The Bahamas

My adopted islands are The Bahamas. When you think of The Bahamas you think of elegant beaches, the straw market, cruises, and maybe even The Atlantis Resort. Although these are all very true information about The Bahamas, there is so much more to learn. Let’s dive into some basic facts.

The Bahamas are made up of over seven hundred islands and two hundred cays in the Atlantic Ocean. Only about thirty to forty of these islands are inhabited. There are over twenty-two hundred square miles of beaches. It is a coral based archipelago, a group of islands, that has over two hundred rocks and cays. Some of these islands are uninhabited, but some are packed with locals and resorts. Grand Bahama and Paradise island are the two most common islands and well known for their large hotels. The islands are located in North America and have a population of approximately three hundred and sixteen thousand people. 

Bahamian English is the most popular language spoken. According to https://www.bahamas.com/our-language Bahamian English is a mixture of African influence and island dialect. The dialect and idioms were guided by African slaves, English Puritans, and other settlers. Their language is so unique that it can only be found in The Bahamas. The Bahamians love to talk with tourists and are generally easy to understand. Most of their words sound like the “h” sound is missing. Haitian Creole is another language spoken but not as common. 

The political status and legal traditions of The Bahamas follow The United Kingdom very closely. The Prime Minister is head of the government and they are a part of a parliamentary democracy. They are a former British Colony that is now a independent country and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The cabinet is head of all executive powers, but Queen Elizabeth II is head of the state.  The government is very detailed and there is a lot of good information available. If you want to read more visit http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/bahamas/constitution-politics.

Enjoy this short video clip that talks about The Bahamas. 

https://youtu.be/YmXLXQ3anfA


Travel info:
The best way to get to The Bahamas is by air. If you live near water and want to take a boat or fairy that is another possibility. Cruises are a very popular way that people are using as a cheaper method of travel. The average cost of a cruise from Florida to The Bahamas is approximately five hundred dollars per person for a five night cruise. This is all inclusive so your food and room is covered. Your passport is not a requirement to leave from Florida to go by ship but if there is an emergency you will not be able to re enter the country by air. If you travel by plane make sure you have your passport. The Bahamas do except American money in most places but they also have their own currency. If you prefer their currency, you can exchange it at the airport. Depending on which island you stay on would depend on where you would want to stay. For example, Freeport has beautiful beaches and great restaurants. They also have a large casino. Nassau is known for the resort Atlantis. It has many room, restaurants, a waterpark, shopping mall, and even their own aquarium. Snorkeling, shopping, site seeing are all fun things to do while visiting The Bahamas. 

About Me

    I am starting this blog to help you learn all there is to know about the Bahamas, but before we get into all of the interesting things there are to know about the islands let me tell you a little about myself.

    I am just your average every day working mom and college student. I recently resigned from my local school system so I could stay home and take care of my premature twin girls and pursue my passion to finish my education degree. My husband and I have been married four years and we have loved (almost) every minute of it. I grew up in Gwinnett County in the city of Lilburn. Unfortunately, I have not strayed too far from home. Bethlehem, a small little town, is where my husband and I have built our home to raise our girls. Dogs are a big part of our family. We can not forget about our furry family members. Charlie, Bella, Bo, Waylon, and Jackson. All five of them are part of our family and share our bed. My heart for babies and dogs grows bigger each day.
    In high school, cheerleading and volleyball were my sports of choice and I spent many, many afternoons in a gym practicing. I loved school, but not for the academics. I wanted to socialize and see my friends. Making decent grades was important for me. If I did not have an A than I was not a happy student. It gave me true anxiety to not understand something we were discussing in class but as I got older I slowly started to grow out of that.
    Adventure. I love adventure. Traveling and trying new things is a huge passion of mine. My husband and I  love trying new vacation spots each year. Sometimes we travel to the mountains and sometimes we try out a new beach. This year will be an entire new adventure for our family as we bring our twins along. SPOILER ALERT: we go to the Bahamas often. We LOVE it there. One day I am going to stay in the presidential suite in Atlantis. Of course we will have to win the lottery first.
    I am looking forward to sharing all of my personal experiences and new knowledge about the Bahamas with you. My hope is that we can learn together and become experts on one of the greatest islands in the Caribbean. Bare with me through this blogging journey because I have never done this before.

-Michelle

Always a full couch. We are just missing Jackson. 

Paisley and Peyton