Let the Summer World Adventures Begin...First Stop: The Bahamas

Part 1 of my Around the World Summer Adventure has begun. First Stop...Nassau, The Bahamas!

I arrived in Nassua in the Bahamas the night before last. YES...I know...I dediced to forego the Cubs "WE Belive" premier...I know, I know...so out of character for me...to tag along with my sister on her work trip. I needed to get out of Chicago for a while (as if a month in Europe won't be enough!!!), so here I am. Do you remember the "Saved By the Bell" season when Zack and the gang worked at a beach resport for the summer? That's kind of what it feels like for me to be here in the Bahamas. My sister has been working (and dealing with a crazy bridezilla this week I might add)...so I have found myself wandering around the beach and pools, making fast friends with all of the help and learning the ins and outs of the island because everyone else who is here is either really old, or young couples on their honeymoon...gag, and I'm finding it hard to relax and just be still for even just a moment! Don't worry, I'm confident the "relaxing part" will come soon. I've just been running on full speed for the past few months of school now that its gonna take me a few days to settle down!

A part of me is wishing that I was in Haiti. This place is certainly nothing like there. I had a nice chat with LeFluer yesterday morning about going back there in August. I don't think that is going to work out, and after talking with Bucky shortly after, we are going to make the December trip happen instead. The guilt set in on the plane on the way over here. This is my first real vacation in almost 4 years...Sure I've gone to Florida to visit family and I've been to some really cool places on mission trips but those doen't count. The sole purpose of this trip is to get away, clear my mind, and relax for a while. But at the same time, I feel a little guilty that I'm spending the money to come here (and in a few weeks to Europe) and enjoy myself and not to serve the people of the country of Haiti who I love so much...but God isn't making that happen for me this summer...He sent me here, and is sending me to Europe for most of July and I have full faith that I will find Him in all of these places... I also decided to dedicate this summer to the essential works of C.S. Lewis. I finsished "Mere Christianity" yesterday. Heavy stuff that I am still digesting and will most likely be commenting on here in the days to come as I sort through it all in my head. I also began "A Grief Observed" which I'll save my commentary on for now, but may just be exactly what I need to hear from God right now...

I've been to Nassau before, but only on a cruise ship. That experience gave me nothing of what it was really like to be in the Bahamas. When we got in, we took a 20 minute cab ride through a cute little neighborhood, where if I didn't know any better, could have mistaken it for any neighborhood in south Florida, on our way to the hotel. Some of the buildings have a lot of British influcence which is pretty cool, but the new constructon (and there is a lot of it) is all pretty modern American. Everything here, at least in Nassau, is Americanized! They have Starbucks, and Gap, and Bally Total Fitnesses ad Tiffanys! What has happened to the Bahamian (pronounced Bohemian) culture???? AND I'm soooo confused. Everything here is backwards. They drive on the other side of the road. The up and down escalators are switched. The hot and cold water is switched. A lot of other things too...I guess its good practice for Europe, right???

The night we checked in, Tina introduced me to a few coworkers, we dropped our bags in our room and headed straight to the bar where I made fast friends with the Bahamian bartender named Robert who mixed me up a really fabulous Bahamian Sangria...YUM! I managed to convince him to turn on the end of the Cubs game , and later the NBA finals which he was way more excited about, and he entertained us for most of the night (Yes, I realize this statement makes me a hipocrite...wanting American entertainment after complaining about the lack of Bahamian culture...but bear with me here for a second). It was fun to sit and chat with Robert and a few other Bahamians who came around during after-hours. They were super-fun, super-laid back, and I got to hear a lot about what their lives are like living on the island. Here's a bit of random information for you...my electric bill last month was $54. Robert's electric bill last month was over $800. Crazy island electrical company! Last night we came back after dinner and convinced the new bartener, Patrick, to flip to the Big G (WGN) just in time to see the Cubbies lose it in the 9th . Sadness! He mixed me up a yummy "Go Slow Mon" drink which apparently I didn't drink slow enough for the 5 types of Rum he put in it! Whoops! I also met a very lovely couple from New Castle, England, UK last night at the bar who game me a lot of great information on traveling in Europe and who liked to say the word "Brillian" after every phrase and/or sentence! The man used to be in the British Royal Navy...very interesting guy. He was most concerned with making sure that I see a Rugby match while in London. I got all the ins and outs of the game of Rugby from him. He told me all about the UK United team (I think that's what the Irish, English, Scottish, Whales All-Star-ish team was called???) who in case you were wondering are in South African playing their national team right now, AND he also made sure to tell me several times that all Rugby players are rugged and cute! Brilliant! Anyway, back to the Bohamians...I'm glad I'm getting to know real Bahamaian people instead of those fake tourist-nappers who try to sell you stuff. Those people are here too...mainly on the beach and in the casino...they keep calling me "beautiful lady" followed by some sort of proposition for free club tickets to Atlantis or discounts on snorkeling...The same lady tried to sell me a time share 3 times within the span of about 2 hours... I just wanted to look at her after the 3rd inquiry, cock my head to the right and say "Seriously?!?...the fist 2 no weren't didn't convince you? Seriously?!?!?"...whatever! .

The Sheraton Resort here is really beautiful. There are 5 pools scatterd among beautifully lanscaped cliffs and waterfals just steps from the beach and the ocean...literally! One of the pools has a swim-up bar where the bartender takes your order right in the water and you can just hang out on the ledge and drink. On the beach, there are 2 small islands in the distance. You can also see Atlantis. Jet skiers, parasailors or a boat in the distance occassionally makes its way across the view, and this morning I've seen 2 cruise ships come in to the harbor which is probably about 3 or so miles to the East; but otherwise it is pretty private...nothing like the business of Chicago, New Buffalo in MI. or Fort Myers/Naples Beaches which is what I've been used to. I've always enjoyed going to the beach...any beach and taking in all of its beauty, but I've never been a "swim at the beach" person. I'm more of a "must be near the water" person; but the waters here on Cable beach beckoned me in yesterdag. They are so clear and warm, and you can literally see hundreds of little tropical fish swimming around you...freaked me out at first, but I got over it...Last night for Tina's birthday, T, her coworker Todd (who is hysterical!!!), and I went to Bob Marley's place for dinner just down the street. This home turned Bed and Breakfast used to be the retreat of the Marley family. The atmosphere was very cool. Of course they had Marley family music playing, lots of family pictures adorning all of the rooms; but the style wasn't that prosaic "hippi-regae, weed-smoking" cliche that everyone in the States seems to make out the whole Bob Marley aura. It was all quite sofisticated actually. We sat out on the back portch for dinner and watched the sunset. Island food is AMAZING. I had lobster and pumpkin soup as a starter. For my mail mean, I had the fresh catch with a sweet potato polenta and some sort of pea/zuchini/pineapple chutney in a sweet sauce (certainly not Haitian food). Bohemian food has this amazing mix of sweet and spice. I can't really describe it properly.

Danielle will appreciate this...I'm sitting here on the beach now just a few feet away from these young girls who are speaking Portugese. I think they might be journalists...they seem to be working on something. Maybe I'll ask later. But it is bring back fond memories of Daniel, Nelson, Diego and FERNANDO in San Diego! :::sigh:::

Well, its time for me to start exploring...Until I get bored again....