Blogs from Bahamas, Central America Caribbean

In the Bahamas we just want to celebrate. What else can you do when the temperature hovers around 72F, the water's clear to the bottom and folks favour dance music and love songs on the radio? Granted, there is a national election coming so the local talk shows are extra spicy and informative too. You really don't want to ever call anyone a 'mud dragger' but that's another story. This is just a quick wave to let you know all's well with us. Guess we're like the kid's going off to college. If you don't hear from them it means they haven't run out of money yet and they might be studying, if they're not playing cards and socializing. Guilty! : ) Send money or come and see for yourself. Everyone is welcome because we plan ... read more

Title: Boarding and First Day on the Ship Date: 1/20/12 Location: Nassau, Bahamas 1/19/12 First day on the ship!! Got up this morning early, ate a quick breakfast and got Starbucks, made sure everything was in my duffels, checked my email one last time, and got in a cab with other SAS students and parents to go to the ship. I felt very excited and ready to get going as we drove through the morning island traffic to the port. Upon arrival I got in a line and was given a nametag and paperwork to start filling out. I started to feel a little nervous and anxious as I was overwhelmed with the feeling that there was a lot to do. It hit me that this was actually happening and I could see all the students ... read more

I once read that the Tzutujil Mayans of Guatemala believe that when you take one step outside your house, no matter where you are going or for how long; you are on your way home (Prechtel, M., Secrets of the Talking Jaguar, 1999). That belief has always rung true for me. It doesn’t matter if you are going to the store for milk or if you are leaving for, say, 4 months to travel the world. With that first step, no matter what you encounter or where you get side tracked to, you are already on your way home. I think I’ve adopted that belief because it doesn’t matter where I am, knowing that I am on my way home makes the world feel a little bit smaller and in turn I feel closer to my ... read more

Our next island visit is the British Virgin Island nation of Tortola. We decided to remain on dry land for this visit as we’ve snorkeled enough and while Mary went on a “Coast to Coast Scenic Drive” I sampled the historic aspects of this island nation. She traveled in an open air “jitney” through the metro area of Road Town along Tortola’s picturesque southern shoreline, a resort and Blackbeard’s hideout in Frenchman’s Bay. I toured, in a similar jitney, the former Governor’s House Museum, a Sugar Mill Museum and a Maritime educational center.We both ended up along Ridge Road, running the mountain spine of this quaint island, and seeing a cement retaining wall upon which local artists have painted scenes of native life. When the slaves were emancipated in 1834 they were given land by their ... read more

As of today, it looks like the answer may be Nassau! We are currently sitting out a big blow at Nassau Harbor Club in Nassau Bahamas. This year we stayed home in Guelph until the end of November. I had a really great job this summer with my past employer Centennial Optical and we were really enjoying our house and just being home. By the end of October, the cold weather was settling in and the lure of warm weather, beautiful Bahamian waters, and the peaceful boat life motivated us to head south - like the birds! After visiting our friends the Huibers in North Carolina, and the Verlaques in St.Marys Georgia, we arrived at Fort Pierce Florida, where About Time safely sat out the summer and hurricane season. We left the boat further south this ... read more