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.