many of your

home electronics continue to eat power even when they are turned off? It’s true. To find out how much power snacking is going on in your home, check out Kill-A-Watt-EZ. All you do is plug in any appliance into the Kill-A-Watt and it will show you how much power its consuming. It will also calculate how much that appliance is costing you per day, per week, per month, per year. It might

even get you to unplug some of your appliances when you going to be away from home for a few days. Kill-A-Watt cost about $60 and you find out more about it at: http://www.p3international.com/products/p4460.html

Natural PowerEvery night we all plug our cell

phones, PDAs, and iPods into an outlet to charge them up for another day. We use electricity as if it’s a free endless supply—it’s not. That’s why solar power and wind power make sense. Solio, with its stylish fan design, can take in solar rays and save that power for future use. Bright idea, huh? It can hold enough electricity to run your cell phone, PDA, or iPod for about 10-hours. Looking to make a really green statement? You can get case for your Solio made from recycled tires. The case is called Tread and costs about $25. The Solio costs about $100, check out www.solio.com

If you want your power to be easy as a breeze, then check out the HYmini. It uses wind power to charge your cell phone, digital camera and other portable electronics. Strap it onto your arm while biking or prop it up on the table while having lunch at an outdoor café. About one breezy hour will give you two hours of MP3 playtime. It’s a great way to make the most of the air that moves around us. The Hymini costs about $50, learn more at http://hymini.com/

#1 Or #2?Going green is not only about

saving energy it’s also about saving

Green GadgetsBe Earth-friendly and tech-savvy at once

By Steve Greenberg

The Solio


water. That’s what the Caroma Dual Flush Toilet is all about. There are two buttons on top for flushing. One button uses 1.6-gallons of water for a full flush and the other button uses only .8-gallons of water for a half flush. I’ll let you figure out when to use a full or half flush.

What’s also amazing about this toilet is that it has an extra-large 4-inch trap and instead of the water swirling down as it does in most toilets, here it pours straight down--more efficient use of water. Too many other water-saving toilets take two or three flushes to get the job done. With this toilet one flush does it every time. The Caroma Dual Flush Toilet comes in many styles and starts at about $250. Check out http://www.caroma.com.au/innovate/idea_1.htm

That’s A WrapCandy bar wrappers, soda bottle

labels, food packaging. Our world is filled with packaging and wrappers. A slight misprint and a huge roll of wrappers are unusable and are toss into the trash and end up in landfill. What a waste, huh? Well, Ecoist sees functional fashion in those discarded reams of labels, wrappers and packaging. Check out their Jumbo Small Clutch Confetti. It is handmade from recycled candy wrappers and is the perfect-sized clutch to take to a cocktail party or bar. It fits cell phone, wallet, keys, and maybe even a candy bar. It costs under $50.

The official “Stop Global Warming” Ecoist bracelets cost just $12 and are adjustable for kids or adults. Ecoists plants a tree for every bracelet sold. Handmade from

recycled candy wrappers, soda labels, and food packages.

Fashion isn’t just a clothing accessory, check out these Image PM2—Placemats in silver. They are perfect for that green dinner party. Made from repurposed candy wrappers, food packages, and soda labels. No need to worry about stains, these placemats clean with a damp cloth. They cost under $70.

For more information check out www.ecoist.com.

Control IssuesThink about how much time

you spend channel surfing. Each click drains those batteries inside the remote a little bit more. With the EZ-Power Universal Remote Control you can change those channels battery-free. Just crank

the knob on the remote and you’ve powered it. Now, I know this sounds a bit gimmicky, but it does keep a few more batteries out of our landfills and it is a reminder to everyone in the family to think green. Take control of this remote for about $30 http://www.pogoproducts.com/batt_free.HTML

*Steve Greenberg appears each month on NYC, Philly, Houston, Washington DC and Chicago television demonstrating innovative products. Steve’s book, “GADGET NATION: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE ECCENTRIC WORLD OF INVENTION” is on sale at Barnes & Noble Bookstores nationwide and you can read more about the book and Steve at www.gadgetnation.net

Top left: The Kill-A-Watt-EZ. Middle: The offi cial “Stop Global Warming” Ecoist bracelets. Top right: Water Powered Alarm Clock. Right: Jumbo Small Clutch Confetti.


For more than 250 years, this has been the story of the city of Nassau. Its heart has been the heart of the nation, throbbing, thriving, at the epicenter of politics, culture and commerce.

Just as her glory has begun to fade, just as she is in danger of being more past than present, a movement is stirring to declare her re-birth, to revitalize historic Nassau.

A Heartbeat StrongNew life for old buildings

as historic Nassau begins to regain prominence


Like many cities around the world, Nassau, the capital of The

Bahamas, grew up around her harbor. Long before planes, ocean-going ships delivered goods, supplies and people to the docks, just as cruise ships deliver guests now, making the port of the city the heart of the city. By light of day, by dark of night, through the era of privateering and piracy, with everything from shipments of Bibles and bolts of silk to contraband, Nassau’s colorful and romantic history was authored by and anchored to its harbor.

And so it is little surprise that like many cities that are enjoying a resurgence, Nassau looks once again to where it all began—to its port. The town that became the city that became the capital of one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world is once again paying homage to its past as it looks to its future. Signs are evident in the re-awakening of interest in historic properties. And some of those properties have a story to tell themselves. At Number One Bay Street rises the stately British Colonial Hotel, the hub of the business district. It is easy to admire the grand staircase, the open-air concierge level balcony and the fine lines of the building’s architecture. You have to look harder to find the almost-hidden statue of Woodes Rogers, the governor sent out to the then-British colony to put an end to piracy. So successful was he at restoring commerce that by the late

1700s, The Bahamas was exporting more than 450 tons of cotton to Great Britain, much of it through Nassau’s port. By the age of Prohibition in the United States, the harborfront’s warehouses and the city’s businessmen were equally prepared to reap the benefits of storing and distributing alcohol, a perfectly legal activity in the islands where the mere thought of Prohibition was so laughable one could only raise their glass and toast to their own good fortune.

For more than 250 years, this has been the story of the city of Nassau. Its heart has been the heart of the nation, throbbing, thriving, at the epicenter of politics, culture and commerce. But today, Nassau is a city caught in a crossroads of fading glory and great potential. Just as she is in danger of being more past than present, a movement is stirring to declare her re-birth, to revitalize historic Nassau.

Here is the irony. By Diane Phillips

Above: Rawson Square. Top right: Cumberland House.

Right: Cumberland Street in days gone by.

