By Zenitha Prince
Island Therapy
De-stress With Sun, Surf, Food and Fun on Grand Bahama Island
photo courtesy of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
T
he gaily painted building at the end of the steamy 1950s, that water is incorporated into the island via a set
aircraft tarmac was my first clue. Brazenly of manmade channels, created for the pleasure yachts that
cheery yellow wrested a smile from lips that drop their anchors there for fishing or other recreational
drooped with fatigue. I was exhausted, totally pleasures.
wrung out from a grueling two-week stint reporting from It was along one of those waterways that a boat, car-
the presidential campaign trail when I landed on Grand rying the group I was traveling with and a Jewish couple
Bahama Island. and their brood of children, chugged past beautiful, stately
By the time I had driven about 15 minutes away from homes to Sanctuary Bay, where I had my first encounter
the airport, checked into my fourth-floor room at the with dolphins—movie star dolphins at that.
Westin Grand Bahama at Our Lucaya Resort and stepped The island is one of few places in the world where
out onto my balcony, I knew for certain: I had found the people can interact with these water mammals through the
therapy I was looking for. UNEXSO (International Underwater Explorers Society)
Blue—sparkling aquamarine blue—spread out before me program, which offers a range of activities including the
in decadent splendor. Sure I lived near water in Baltimore, family-friendly Dolphin Close Encounter, the more interac-
a city that is perched on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay. tive Swim with Dolphins or for true adventures, the Open
But the concrete-encased, stagnant, murkiness of the water Ocean Experience, which allows you to swim with the dol-
in Charm City’s famed Inner Harbor was no match for the phins or even sharks.
near-unspoiled clarity and self-reviving freshness of the It was surreal to be interacting with the 600-pound
ocean. They were perfect metaphors of my life, really— pair—patting their grey rubberlike backs, scratching their
what it was and what I wanted it to be. vulnerable-white bellies, lowering my cheek for a kiss and
That liquid landscape formed a backdrop for the natural watching them cavort and perform tricks for their spell-
splendor that is the Grand Bahama, one of 700 islands and bound guests, especially knowing that the trained dolphins
keys that comprise The Bahamas, which lies a mere 55 often appeared in movies. I was awestruck, totally enchant-
miles east of the coast of Florida. ed, giggly even.
In Freeport or Lucaya, a tourist haven which was largely The next day, the natural beauty of the island continued
initiated by American financier Wallace Groves in the to enchant as my group toured the island in a caravan of
18 Trends A publication of the Afro-American Newspapers
SUMMER TRENDS.indd 18 6/3/08 9:08:14 PM
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