| The Bahamas is a 100,000 square mile archipelago | | | | one of his ships. The beach is in a protected bay that |
| that extends over 500 miles of the clearest water in | | | | faces northwest. It is mostly calm and, even with |
| the world. Our 700 islands, which include uninhabited | | | | strong inland winds, it is still swim able and enjoyable. |
| cays and large rocks. Upwards of 300,000 people live | | | | Bahamas shopping markets do include both high end |
| on the islands. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is | | | | labels and homemade goods at the local Bahamas |
| an English speaking nation | | | | straw markets. Port Lucaya Market place is the |
| The Islands of the Bahamas give the islands a warm, | | | | happening place to be on Grand Bahama Island and it |
| agreeable climate which hardly varies all year round. | | | | is on the must visit list of most visitors to the island. |
| The most refreshing time is between September and | | | | This 12 acre picturesque waterfront complex, |
| May. Casual summer wear can be worn during the | | | | established in 1988, comprises gaily coloured, island |
| day at any time of the year, but be sure to bring a | | | | style clapboard structures and paved brick path |
| jacket or sweater for the cooler evenings between | | | | ways. It is home to 66 retail shops and 13 |
| December and February. | | | | restaurants, 94 straw vendors, 15 hair braiders and |
| A few people, especially in the southern and eastern | | | | 23 artisans, plus a number of water sports |
| islands, practice Obeah, a spiritistic religion similar to | | | | companies, where you can charter a fishing or dive |
| Voodoo. Voodoo is also practiced by the large | | | | boat and arrange for a reef tour. |
| number of immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, and | | | | Gambling is legal in the Bahamas, that is gambling is |
| Dominican Republic. While well known throughout the | | | | legal for everybody, but Bahamians. Bahamians |
| Bahamas, Obeah and Voodoo are shunned by many | | | | caught gambling are subject to fines of up to $500. |
| Bahamians | | | | In the tourist towns such as Nassau and Freeport, |
| Cape Santa Maria is a unquestionably one of the | | | | nightlife in the Bahamas is a vibrant and lively scene. |
| most beautiful beaches in the world, with pure-white, | | | | Night life in the Bahamas on the Out Islands is either |
| powdery sand, stretching about three miles. It is at | | | | quiet or some times barely visible, although there are |
| the island's northern tip, about 15 minutes from Stella | | | | some great pubs and activities just about every |
| Maris, and was named by Christopher Columbus for | | | | where. |