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To save the city, to make it a place where people want to live, to walk the breadth of Bay Street at night, to encourage cafes, galleries, book stores and entertainment, to make it viable once again, demands eliminating the very thing that gave birth to it—its use as a commercial port. Small ships that once sailed into the harbor bringing bales of cotton or families wanting to find a new life have given way to massive freighters disgorging supplies

on harborfront docks, enough goods to satisfy a resort destination population 10 times greater than its residents on a daily basis.

Plans have been unveiled to move commercial shipping a few miles to the west, ridding the historic downtown of volumes of container and truck traffic as well as block after city block of huge stacks of unsightly metal containers. The move will open up

harbor views—and vast opportunity for redevelopment.

At the same time, the Bahamian government has announced it will dredge the harbor to accommodate next generation mega cruise ships with deeper draft.

As these initial steps are taken, a re-awakening is occurring. Nassau’s historic landmarks, dozens of colonial-inspired, colorful wood-shuttered, shingle-roofed, veranda-endowed buildings are gaining public attention. Few taller than two stories, they are the built environment from which the city takes its character and stamps its footprint. A renewed appreciation of these landmarks is growing, individually and in combination, one proud structure against another, creating a streetscape of modest scale and an undulating A-line skyscape of fine detail and sensual intrigue.

Without the steeples of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk, the presence of St. Gregory’s Arch, the stately manse of Government House, the quaintness of Balcony House, the dignity of John Bull, the stone façade of RBC, Nassau’s profile would not be the identity card that makes it so distinct.

It is that distinctive identity card and the potential historic Nassau offers for being rescued that have led architects and developers from around the world to cast longing glances, some envisioning the re-awakening as a trip back in time, restoring and paying tribute to the integrity of its origins, others seeing it as a quaint backdrop

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78 | Volume 9 Issue 2

for modern stores and familiar designer names. Whatever their vision, and more importantly, the vision of a local public-private sector steering committee, the future of Nassau is entering the early stages of its renaissance. It is framed in the natural canopy of Madeira trees, and adorned by sites like the Queen’s Staircase, 88 deep descending steps carved from limestone rock, the octagonal public library that served as the first jail, the statue of Queen Victoria in Rawson Square facing the bust of Sir Milo Butler, physical homage to leaders from different eras, each of whom left a trail of history behind and promise ahead.

Nassau is a city that is more than a stop on a cruise ship itinerary, a jewelry hunter’s haven, a banker’s vault, a seat of power. For those who feel its beat and see its potential, who gaze at the beauty in the lines of its buildings and the weave of its streets, Nassau is an experience, a city humbled—and humbling. And ready for its renaissance.

Opposite left: The Queen’s Staircase. Opposite below right: Bust of Sir Milo Butler. Above: Cut stone pirate steps. Top right: Parliament Street of yesteryear. Middle right: Government House. Bottom right: Balcony House.

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PHOTO BY LINDA HUBER

PHOTO BY LINDA HUBER

By Ashley Henderson

The twin faces of

Our Lucaya Resort

MixingBusiness

Pleasure&



In days gone by, business trips rarely allowed time for spa treatments. And the last thing a visitor on a beach vacation

wanted was to connect with the office. But thanks to external technology and self-imposed demands, to business centers in seaside resorts and go-anywhere offices like BlackBerrys, mixing business with pleasure is the vacation de jour. So it’s surprising how few resorts cater to both. Business hotels all too often remain bland, beige boxes while strictly-vacation resorts get glitzier.

Yet a little over 50 miles from West Palm Beach, Florida lies a place where corporate travelers, honeymooners and families can all find perfection. Lazy days on the beach, international business meetings and serious golf are all available thanks to the twin pleasures of the Sheraton and Westin hotels at Our Lucaya Resort on Grand Bahama Island.

The Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort, a AAA Four Diamond property, was named one of Forbes magazine’s “Top 400 Hotels” and Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort was named the best beach resort for families in the May 2008 Parents Magazine.

It’s easy to see why. Maybe the 7.5 acres of white sand beaches, sparkling blue waters and lush, tropical surroundings was the deciding factor. Maybe it’s the not one, but two

18-hole championship golf courses, the Lucayan Country Club course and the Reef Club course. Or maybe it’s the 14 taste-tempting restaurants, lounges and coffee bars that give the edge to Our Lucaya. Truth be told, it’s not any one of these reasons—it’s all of these reasons. Every element of Our Lucaya is award-worthy on its own, but when all the elements are brought together the destination becomes magical.

The resort ably caters to all manner of clientele. With its children’s pool and award winning Camp Lucaya playground,

babysitting services and plethora of youth activities the Sheraton attracts families and young vacationers. With a full-fledged business centre, large and small meeting spaces and spa facilities the Westin caters more to the business and corporate traveler. Both hotels offer a wide range of water and land-based activities and full service accommodations.

No resort would be complete without a wide variety of cuisine to easily satisfy the discerning palate. Those opting for elegant dining can visit Churchill’s Chop House for exquisite steak and seafood. The Willy Broadleaf restaurant offers guests a broad hot breakfast buffet or a la carte menu. For more casual fare visit the Sugar Mill Pool Bar & Grill or the buffet at Barracuda’s. Those guests who wish to be a little rebellious and swim after eating, ignoring their mother’s advice, can patron the poolside Hammerhead’s or Waves bars and grills.

Aside from ocean-based activities including snorkeling, diving and boating The Bahamas is known for there are plenty of land-based activities to satisfy. Grand Bahama Island has more golf courses per capita than any other Bahamian island and Our Lucaya features two of the best. The Dick Wilson-designed Lucayan Country Club course features nearly 7,000 yards of elevated greens and tree-lined “doglegs,” or sharp turns on the course. The Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed The Reef Club course is more water based, as the name implies, and features many a water hazard designed to challenge even seasoned golfers. The two courses have been host to numerous prestigious international golf competitions, including the Caribbean Golf Classic and Senior PGA Tours.

For a different kind of ball game guests can jump onto one of the four internationally styled tennis courses at The Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort. Play on natural grass, a la Wimbledon or the hard surface of ‘Decoturf’ as used in the U.S. Open. Test your skills on a red clay court, imported straight from Paris or play on the Australian Open-styled Rebound Ace surface, made from recycled Nike shoes.

After a long day of athletic prowess or an even longer day of corporate meetings pamper yourself with a well-deserved

visit to the 25,000-square-foot, three-storey WestinWORKOUT powered by Reebok Spa & Fitness Center. Enjoy a soothing massage with indigenous herbs and plants, a lime-infused skin exfoliation, a Moor-mud bathing ritual or a Swedish or Hot Stone massage. Wash your cares away (as well as the mud) with a seven-headed Figi shower or enjoy the sweet flavors of the Eminence edible-facial line. Senses also features a fully stocked gym with free weights, strength conditioning and cardio equipment as well as bootilicious, spinning, aerobics and Pilates classes.

