Abaco, Bahamas!

First of all what a hell of a trip!  They don't call it paradise for nothing.  Perfect weather, great company, awesome scenery.  It doesn't get any better.  Here's how it went.

We packed the night before. I worked until 2 on Friday when I met with Amber and we headed to the airport at 3.  Our luggage was put on while we settled in with Beam and cokes.  From take off to landing totaled 48 minutes. During the flight there was barely enough time to fill out customs forms (our first time using our passports by the way), take pictures of the islands, and enjoy our drinks.

We touch down in the little airport at Marsh Harbour and are greeted by the airport staff grabbing our luggage and ushering us into the customs office.  After an abbreviated version of what I assume would be regular customs clearing we are let through to the car waiting and running out back of the building.  Our friends and hosts have this vehicle there just for when they fly in. It was pretty mind blowing.  

Almost as much so as driving on the left side of the road!  If you have never done that it really messes with your mind, and I was only a passenger. We drove through the picturesque town of Marsh Harbour soaking everything in.  It was like living and episode of Anthony Bourdain's: No Reservations.  The Town was an eclectic mix of beautiful tropical scenery, quaint businesses, people working, people vacationing, multi-million dollar homes, and ghetto slums.  Cars, delivery vehicles, work vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians were scattered about the streets and sidewalks of this decidedly sleepy town.  

After passing through town the road continued on winding alongside the water of the Sea of Abaco presenting breathtaking views at every clearing. 

We arrived at our "chateau" for the weekend and toss everything in the room.  The house is a beautiful two story with a upper rear porch overlooking the channel between  us and Sugar Loaf Cay.  

It not long before we are changed into bathing suits, down on the dock, and into the water.  The water was beautiful, clear, and the perfect temperature. 

There is a reason they call this paradise.  We spent the rest of the day a delightful mix of overwhelmed and elated.  We snorkeled in the Sea of Abaco witnessing basketball sized starfish, a couple lounging stingray, and even a darting barracuda. Snorkeling was quickly followed up with pulling out the sails for the 13ft Hobie cat and taking it for a spin.  If you have never been on a Hobie cat before you must try one.  There is a reason Hobie's catamarans have been built and loved for over 50 years.  I thought it was interesting and sad that this is the first Hobie I had the pleasure to sail and Hobie passed away in March of this year.  His legend will surely live on in the boats, stand up paddle boards, and kayaks being built today.

The next day was a whirlwind of snorkeling, eating, drinking, and site seeing.

We loaded up the Albury Brothers 27ft center console and headed south. We snorkeled over some coral reefs by Sandy Cay and Cornish Cay and relished in the presence of tropical fish, a sea turtle, and a shark.  We hopped to a nearby beach and strolled in the powder white sand. In need of sustenance and libation we cruised over to what turned out to be our favorite restaurant of the whole trip; Cracker P's.  It overlooks the water from it's perch on a small hill.  The mahi sandwiches with Bahamian mac and cheese thoroughly impressed all of us as being delicious and simply elegant.


The next day was rather leisurely. A short bike ride into Marsh Harbour turned into a long one as Amber and I explored.  Our first stop was the grocery store. To our surprise it was pretty much the same as grocery stores in the states.  Some items we didn't recognize but most we did. Some items where more expensive but most were the same.  For instance we bought 3 apples and some drinks. The total surprised us being almost 19 dollars. We didn't realize the apples were going to run 13.77 for the three. They were really good apples though.  After stopping for some Cuban cigars, we meandered back to the house and relaxed before heading out on our next adventure.

Motoring over to Great Guana Cay we did the obligatory hop between Nippers and Grabbers. Both places were full of people and shenanigans. They are very party centric places and not necessarily the types of restaurants and bars that Amber and I gravitate towards but when you go to the Abaco's you have to go to say you did it.

The rest of the evening was spent back at the house simmering in an alcohol, sun burnt, and exhausted state of euphoria. Before we knew what happened the morning came, we were back on a plane, and three full days of paradise were forever locked into memory.