Taino Beach - silence is golden
On the plane that there was an absence of college- age youth, but I still had my doubts. Colette and I kept our fingers crossed and hoped that we wouldn’t land on an island filled with spring breakers. Upon arriving at Freeport, I noticed the deafening silence of the area, yet still very skeptical. Colette’s family hosted me, immediately I felt at home, they were genuinely warm people. Mrs. Parker once worked for the Ministry of Tourism and handed me a brochure of places to visit before leaving Freeport. I acquiesced in taking the brochure, but for the sake of being polite, I smiled and accepted. As I perused through, I imagined the places and they seem to be packed with the crowd I am trying to avoid. I have 5 days to spend wisely and I would like it to be as peaceful but fun as possible.Conch Fritters- delicious!
Day one was all about the beach. I often find myself thinking more clearly near a body of water. It can also be a great way to gauge the kind of crowd present at the beach. I was ultimately pleased with the decision of Taino Beach because no one was there! All I could hear was the drum and bass of reggae music providing the stereotypical island soundtrack of my satiated satisfaction.I spent the rest of my week indulging in the local cuisine - never had conch until arriving in TheBahamas, where it is the specialty everywhere you go.To demonstrate how vast the recipes are, here are a few ways conch can be prepared in The Bahamas: fried, sautéed, jerked, grilled, boiled, conch salad, conch fritters, conch fries, conch chowder, conch stew and my favorite conch fritters with Thousand Island dressing. This aphrodisiac from the sea is quite tasty and is thoroughly enjoyed by the locals.Gully Wash Stand in Port Lucaya Marketplace
My favorite is a drink of The Bahamas is dubbed “gully wash”, not too sure about the etymological history, but it’s a mixture of coconut water, cinnamon and condensed milk. Colette’s cousin Leah, stopped by gully washstand so I could have a taste, very inexpensive drink that can be enjoyed inside of a coconut shell, but that will cost at extra dollar. Whether in a cup or coconut shell - gully wash is simply ambrosial. On my last day in we ventured out to the recently discoveredLucayan caves(Click to read my TripAdvisor Review). It is said that the species in these caves are resemble those from prehistoric age. Didn’t get to see one but the landscape was very aesthetically pleasing.It was a mixture of hiking, trekking and , nature watching The rest of my time in Freeport was filled with sand & solitude with a little touch of nightlife and adventure. This trip created a balance of activities and relaxation, just what I needed to refresh my mind for another semester of hard work and late nights. Thanks for showing me around Collete!