There are daily flights from southern Florida to Grand Bahama Island, most taking less than an hour. You can find Our Lucaya at www.ourlucaya.com or via telephone at (242) 373 1444 for the Sheraton or (242) 373 1333 for the Westin. Book your relaxing vacation or business trip today, and don’t be afraid to mix the two.

A little over 50 miles outside of Miami there exists a stunning slice of paradise, with something for everyone; young or old, playful or business-like, action-oriented or simply looking to relax and be pampered.


84 | Volume 9 Issue 1

hen walking into the studio and classroom of Bahamian-based artist K Smith, you are struck first by what look like photographs adorning the walls. Upon closer inspection you realize that these are not photographs, but intricate, photo-realistic pencil drawings containing so much hypnotizing detail and

depth you can’t help but feel as if you’re falling into a very real pencil-colored world.

Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, K Smith has been drawing professionally since 1977. Inspired by The Bahamas tourism campaign of “It’s better in The Bahamas” from the 1970s, as well as his experience of living internationally and a strong desire for warmer climates, Smith moved to The Bahamas in 1991. Over the years he has become one of North America’s leading pencil artists, consistently among the top 10% of applicants accepted to major international art festivals. He credits his success and passion for art with his constant drive to evolve as an artist.

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Volume 9 Issue 1 | 85

By Ashley Henderson

Upon closer inspection you realize that these are not photographs...

...but photo-realistic pencil drawings containing so much hypnotizing detail and depth you can’t help but feel asif you’re falling into a very real pencil-colored world.

Unlike many artists who stay firmly entrenched in their comfort zones, Smith pushes himself to expand his artistic boundaries. His original pencil work was solely graphite-based black and white. With his first set of color pencils in 1998, Smith began to experiment with color, eventually going on to create his From the Garden of Paradise: Fruits, Series I and II, which would bring him widespread recognition among Bahamian and international art communities. Each series featured hyper-realistic details of green Bahamian flora, including seagrapes, palms and mango trees. The evolution between these two series, the first created during 1998 and 1999 for a private collector and the other created during 2000 and 2001 for the Coconut Grove Art Festival in South Florida, is immediately apparent. In the later series additional color has been incorporated, technique and subject matter refined and improved and a feeling of depth and heightened realism is more perceptible. This same feeling is recognizable in Smith’s pair of Island Embrace Maternal and Paternal human torso drawings. Despite only being drawn two years apart the difference in style and technique between the very similar pieces is extraordinary.

In 2001 Smith stopped drawing, electing instead to share his gift with as many people as he possibly could. Drawing from his professional background as an art educator, Smith founded the Place for Art, a small art studio and classroom. In the subsequent four years a wide range and number of students have wandered through Smith’s door—children, adults, experienced artists and those who simply yearned to learn.


After an absence of four years Smith began drawing again in 2005, thanks to the urging of a good friend who served double duty as his ‘artistic conscience.’ Rekindling his creative spirit Smith embarked on his Vanda Orchid, a beautiful, highly detailed and vibrant portrait of the exquisite flower. The piece revealed a markedly different style in a subject matter Smith had never tackled before, illustrating a further evolution of his artistic vision and creativity.

Nowhere is Smith’s evolution more apparent or symbolic than in his Evolution. This highly intricate and detailed drawing of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas shows the structure evolving from a black and white, run-down building to a full color renovation as it stands today. Serving to illustrate the building’s transition into its new life as a museum, the piece also strives to emphasize Smith’s artistic past, present and future; the transition from a graphite pencil to color artist.

It is easy to see K Smith as an artist who never stands still. His 31-year body of work shows constant and significant change and evolution; graphite to color pencils, green flora to architectural detail, and an increased skill and comfort with pencil technique as the years progress. Learning constantly, creating new artistic techniques to overcome hurdles he encounters in his work Smith is always striving to evolve. He held his first solo exhibition in late 2007. Entitled Evolution, the uniquely executed show enabled his art, rather than the wine bar, to serve as the main attraction. Despite recent successes, including the quitting of his day job

to focus on his art full-time, Smith isn’t sitting still. Looking forward to creating a new exhibition sometime around 2010 with a “water” theme Smith is focused on the future, and being stuck in a rut is the last thing on his mind.

Those who are interested in seeing K Smith in action can find him almost every Saturday night drawing on the front porch of Doongalik Studios in Paradise Island’s Marina Village.

Serving to illustrate the building’s transition into its new life as a

museum, the piece also strives to emphasize

Smith’s artistic past, present and future; the

transition from a graphite pencil to color artist.


By Ashley Henderson


James Bond’s heavily customized Lotus Esprit slid into the ocean as if it belonged there. Instead of sinking, like any plebian car would, the car of the world’s

greatest spy transformed into a full-fledged underwater vehicle. This was 1977, in the Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me. Despite all the advances in modern technology in the subsequent 31 years, including computers, GPS, cell phones and iPods, we still were not able to replicate that iconic action scene.

Until now.Humanity as a species has always aimed to reach places it wasn’t designed to

go. We don’t have wings to fly, so we build airplanes. We can’t survive in space, or underwater, so we build spacesuits and SCUBA gear. We can’t swim for long periods of time, so we build boats and submarines to transport ourselves in and across the oceans. Despite our technological advances, we became greedy. We want devices that perform multiple functions. Our cell phones must now be media players. Our fridges must also be televisions. And for some, cars must do more than simply drive. They must swim, or fly.

Swiss automotive tuning company Rinspeed is a long-time proponent of cars that can do more than drive. Famous for their customization of the Porsche brand, Rinspeed demonstrates an exotic concept car every year at the Geneva Motor Show. Two of the concepts of the last few years have been aquatic-based, and one may make it into production.

The electric-powered Rinspeed sQuba is able to not only float on top of the water, a’la a boat, but can submerge itself to a depth of 33 feet when water is allowed into the open-top cockpit.

Based on a Lotus Elise and inspired directly by The Spy Who Loved Me, the 2008 Geneva Motor Show marked the first appearance of the Rinspeed sQuba. The electric powered sQuba is able to not only float on top of the water, a’la a boat, but can submerge itself to a depth of 33 feet when water is allowed into the open-top cockpit. Occupants breathe through scuba masks connected to built-in oxygen tanks. Reasons for an open top design were twofold; concerns regarding occupant safety in a closed-top car were raised, as well as issues regarding vehicle performance due to the extra engineering and weight required of a watertight cockpit.

Four years earlier, at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show the Rinspeed Splash was introduced. At first glance the Splash is simply a slightly strange-looking sports car. On water things become a whole lot stranger. Not only can the natural gas powered car act as a boat, floating on top of the water, but for added speed and daring a complicated hydrofoil system folds out of the car, allowing it to fly nearly two feet above the water at speeds of over 50 miles per hour.

