Bahamian love

The Bahamas. A country of overs 700 islands and cays, which they will constantly remind you about and a currency that is 1 for 1 with the US dollar and quite expensive as everything has to be imported in from the USA.

I flew in Nassau, which is the capital of the Bahamas, without anything booked other than my first couple of nights’ accommodation, a flight out and a plan to visit the swimming pigs. I flew in with Bahamas air and even though the flight is only 45-minutes, if you have a bottom that is bigger than a small child, there is a good chance you will not fit in the seats properly.

Once l had landed, there were only taxis from the airport (which l have later found out that there is a bus, but they are not allowed on airport property) and had to bargain to get a $20 ride into town as my accommodation or more-so tent in the front yard of an Airbnb hosts property, would not be ready until 3pm…. I arrived at 9am.

I proceeded to head to the ferry terminal as l was told the cheapest way around to other islands, to which l found a ferry that worked a very tight schedule to me but would work for $70 each way in an overnight journey which would save me some money each way on accommodation. I headed back into town and found a bar to sit and relax until 3pm and with $3.23 local beers, it made the afternoon fly by all that little bit quicker. I headed onto my Airbnb or should l say tent after another taxi ride which l paid $15 for but was later advised it should have been $10 and worked out my plan for the remainder day of my stay.

There is a bus system in Nassau which is not properly signed anywhere you go and you just have to ask around for where they pick up in downtown, however each bus is $1.25 for any trip and no matter what, every bus goes to downtown during its route. I spent my second day walking around downtown checking out the city but as l was being strict on my budget, l couldn’t enter any museums. I did spend some money however on a conch salad, which is a fresh made salad with conch (a sea creature kind of like a mussel), and a highly praised local dish which also acts as an aphrodisiac for me.

Sunset from the overnight ferry to Exuma

Day 3 and l was off on my ferry to Great Exuma island with is one of the southern major islands with its main city being Georgetown. My ferry was a basic main cabin shared with locals as it was actually a freight ship and the beds l was told about, well they came in the form of 3 seats next to each other which it was possible to lie down on. The ride took 12 hours which was 2 hours faster than expected even though we were hitting 3 to 4 meter swell and the boat was moving all over with a lot of people falling sick. My Airbnb hosts, Mel and Freddie, on Exuma had kindly offered to pick me up, so l had to wait around for the next 2.5 hours for my ride but was worth it as Freddie proceeded to show me all the main parts of Georgetown so l couldn’t get lost.

I spent my first day walking around Georgetown, checking out the sites to see, the crystal clear blue water that is actually real and not just a photoshop trick in the magazines and sampling some local cooking at the local fish fry. What is a fish fry? It is a series of little shacks set up on the water where the locals consider the real food of the Bahamas is cooked and served. Each island has their own fish fry district and is usually cheaper than any restaurants.

View from my Airbnb in Exuma

Day 2 of Exuma was the main reason l decided to head into the Bahamas in the first place. I had booked a tour with Exuma water tours to take me to the famous swimming pigs. The tour started with a sightseeing section of expensive private islands like the one owned by  and Tim Mcgraw/Faith Hill’s private island. Our first stop was off at a cave we had to swim to get in to which was close to a sunken drug plane, followed by the pigs. This is a sight to see, the story is that they were shipwrecked on the island and they survived by learning to swim which now they are now protected by the government. We then moved onto swimming with a sandbar, nurse sharks, lunch and a visit to the endanged rock iguanas of the Bahamas. The tour cost me $200USD but the day was worth every cent.

Pig Beach

The following day, l headed back to Nassau in the afternoon, again by overnight ferry that was a smoother ride than the first one and onto the airport for my flight to Cuba.

Tips:

• The bus from the airport is 12b. You might have to wait 30-minutes but the bus will come despite what all the people like taxi drivers say at the airport. To catch the bus, walk to the far left of the terminals and walk down the road to the roundabout out front, wait on the side of the road and hail the bus when it comes. To return to the airport, the bus leaves from McDonalds in downtown. Its across from the Hilton hotel. A taxi will cost about $25 for the same journey.
• Each bus ride will cost $1.25 no matter how far you go and every bus route will go via downtown in its route.
• There is another version of the Fish fry in Nassau at the ferry boat terminal which is not as nice as it looks like a back street but the food is still fresh and the people are all friendly
• Mail boats. These exist as the cheapest option in The Bahamas to travel around, however they run on a very loose schedule and to book a ticket, you can speak to a captain or the company of the mail boat. The offices are not open on Saturday or Sunday.
• Buy sunscreen or anything you can from America/home country before entering the Bahamas. As mentioned, it is expensive and sunscreen cost me $15 for a bottle.
• The ferry company l travelled with was Bahamas Ferries and while they told me the journey will take 14 hours, both way was only 12 hours so be prepared for an early morning arrival. There is basic food and drink available for purchase on the ferry.
• Tiki Bikini is a bar you will want to visit if you would like to have a drink. For $10, you can get 4 beers and 4 shots.
• Bus 11 or 1 will take you from downtown to the ferry terminal.
• You must try the Soda Goombay. It’s a pineapple soda and very delicious.