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WELCOME TO THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY OF 700 ISLANDS-THE BAHAMAS [[image]] [[caption]] THE BAHAMAS—This beautiful Country of 700 Islands is a tropical treasureland for two. It's a rainbow of places that enable honeymooners to find paradise and take it in the palm of their hands. [[/caption]] What We Are and Where We Are... The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is a country of 700 islands located only 50 miles off the coast of Florida. There are three distinct faces to The Bahamas—the colonial charm of historical Nassau on New Providence Island; the exciting pace of modern Freeport on Grand Bahama Island; and the lovely, endless Family Islands with crystal clear water and white sand beaches. Nassau/Paradise Island on New Providence Island... As the Bahamian capital for more than 200 years, Nassau is also the seat of Government. Reminders of a vivid, historical past are found in Fort Charlotte, Fort Montagu, Fort Fincastle and Government House. Bay street shops provide international goods with real value for money, and the famous straw market at Rawson Square adds exciting color, with a profusion of Bahamian made straw hats, bags and dolls. Hotels can arrange for all sports—golf, tennis, scuba diving (probably the best in the world), fishing, swimming and sailing. There is a Playboy Casino located at Cable Beach and across the toll bridge, Paradise Island has beaches, sophisticated night-clubs and another plush casino. Everywhere restaurants offer European, Chinese, Japanese, Polynesian and Bahamian cuisine. Freeport/Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island... The "Rivera of the New World" is an apt description of these twin settlements. Night life is the bright life here with El Casino, one of the largest casinos in the western world; top name entertainers appearing at glamorous nightclubs and cabarets, along with local fire-dancing acts. The International Bazaar offers 65 shops with wares from 50 countries. Other interesting features are the Underwater Explorers Society, the world's largest glass bottomed boat, the lush botanical Garden of the Groves, beaches, water-sports and a variety of restaurants. The Family Islands... The Family Islands of The Bahamas stretch like jewels over 750 miles of the crystal clear Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Haiti. Transportation is easy to arrange with regularly scheduled flights to all the major islands as well as via charter flights, mail boats and ferry services. The colorfully named major Family Islands are: Abaco This complex of cays (pronounced keys) and islands stretching in a 130-mile chain, was first populated by English settlers in the 1600s and later became a haven for loyalists escaping the American Revolution. New Plymouth and Hopetown resemble bits of transplanted New England. A popular landmark is the colorful candy-stripped lighthouse at Hopetown on Elbow Cay. Abaco offers visitors a diversified and complete look at Family Island charm with a chance to play at the 18-hole championship golf course at Treasure Cay or to get lost on tiny undistributed isles just big enough for two. Accommodations are just as varied—from a cottage in a quaint fishing village to a spacious suite in a modern resort. At Man-O-War Cay, center of the Bahamian boat-building industry, they are particularly proud of the beautiful ship, the William H. Albury,The Bahamas entry in the international Tall Ships Race in 1976. Deep sea fishing, boat chartering, wind surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling can all be easily arranged—and with as much beauty under the water as above, a diving expedition is a must. There are 16 hotels and resorts dotted throughout the islands and two airports, served by Bahamasair with routes from Miami, Nassau and Freeport. Andros Just 50 miles from Nassua [[Nassau]], Andros is the largest and least explored of the Bahama Islands. The interior, made up of dense tropical forests with tall pines and rugged bush, serves as home for a wide variety of birds including buzzards, ducks, pigeons, doves, pelicans and colorful parrots. The 12 small hotels on Andros are located along the east coast which has parallel to it a 120-mile stretch of underwater barrier reef. On the inside of the reef, water is from 12 to 20 feet deep. On the other side there is a spectacular drop to over a mile in the "Tongue of the Ocean." There are "blue holes" which plunge 200 feet down into the reef and appear a very dark blue against the aquamarine shallows. Hunting, fishing, scuba-diving, sailing, exploring caves and just plain loafing are popular activities. Indian myth and folklore abound; "chickcharnies," for instance, are red-eyed elves who get the blame for any unexplained mischief on the island. Andros has four airports and can be reached via Nassau. Bimini Composed of two primary islands, North and South Bimini provide the best game fishing in the world. From early March to August, the height of the game fishing season, numerous tournaments are held and Bimini boasts some 50 world records. The Hemingway Tournament is named after Continued on page 227 225