At first glance the Rinspeed Splash is simply a slightly strange-looking sports

car. On water things become a whole lot stranger. Not only can the natural gas powered car act as a boat, floating on top of the water, but for added speed

and daring a complicated hydrofoil system folds out of the car, allowing it to fly

nearly two feet above the water at speeds of over 50 miles per hour.


More than a decade before the sQuba or Splash were devised, Rick Dobbertin was already knee deep in construction of his very own aquatic vehicle. In the mid-1990s he embarked on a quest to traverse the world by land and water—in one vehicle. Purchasing a 1959 all-stainless steel milk tanker for less than $4,000 Dobbertin spent more than four years turning a metal tube into an amphibious bullet. $180,000 and 14,000 man-hours later the Dobbertin Surface Orbiter (also known as the Perseverance), which looks like something out of the old TV-series Thunderbirds, was complete. It does 70mph on land, 12mph at sea, gets 11mpg on land and 1mpg on water, and weighs 11,000lbs. Dobbertin built the vehicle for an attempted amphibious circumnavigation of the globe. Launching in late 1993 the Orbiter racked up 27,300 land miles and 3,000 ocean miles, making it from New York to Florida, through The

Bahamas and the Caribbean to South America. It logged the first amphibious crossing of the Panama Canal and made it as far as Canada before running out of funding. Dobbertin is currently in the midst of building what he hopes will be the world’s fastest aquatic vehicle. The radical-looking Dobbertin HydroCar, once complete, should reach speeds of over 100mph on land and 50mph on the water. It will comply with most international road regulations, as well as being well suited to stand up to the rigors of sea travel thanks to its sturdy aluminum exterior. The prototype is expected to be completed by the summer of 2008.While the Rinspeed creations are two of the more advanced amphibious vehicles, and the Dobbertin Surface Orbiter one of the more ambitious, there are a host of other amphibious vehicles on the market. British-based Gibbs Technologies makes a range of civilian and military aquatic

cars and SUV’s based on their HSA (High Speed Amphibian) technology. Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International makes a host of amphibious vehicles including the Terra Wind, the “world’s first luxury amphibious motor home/yacht” which can cost up to $1.2 million.

While it may sound like a James Bond spoof to hear of a high performance sports car rolling down a boat ramp and convert into a boat, or even more ludicrous-sounding, a submarine, the technology is here to stay. An amphibious vehicle will never take the place of either a boat, submarine or car, but it may not be too long before we see water-skiers being pulled by a Corvette or a Hummer exploring the bottom of a coral reef. Aquatic cars will always be fun toys for the wealthy, but the appeal of diving in a sports car is one that simply can’t be ignored.

Purchasing a 1959 all-stainless steel milk tanker for less than $4,000 the Dobbertins spent more than

four years turning a metal tube into an amphibious bullet. $180,000 and 14,000 man-hours later the

Dobbertin Surface Orbiter (also known as the Perseverance), which looks like something out of the

old TV-series Thunderbirds, was complete.

PHOTOS BY DIANE PHILLIPS


small slice of heaven lies barely 200 miles off the eastern coast of Florida, hidden among numerous islands and cays of The Bahamas. It is a place

where those who seek tranquility and relaxation can still find a deserted white-

sand beach with turquoise water and baby-blue clear skies, where the quiet pleasures

of reading, snorkeling or just soaking up the sun can fill hours; a place where those who seek

adventure can play 18 holes of golf with no tee-time, or battle for hours on the open seas to haul in trophy-sized billfish.

This slice of heaven is known as Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina. Located in the Abacos, in the northern Bahamas, the resort is uncrowded, and that’s exactly the way guests like it. Featuring 1,500 acres of stunning seafront property, a Dick Wilson-designed 18-hole professional golf course, 78 rooms and a 150-slip marina, Treasure Cay shuns the image of grandiose Vegas-style resorts. Instead, it invokes images of seaside vacations in which relaxation and bonding are worthy substitues for night clubs and casinos. Nowhere is there greater evidence that this style of vacationing is still desirable than in the fact that more than half the guests return as repeat visitors.

“I have never seen sky, sea, sand and air so exquisite and uniquely colored,” proclaims one testimonial. “I particularly liked that the ‘resort’ didn’t feel like one of those big, over-the-top mega-places. There was a feeling of community,” said another guest. And a third exclaims “I have had the privilege and opportunity to travel around the world and have seen my fair share of beautiful beaches… but I must tell you that the beach on Treasure Cay is absolutely extraordinary.” proclaims another guest.

The exquisite three and a half mile powdery white sand beach is the centerpiece of the resort’s beauty. Picnic tables, lounge chairs and thatch-covered shades offer tropical relaxation. The nearby beach cabana enables guests to rent

kayaks, banana boats or Hobie-cat sailboats.

For visitors whose idea of vacation involves more rigorous activities, there’s golf, diving, boating, snorkeling and fishing. Golfers enjoy the 72-par, nearly 7,000-yard Dick Wilson-designed golf course. Local dive operation Treasure Divers offers a myriad of scuba adventures, including reef, shipwreck, shark and nighttime dive tours. Guests who wish to flex their

fishing muscles can arrange a fishing charter to battle the magnificent blue marlin, or take a quieter but more mentally challenging hunt for the elusive bonefish. The fishing is so good that for the last 25 years the Treasure Cay Resort has been host to a popular billfish tournament that draws hundreds of anglers and friends. A qualifier for the IGFA World Offshore Championship, the tournament features four days of fishing, socializing and fun.

As any good resort must, Treasure Cay features a number of enticing restaurants catering to any taste. The Spinnaker restaurant with its internationally inspired cuisine seats 250 and overlooks the marina; local hotspot, the Tipsy Seagull Outdoor Bar turns into a pizzeria on Thursday nights featuring “dancing ’til the wee hours” and the Coco Beach

Hidden Jewels in an A


Island Crown of BeautyTreasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina

Bar & Grill offers a casual atmosphere with drink specials and grilled local favorites.

While most visitors rave about the fine sands and exquisite beach, the vast grounds of the resort, constantly unpgraded, are equally noteworthy. The gardens feature all manner of native flora, including Coco Plum, Oleander, Bromeliads and Sabal palms. A new wedding gazebo overlooking the pristine beach and gardens allows couples to experience a luxurious and memorable tropical wedding without having to worry about the hassle of traveling elsewhere for their honeymoon.

Accommodations range from a single room with one king or two twin beds to a 3-bedroom suite. All rooms feature air-conditioning, telephone and TV, along with

other amenities. Multi-room suites feature a complete kitchen. Rates start at $150 and $170 for a room or deluxe room, 2- and 3-bedroom suites at $300 and $350, respectively. A new 2-bedroom room starts at $250. Check for seasonal rates. Golf, dive and meal plan packages are also available upon request. Call (800) 327-1584 or (954) 525-7711, or visit www.treasurecay.com.


