How to be a true, true Bahamian

The headline  of this post isn’t mine. It’s the title of one of the most entertaining and hilarious travel books I’ve ever read, written by a native, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas.

The book

With a twinkle in her eyes, she describes the good and the bad of a true, true Bahamian, the absence of any notion of time, the importance of conch, dress sense, habits and customs or  speech you name it, she has something enlightening and at the same time funny to say about it.

Not that I am a true, true Bahamian (yet), but I’m certainly a great fan. When I’m in Miami, I have it really good. Whenever the fancy takes me, which is quite often, I can swing by the Bahamas at a whim, it’s that close and there are several over night boat trips available which make for a most entertaining mini cruise , food, shows and gambling included if you are so inclined. Those who follow me might recall that I’m not a cruise enthusiast, but this one is very different.

Because, as soon as the ship docks in Nassau, I’m off, taking one of the colorful and quite wobbly, so called ‘ferries’ over to Paradise island, there to indulge myself in a few hours of the Las Vegas style kitsch and glory of the Atlantis resort.

Atlantis resort on Paradise island/Bahamas

One of the fabulous glass art in the foyer

I love to watch the fish

Enjoying myself in the Bahamas

I love to watch the fish in the massive aquarium, to wander through the sunken world of a fictious Atlantis, to watch the gamble maniacs in the casino and to stuff my face with conch sandwiches, fried oysters and the most sumptuous chocolate ice cream I’ve ever tasted outside Italy.

Of course, I have to work off the calories, so I prefer to walk back across the bridge instead of taking a ferry. It takes a while but leads me into the lower end of Nassau with its old white washed houses, churches, Governor’s palace and past the straw market to my favorite, a tiny, tucked away island museum which you have to look for really closely to find .

That’s the place where I discovered the book and got to talking with the sales lady who knew a lot about the history and the author. I much preferred to browse in that museum than running around the straw market which is terribly crowded (because it’ s famous site) and offers mostly junk.

Back on board, I read my book, to be so much the better prepared for my next foray to the Bahamas when I’m back in Miami in the winter.

Tags: atlantis resort nassau, bahama travel guide, day trip to bahamas, paradise island