Bahamas, the Beautiful
From the Space Shuttle, the islands of the Bahamas look like a string of pearls.
The name Bahamas comes from the Spanish words “baja mar” which mean shallow waters, given at the time when Columbus made his discovery of the New World in 1492. The allure of the islands’ shores, with its pristine powdered sugar beaches, fringed with palms and casuarinas, has changed little since the day the renowned explorer set foot on San Salvador, just one of the country’s 700 islands.
Downtown Nassau, Bahamas’ main city is only 20 minutes away by taxi cab. It is vibrant with merchant and tourist activity. It’s a mile of everything you’d love to buy; shoulder to shoulder, the stores are a treasure trove of fine goods and souvenirs, the perfect place to find an extra special gift or a keepsake from your vacation.
The Bahamas boasts some of the clearest and most beautiful waters in the world, unspoiled by pollution and enjoyed by both tourists and residents alike. The sea, in particular, offers constantly changing vistas of glorious shades of iridescent blues and greens which can momentarily change to amber shades as the sun rises and sets in the islands.
There are many ways to enjoy the incomparable waters of the Bahamas, both above and below the surface. There are miles of breathtaking beaches ringing the islands, in shades ranging from dazzling bleached white to a delicate rose pink. Offshore, the water is pleasantly warm and good-natured most of the year.
If you want to catch a glimpse of life below the surface, slip on a mask and snorkel and search out one of the many reefs to be found just offshore. Your efforts will be rewarded with a vibrant panorama of marine life, at relatively shallow depths. Most of the hotels have snorkeling equipment for rent and some will even arrange snorkeling trips to other areas for the more adventurous.
But those who wish to stay dry yet not deprived of the experience of the deep, may visit Atlantis, Paradise Island’s amazing underwater world, which offers a behind-the-glass view of an immense variety of the marine world, from the beauty of the angel fish and lacy sea fans to the menacing teeth of a shark or moray eel.
Paradise Island is today’s most sought after destination point for visitors to the Bahamas owing to the popularity of the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort. Only 15 minutes by boat from downtown, the trip will only cost $3 per person if you take the boat from a ferry station at the back of the famed Straw Market.
Northwest of New Providence is the Bahamian Riviera or Cable Beach, where rich tourists usually flock to pursue a lifestyle vacation with a choice of several excellent hotels (Nassau Marriott Resort & Crystal Palace Casino; The Radisson Cable Beach Resort; and the Superclubs Breezes Hotel; among others) all of which have their respective beachheads while being close to the golf club as well.
On the northeast side of Nassau is Blue Lagoon Island, which is about twenty minutes by boat from Paradise Island. The Blue Lagoon’s central attraction is interacting with the dolphins, which one can pet, hug and kiss from a waist-deep platform. The island is also home to Stingray City, an incredible three-acre marine park where the whole family can join in feeding, petting and playing with southern rays with options for scuba, snorkeling or above-water observation.
Arbdes Shamb is the owner of Bahamas
Group which is a premier resource for Bahamas information. For more information go to :
http://www.findbahamas.com