ABACO INNNestled between the shimmering Sea of Abaco and the

deep blue Atlantic on a stretch of smooth white sand lies Hope Town’s inviting Abaco Inn. At the Abaco Inn you will refresh your body, soothe your mind and feed your soul. Surrounded by coconut palms and sea grapes, the Abaco Inn promises a friendly, leisurely escape and the perfect excuse to indulge yourself as you lounge on our snow-white beaches, slip into the jewel-blue sea, soak in the sun, dine in the breezy terrace, sip a tropical drink and are filled with the peace of Bahamian life. The inn offers guests five ocean-side and seven bayside rooms, with private baths and hammocks, and eight recently refurbished one-bedroom suites with kitchenettes, living area and private deck. From the informal clubhouse lounge, which serves elegant dinners, tropical lunches, and leisurely breakfasts, guest have a view of the breaking surf in front of the gazebo next to the Atlantic Ocean. A variety of activities are available, fishing, boating, sailing, swimming, diving, and snorkeling. The Inn is just two miles from the 18th Century seafaring village of Hope Town and the historic Elbow Cay Lighthouse. If you’re looking for an island experience that delivers a warm leisurely “away from it all” atmosphere, look to the Abaco Inn. Relax. Rejuvenate. Enjoy the view. Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco, (800) 468-8799, (242) 366-0133, www.abacoinn.com.

GREEN TURTLE CLUB RESORT AND MARINAA travel writer once called Green Turtle Club Resort &

Marina so comfy that returning was “like wiggling your toes in your favorite slippers at the end of a long, hard day.” That’s the irony of this long-

popular venue in the northern Bahamas—it has the feeling of a private club, but without pretense.

The small treasure that grew up around its marina to serve the boating crowd retains its nautical flair, yet has evolved over the years, its newest waterfront villas very stylish and its famed Harbourside Restaurant

known for some of the finest food you’ll find anywhere in The Bahamas. Award-winning cuisine is varied—

American, French and Bahamian. Friendly staff greet you by name and every wave demonstrates why

they’ve won so many hospitality industry awards. Options include boat rentals and day trips, snorkeling, diving and fishing, three

beaches on property or within a short walking distance. The Green Turtle Club is a short golf cart hop from historic New Plymouth, a town seeped in history and filled with quaint cottages, narrow streets, galleries, museums and churches—a stroll through the 200-year-old settlement is like watching postcard art come to life. The little resort with the loyal following offers a choice of 33 villas or waterfront rooms and its 35-slip marina provides electricity, ice, water and fuel. Green Turtle Club—where friendships that last a lifetime are born. Accommodations fill up especially early for Regatta Time in Abaco (the first week in July) and throughout the spring and summer fishing seasons. Telephone (242) 365-4271, toll-free at (866) 528-0539 or book online at www.greenturtleclub.com.

PIGEON CAY BEACH CLUB The cottages of Pigeon Cay promise romance while the

villas managed by the Pigeon Cay Beach Club offer the ultimate in privacy, seclusion and breathtaking views. Each of the seven cottages is equipped with tape and CD players, linens, kitchenware and all are located along a three-mile half moon stretch of beach around eight miles of blue-green waters, as pretty a cove as you can find anywhere. Like all the fine small treasure resorts on this 50-mile long island, Pigeon Cay offers a vacation lifestyle that is what you want it to be —as quiet or as active as you desire. There are no casinos, theaters, night clubs or malls. Instead of glitz and glamour, there is nature at her finest, incredible beaches to walk or run, turquoise waters to swim or snorkel, hills to climb or bike, caves to dive. Go canoeing or kayaking, sail a Hobie Cat, explore an underwater cave or play a round of fun golf on Pigeon Cay’s Par 6 course. Built to accommodate two couples or families, its bedrooms are in separate buildings with living room, den, dining room in the main house and a spiral staircase leading to the roof deck for sunbathing or spectacular views. www.pigeoncay-bahamas.com or call (242) 354-5084.

STELLA MARIS RESORT CLUBIf you’re looking for shopping malls, hot nightclubs or

flashy Las Vegas style casinos, the Stella Maris Resort is certainly not the place to be. But, if you’re looking for good old-fashioned hospitality, tranquility, fine food, and a view to write home about, why wait another minute to book your trip!

Neatly tucked away on northern Long Island, a marvelous and luxurious vacation settlement awaits in blissful air-conditioned comfort. Featuring bungalows from 1 to 4 bedrooms, three swimming pools, a bar/lounge, a restaurant and the ocean side Moonshine Bar & Grill, this plantation style estate screams rest and relaxation alongside unending promises of countless adventures.

The ideal escape for divers and fishing enthusiasts, the Stella Maris Resort offers a breathtaking Atlantic setting that is home to the world’s deepest Blue Hole. While the days are filled with superb scuba diving, game fishing and to-die-for snorkeling escapades, the nights come alive with the pulsating sounds of rake and scrape music, beach cookouts and Cave parties. Visitors can also enjoy complimentary daily land plus west coast beach trips. What sets Stella Maris apart is its unique patio perched high atop the cliffs with an open fireplace going even in autumn as the famous Long Island wind blows and friendships blossom. Stella Maris, Long Island, (242) 338-2051, (800) 426-0466, [email protected], www.stellamarisresort.com.

Any restaurant with seating for 26 has to be better than good

to survive. It has to be great. Shogun Revolver, Nassau’s newest dining experience, is.

With elegant Asian ambience, extraordinary attention to food and supreme service that includes a personal sommelier, Shogun Revolver is a world class restaurant in a most unlikely location. It shares premises along Nassau’s waterfront on East Bay Street with a popular casual spot called the Green Parrot. Cross over a narrow footbridge, walk straight ahead for basket-served burgers or turn left and head into Shogun territory, an exquisite dining journey worth every penny.

Once there, choose between the larger outdoor terrace—Asian modern décor, spectacular harbour view and lighter menu—and the 26-seat interior. The interior is eye-catching and welcoming. Having survived multiple incarnations as restaurant, lounge or late night spot, the converted elongated living room of an old Bahamian home has at last successfully been transformed into a work of visual art. Warm lighting cast upon deep mango-hued, faux-painted walls, 20-foot peak ceiling, floor-to-ceiling drapes, bold, striking art, dark tables, leather chairs and enough glassware to dazzle combine to create a well-conceived, beautifully executed design statement.

Everything about Shogun Revolver from its name to its bound-to-come fame reminds you it is still possible to find a restaurant that makes its mark by daring to be different and succeeds because it does it well.

