Bimini

It was a wonderful feeling to find ourselves starting off the “New Year” in a new country. And on New Years Day, after enjoying a morning coffee & hot chocolate with Vince in the cockpit of the boat while gazing out at the gorgeous turquoise waters, I struck off to do the thing I like most to do in the islands--walking the beach in search of shells. (And Vince stayed behind doing what he likes most to do--puttering about with things on the boat). The beach was as incredibly wide and beautiful as I had remembered and still littered with a wide selection of shells. Aside from a few tourists walking their dogs I had it all to myself and soon filled a bag with pretty specimens.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing with our friends, exploring Alice Town and preparing for the big “Junkaroo” celebration planned for the evening. The whole town was involved in this with wonderful costumes, a brass band, dozens of drummers and wildly gyrating dancers of all shapes, sizes and ages. The music was so infectious that soon all of us joined in the excitement, boogeying on down the street alongside the locals. Afterwards, thoroughly exhausted and happy, we moved the party onto the boat “Dana” where we topped the evening off with delicious helpings of cheesecake which Bonnie had freshly prepared in her pressure cooker during the afternoon. (I never dreamt that cheesecake could be prepared that way, but it was every bit as good as the conventional method and used only a third of the time and energy).

Over the next few days while waiting for a weather opportunity to cross the banks and Tongue of the Ocean to Nassau, we had some great times together. We enjoyed a delicious “lobster lunch” at a little beach shack, played cards, read novels, poked about in the local museum and explored more of the town, getting to know some of the locals.

On one day we dingyed up to the massive “Bimini Bay” gated residential/shopping/marina complex which has been built up at the north end of the island by an American developer as a “get-away” destination for the wealthly. We met one of these gentlemen who told us that he paid 2 million for his 4 bedroomed ocean home and that when he wasn’t using it, the resort would rent it out at $1600/night. (Of course there were no takers!) But if we knew anyone interested, we could deal directly with him for half the price--at a “reasonable?” mere $800/night (I think not!) Granted, the place WAS beautiful--fresh new buildings, lavishly landscaped with an incredible community infinity pool--the best of everything. But the hugh complex was virtually deserted--only a handful of people could be seen anywhere. They hadn’t sold a single unit in the past 9 months and there was no beach--only cliffs on one side and marina on the other. Prices had dropped substantially (a 2 bedroomed condo could be had for $300,00) and the Bahamian government had promised a 10 year moratorium on property taxes and duty for anyone buying in. But similar complexes are available everywhere in Florida--within “real communities” with many more options for dining/shopping/recreation--at a fraction of the price/night and so I’m afraid that this will be just one more Biminian enterprise to go bust in the future. This island is really feeling an economic crunch at the moment with abandoned businesses and homes everywhere. It’s not like it was 2 years ago.

The weather everywhere south has been really strange this year and Bimini is no exception. It’s unseasonably cool and very windy but still very “comfortable” in a sweatshirt and downright hot in sunny, protected places. We trust that further south in the Exumas we’ll find the wonderfully warm balmy conditions we so enjoyed 2 years ago. But only time will tell. Until then, we’re very grateful and happy to be here and enjoying the company of good friends. And that’s all that really matters.