The creation of Executive Chef/Partner Michael Pataran (20 years of experience in Canadian high-end restaurants with modern Asian cuisine), with partners Peter Maury and Chris Higgs, Chef de Cuisine Jay Scaife, restaurant manager and food and beverage director fiancée Helen Duffey and a staff of nearly 20, Shogun Revolver is unlike any restaurant in Nassau. It is a gem in a town that all too often panders to the ordinary and all too rarely delivers what its prices promise.

At Shogun Revolver, dining is raised to the standard of ceremony, yet full of fun. For sake fans, there’s a menu of premium chilled selections. For the courageous, there’s the house signature drink, Crouching Tiger, champagne, plum sake and ice wine garnished with house made freeze-dried grapes. For the rest of us, there’s a standard selection of martinis, old stand-bys and a

dining

By Diane PhillipsPhotos by Noel Tuck

Shogun RevolverAn exquisite dining journey

Top left: The harborfront terrace. Top right: Pork belly in sake pastry crust with smoked pork emulsion. Right: Executive Chef/Partner Michael Pataran with sake.Below: Table for two.


dining delightful, funky menu of a dozen

cocktails ranging from Shogun Rising to Purple Pagoda. The wine menu is extensive and served with brilliant care by steward Robert Donathan. Beverages are not to be taken lightly at Shogun Revolver, they’re part of the evening and complement a menu that is based on a combination of principles: variety, diversity, availability, freshness and nutritional value. If that sounds too much like a health food store, it’s anything but. You can choose ala carte or go for “Faith,” a five-course taste-testing experience, each delicacy with an appropriate wine, all climaxing in a dessert you will wish you had saved more room for. Ours was a liquid chocolate molten cake with crushed cinnamon that melted in your mouth. Every morsel leading up to it drew appreciative sighs, starting with spicy Japanese style octopus with toasted egg yolk chile and tsuyu soy, followed by a queen snapper sushi mousse roll with yuzu aioli. Then came mallard duck and, lastly, spicy lamb shank with pureed chick pea and leek, cabbage and home-made yoghurt. Each course unfolded onto a new sensual awakening that brought to mind eating with your eyes and tasting with your heart.

While the full tasting menu is $85 per person, $125 with wine, the terrace menu is quite reasonable, with dishes designed for sharing. Either way; try Shogun Revolver. You’ll leave wishing you didn’t have to and wondering how soon you can come back.

As for the name, shogun is Japanese for general and revolver comes from the rock band Velvet Revolver. Explaining it technically —that the menu revolves monthly and shogun sounds good with it —doesn’t do it justice. Just think of it as culinary art designed by a genius and executed with perfection.

Shogun Revolver, East Bay Street, Nassau, just west of the Paradise Island bridge, Open Wednesday-Sunday, dinner only, www.shogunrevolver.com. (242) 328-8383. Reservations suggested for inside dining. $$$$.


FLORIDADELRAY BEACHPhyllis G’s Enigma: Old Texaco stations don’t always die. Sometimes, with a bit of luck and a lot of ingenuity, they get a second life as a restaurant. On North Federal Highway in Delray Beach, an abandoned Texaco station has been transformed into an adorable, cozy, homey restaurant called Phyllis G’s Enigma where the food is home-cooked style good and everything from a crock of onion soup to the coconut grouper is served in large portions, tasty and reasonably priced (most expensive item at $20 is broiled seafood combo with salad, rice and veggies). Strong on seafood and pasta, the menu features touches of Italian and Cuban (try the flan) and rounds out the hemisphere with Bahamian conch chowder and thick American burgers. Beer and wine only but you won’t be looking for more once you sip the house specialty, Fall off the Patio Sangria. Visa & MasterCard. Reservations not necessary. 561-243-6377. $$.

FT LAUDERDALE3030 Ocean: From the moment you enter and view the décor, a quiet statement of style, with candlelight, rich woods and intimate window seating, you know this is no ordinary resort restaurant. 3030 Ocean is the creation of Chef James Max Dean, a man so passionate about food he writes a newsletter to 10,000 people about it. A guest chef for companies like American Express, he treats Maine lobster, Seviche, clams, oysters, shrimp and salmon like royalty. Dean carried the passion for food and used it to develop his own style at 3030 Ocean: modern American seafood. We call it amazing. 3030 Holiday Drive, South Ocean Blvd, AIA, Ft. Lauderdale, (954) 765-3030. $$$$.Creolina’s: Jambalaya, gumbo, red beans and rice, crawfish etoufee—if you didn’t know you were in this historic Himarshee section of Ft. Lauderdale, you’d think you were in the heart of New Orleans. Chef and owner Mark Sulzinski’s menu is a trifecta of culinary pleasure: a

winning combination of tasty food served on heaping plates, a décor that’s different and fun, and lively staff puts even first-timers instantly at ease. While Creolina’s is best-known for its Cajun cooking and New Orleans feel and flair, it also offers a wide selection of traditional American favorites including NY strip steak and boneless breast of chicken. Prices are reasonable and preparation choices range from blackened (served with Cajun spices); Provencal (sautéed with garlic, scallions and tomatoes); Nantua (grilled and topped with a creamy crayfish sauce); piquante (spicy Creole sauce) or Au Poivre, (green and black peppercorn sauce). The lunch and dinner menus change often and Chef Mark’s passion for his adopted Louisiana roots is apparent. Lunch: 11am to 2:30pm, Mon-Fri. Dinner: 5-9pm, Sun-Mon; 5-10pm, Tues-Thur; 5-11pm, Fri-Sat. Sandwich window: midnight to 4am Friday and Saturday. $$. 209 S.W. 2nd St., Ft. Lauderdale, (954) 524-2003.

Information in this guide is subject to change without notice. Please call ahead.

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KEY WESTBlue Heaven: Located in The Bahamas Village district, Blue Heaven offers primarily open-air dining in the company of wild roosters, local felines, and the occasional diner swinging on the courtyard’s rope swing. The restaurant serves Caribbean-flavored cuisine praised by the likes of Charles Kuralt. You can’t go wrong with breakfast with the roosters (amazing banana pancakes); lunches like Goombay Gumbo or dinners like pork tenderloin with plantains, chutney, and curry butter. Don’t skip Blue Heaven’s vegetarian black bean soup topped with sour cream and cheese. $$; 309 Petronia St; (305) 296-8666. Mangoes: With both indoor dining and a courtyard overlooking Duval Street, Mangoes is perfect for people-watching while enjoying Floribbean cuisine. Lunch and dinner menus incorporate abundant seafood and tropical fruits in innovative pairings like the Key West Barbecue, a stunning selection of Gulf shrimp grilled with mango barbecue sauce. And don’t miss the sinful black-bottom Key lime pie with an Oreo cookie crust. Reser vations suggested. $$$; 700 Duval Street; (305) 292 4606.

Sloppy Joe’s: A Key West institution, Sloppy Joe’s is a dining and social adventure with festive local fare and atmosphere. The famed Sloppy Joe sandwich is a savory mixture of ground beef, tomatoes, onions and celery. Make sure you indulge in a Papa Doubles, a favorite drink of Ernest Hemingway; it’s a sublime mixture of Bacardi light rum, grapefruit juice, sour mix, 7UP and local fresh lime. This celebrated hot spot plays live music three times daily and is definitely worth a visit. $; 201 Duval St; (305) 294-5717.

WEST PALM BEACHBellagio: Featuring both indoor and outdoor dining, Bellagio offers the

perfect excuse to say goodbye to that waist-conscious fruit and vegetable routine and hello to a hearty serving of chicken breast stuffed with fresh spinach and mozzarella cheese alongside homemade pasta in a delicious creamy sauce. Don’t leave without trying the Tiramisu—while enjoying the fountain of water show that’s synchronized to music and lights. Open seven days a week 11:30am-11pm. Reservations suggested. $$$; 600 South Rosemary Ave, (561) 659-6160.

THE BAHAMASEXUMAPallappa Bar and Grill: Picture this. You’re sitting above a flawless crescent moon beach with sand as pure as salt and cyan-shaded waters when a friendly island waitress who knows you by name offers your choice drink before you even look at the menu. As you take your first sip of that delicious Bahama Mama your brain freezes trying to decide which sandwich you ought to share. Try the Bahamian grouper sandwich or classic American burger and you’ll see why the bar is so popular. The main attraction at the Pallappa are the tropical drinks—Rum Runners, Rum Punch, Yellow Birds, daiquiris and margaritas (shaken not stirred of course) are the perfect solution to beating the tropical Bahamian heat while basking at the most beautiful resort in the Family Islands, Grand Isle Resort & Spa. Continental breakfast served daily and is open for lunch 11am-4:30pm. Swimwear/Tropical casual. $$. (242) 358-5000.Wahoo’s: Eating at Wahoo’s is a little different from eating at most restaurants. First, you’ll notice the parking lot is actually a marina and the path to palate pleasing begins as soon as you pick up a menu. Here an appetizer can be a delightful Caribbean chip and dip or an introduction to an edible Bahamian aphrodisiac, conch salad or fritters. The menu is enough to make you smile. The catch of the day is so fresh it might still be swimming when you order it. There’s lobster, crawfish

and crabs, oh my and no trip to The Bahamas would be complete without sampling grouper, a local delicacy. In addition to serving what locals call fried grouper fingers, Wahoo’s unique grilled grouper with a Creole inspired sauce is sure to tingle the taste buds. Friendly chefs are quick to make your meal complete with pastas and sauces, Bahamian peas and rice, salad beds and other choices. Lunch 11am-4:30pm and dinner from 6pm-9:30pm. $$ Appetizers starting as low as $10. Casual. (242) 336-6516.

GRAND BAHAMAFerry House: Neatly tucked away on the waterfront between Port Lucaya and Our Lucaya Resort, the chic upscale eatery—described by the Miami Herald as “the best kept secret in Grand Bahama”—offers fine dining and fine imported French wine. One of the country’s top rated restaurants, it’s best known for its European flavor infused with American, Caribbean and Asian accents. Sample a taste of seared yellow fin tuna rolled in a sesame seed coating with a sweet demi-glaze and Israeli couscous and you’re floating in culinary heaven. And the crowning touch—the sinfully scrumptious chocolate cake fresh from the oven every 15 minutes. Smart casual attire, no jackets required. $$$; Reservations suggested. Lucaya, Grand Bahama. (242) 373-1592.Prop Club: Offering indoor and beachfront seating with breathtaking ocean views, Prop Club boasts a lively sports bar filled with flat-screen plasma TVs, music and barrels of peanuts. The the casual restaurant’s menu is a step up from the usual pub fare with such favorites as rum-soaked ribs, conch fritters, juicy burgers, fajitas, sandwiches, and salads, to go with a wide selection of specialty cocktails. After catching up on the latest sports scores and refueling with a hearty meal, diners can hit the dance floor as Prop Club turns into one of the island’s most popular nightclubs at 11pm. Open 11:30 to 1am daily. The Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort, (242) 373-1333.

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The Bahamas is an archipelago of seven hundred magnificent islands and keys that are uniquely inter-connected. Theprimary telecommunications service provider is The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (BTC). At BTC,we pride ourselves in providing state of the art technology that is responsible for linking the majorIslands of The Bahamas via a fibre optic submarine cable network with a capacity of tengigabytes and a self-healing ring topology between The Bahamas and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. BTCprovides a next generation network (NGN) capabilities to large and small projects throughout thelength and breadth of our beautiful islands. We offer data, voice and television capabilities tovirtually any location in our Paradise, allowing the world to touch our beautiful shoresthrough technology.

NASSAU

Anthony’s Grill: Located within walking distance of the Paradise Island resorts and next door to Quiznos Subs, Anthony’s has been a staple of the Bahamian visitor diet for years. The popular eatery with its kids-friendly atmosphere is open for breakfast (from 7:30am), lunch and dinner. Starting at 11:30am and running straight through 11pm, you can order anything from the 8-page spread, including some two dozen choices of appetizers, soups and salads. Among the starter favorites: Anthony’s Super Combo—spinach dip, chicken strips, Buffalo wings, pork ribs, conch fritters, and the top choice—Anthony’s famous conch salad marinated, chopped, diced and served fresh each time. Main course choices include a hearty, hefty seafood platter, grilled Bahamian lobster tails, herb crusted red snapper, speared grilled shrimp, as well as burgers, pizza and the all-time meat favorite: sweet, tender baby back ribs. Authentic Cuban cigars can be purchased here. No reservations or jackets needed, casual, lively and fun. $$ Full bar with tropical drinks, beer, wine and cocktails. Breakfast 7:30-11am, lunch 11:30am-4 pm, and dinner menu available from 4pm-11pm. Café Matisse: Twice a day, the smell of fresh baked cookies, biscuits and bread infused with basil and black olives fills the air at Café Matisse.Abundant seafood and meat dishes are the creations by authentic Italian Chef David Fiore. Chef David’s unusual starters include cold pumpkin soup with julienne salmon. Lunch and dinner menus are similar with dinner portions being a bit larger and offerings more diverse. It’s hard to choose between traditional Italian specialities like ravioli and seafood delights like grouper drizzled with a Mediterranean sauce, topped with sugar snaps and crispy potatoes. Dessert’s a treat as well with many

entries including Italian gelati, French créme brulee and various parfaits and fruit filled tarts. Located just off Nassau’s historic Parliament Square, Café Matisse offers intimate indoor and cozy outdoor courtyard dining with interior décor inspired by its namesake, artist Henri Matisse. Open Tues-Sat, lunch served noon to 3pm and dinner 6-10pm. Reservations recommended. Proper dress for dinner. $$$, (242) 356-7012.Circa 1890: Behind a white lattice entry to a small building on Shirley Street lies perhaps the single best food find in Nassau. Located in an old converted cottage, Circa 1890 seats all of 25 persons. The décor is eclectic and quietly sophisticated. The ambiance is so warm it’s as if someone who cares about you invited you into their home for dinner, dressing up the living room for your arrival. Deidre Turnquest, owner and chef, prepares each dish personally with superb quality; it’s as if you had your own private chef. Intimacy and quality abound. Open Thurs, Fri, Sat only 6:30pm-10pm. (242) 356-5445. Fixed price of $65 per head for four courses. All major credit cards accepted.

Graycliff: The only restaurant of its kind in The Bahamas, Graycliff blends old-world charm with 5-star dining. Located in the main house of a 250-year-old Georgia style mansion, the restaurant’s menu offers the finest in traditional Bahamian meals as well as popular seafood and continental cuisines. Diners can feast on succulent Nassau grouper filet served on a bed of spinach with French Dijon mustard. The filet mignon with seasoned butter is a choice dish for patrons seeking a more familiar meal. Indoor and outdoor dining. Open daily for lunch from 12:30pm-2pm and dinner from 7:30pm. Reservations required. Jackets required. $$$$; West Hill St. Nassau; (242) 322-2796.

Provence: The dining experience is an instant flight of fantasy that invokes thoughts of Europe mingled with the warmth of the tropics, balmy breezes and delectable delights. The restaurant offers several daily specials. The lunch menu is surprisingly extensive, ranging from panini, sandwiches and salads to spiny lobster and chicken bruschetta with pesto crostini, parmesan cheese and organic greens or Dungeness crab cakes. Andalusian tapas are especially popular at the sophisticated bar. For dinner start with mouth-watering appetizers like the tuna tartare and a salmon carpaccio, or perhaps the Escargots fricassee sautéed with pommodore garlic fresh herbs, garlic crostini with mozzarella cheese and aioli sauce. Portions are generous, wait staff gracious. The evening is not complete without indulging in a chocolate mousse cake, the ultimate sip of Remy, the final drop of Cappuccino. Open for lunch six days a week from 11:30am-3pm and dinner from 6-10:30pm. Open Sundays for special events. $$$$. (242) 327-0985 or www.provencerestaurant.net.

ABACOMangoes: This Florida native tries to slip slices of the sweet island fruit in almost every dish like his jumbo lump crab cake with mango salsa and chipotle lime. One of the largest restaurants in Abaco (seats 140 in an air-conditioned dining room), Mangoes’ food is a surprising mix of traditional Bahamian dishes meshed with European and Continental cooking techniques. If you walk into Mangoe’s in the afternoon and come back that same night you may not recognize the place or the dishes being served. Lunch menus include light options like grilled conch, grouper burgers and grouper fingers. First time evening diners should start with crispy calamari with sweet and spicy calypso sauce. Thur and Sun after 9pm, Mangoes’ diners can work off their dessert on the dance floor to the sounds of local musicians in the rake ‘n scrape band. Reservations requested. Marsh Harbour, (242) 367-2366.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR YOUR ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATESINFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE A SU ARRIVO A LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS

On your arrival at any U.S. airport all passengers, including those in transit to another country, must fill out a customs declaration (blue) form and, if pertinent, an immigration form (green or white). To facilitate compliance with the necessary documentation you will find some brief instructions on this matter below. Many thanks to you for your cooperation.

A su llegada a cualquier aeropuerto de EE.UU., todos los pasajeros, incluidos aquellos que realizan tránsito con destino a otro país, deben rellenar una declaración de aduanas (impreso azul0 y, si procede, un impreso de inmigración (impreso verde o blanco). Para facilitarles conforme a la documentación necesaria, encontrarán en estas páginas unas breves instrucciones al respecto. Muchas gracias por su colaboración.

ATTENTION• Write your country using English• Write male or female• If you are in transit to another country: Write down TRANSIT TO...in address in the U.S.

ATENCIÓN • Escriba su país en INGLËS • Escriba MALE Ö FEMALE • Si está en tránsito a otro país, escriba TRANSIT TO ..en la dirección en EE.UU.


Havana

Key West

Bimini

Andros

AndrosTown

Georgetown

The Exumas

New Bight

Cat Island

Nassau

Eleuthera

Governor’s Harbour

North Eleuthera

The Abacos

Marsh Harbour

Treasure CayFreeport

Orlando

Tampa

Gainesville

JacksonvilleTallahasseeFort Walton Beach

Pensacola

GrandBahama

West Palm Beach

Fort Lauderdale

Miami

OnePass is Continental Airlines’ award-winning frequent fl yer

program. When you enroll, you earn mileage every time you fl y

Continental Connection—mileage good for free travel re-wards. To enroll in OnePass, call (800) 523-FARE or visit the web site at: www.continental.com

*Valid on all Continental Connection fl ights operated

by Gulfstream International Airlines.

As part of our longstanding Code-share partnership with

Gulfstream International Airlines, you can earn miles on Continental Connection fl ights operated by Gulfstream Inter-national when booked with a

United Airlines code and fl ight number. To enroll in Mileage

Plus call (800) 421-4655 or visit the web site

at: www.ual.com.

*Valid on United & Gulfstream International Airlines Code-share fl ights.

Northwest Airlines WorldPerks members can earn miles and use miles for free trips on NW

or CO coded Gulfstream International fl ights. North-west’s WorldPerks frequent fl yer program is the highest

rated U.S.-based program as reviewed by InsiderFlyer Maga-zine. To become a WorldPerks member you can enroll online

on the award-winning web site, www.nwa.com or call

(800) 44-PERKS.

*Valid on Northwest Airlines, & Gulfstream International Airlines Code-share fl ights.

OnePass is Continental Airlines’ award-winning frequent fl yer

program. When you enroll, you earn mileage every time you fl y

Copa Airlines, Gulfstream coded fl ights—mileage good

for free travel rewards. To enroll in OnePass, call (800) 523-FARE

or visit the web site at: www.continental.com

*Valid on Copa & Gulfstream International Airlines Code-share fl ights.

--Charter Service Only: ALL CUBA Charters are subject to U.S. Government approval.

rOUTE mAP

Alliance Partnerships & Frequent Flyer Programs


284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas (242)302-2800Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island (242)363-3956

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