4 Activities to Do While you’re on your Beach Vacation!
Some people wait all year for their holiday. Others can’t stay in one place for too long and are always looking for their next adventure. Whichever type of traveler you are, you always want to make the most of every trip you go on.
Have you heard of the swimming pigs in the Bahamas? Well, they are actually in the Exumas and man, they are fun! Just the sight of them is enough to make you laugh. What a day I spent in the beautiful Exumas! I went on a full-day tour with Exuma Water Sports, and part of the tour is the famous Swimming feral pigs! And yes, they are hungry! You just have to see these pigs! Add them to your bucket list. Enjoy this photoblog!
[Read more…] about Have you Ever Heard of the Swimming Pigs in the Bahamas?14 ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS ARE READY TO WELCOME VISITORS WITH OPEN ARMS
I want to share this press release regarding The Islands of the Bahamas! Most of the islands are ready and willing to have you visit. My trip to the Exumas was absolutely fantastic, and I highly recommend visiting! The Exumas has swimming pigs!
NASSAU, Bahamas, September 9, 2019 – The Islands Of The Bahamas is an archipelago with more than 700 islands and thousands of cays spread out over 100,000 square miles of ocean, starting just 50 miles south east of the coast of Florida. While the country grieves the devastation Hurricane Dorian brought upon two of the most northern islands, Grand Bahama and The Abacos, there is a silver lining. The majority of The Bahamas, including 14 of the most commonly visited islands, remains unaffected by the storm. The warm and friendly people of The Bahamas, along with hotel and travel partners, from Bimini to Nassau and Paradise Island, The Exumas to Inagua, are ready to welcome travelers with open arms.
[Read more…] about 14 ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS ARE READY TO WELCOME VISITORS WITH OPEN ARMSThe last few years have been, for me, at least, a perfect storm. Circumstances have conspired to create the most challenging years of my life. So much so, that there have been times I have almost had to laugh at the continuing onslaught. Although 2014 has been a year of challenge, there have been moments of joy and signs of better times coming. What we learn during the bad times is that there can be no light without the dark, no true happiness without deepest sorrow. As trite as that sounds, it is the truth. I have high hopes for 2015, and plan to do my best in continuing cultivation of a positive, and optimistic, outlook. For now, I wish to share with you the best moments of 2014, it has certainly been one hell of a year!
Randy’s remarkable recovery from a double lung transplant in September 2013 continues! The story is HERE.
My cousin Kathy and I took a quick trip to the Exumas to swim with feral swimming pigs! 
I took a dive trip to Thailand, and was joined by my daughter! It was an incredible trip for us both.
Engagement! My son, Wes, and his fiance, Carisa, with their animal family!
Randy’s first trip out of Dallas since his transplant, we headed to the Texas Hill Country.
In June of 2014 Randy and I took a glorious drive on the Pacific Coast Highway, all the way north to Shelter Cove, CA. Then we met up with friends in Tahoe. This trip really pushed Randy to a whole new level in his recovery. Since then, he has gone up, up, up.
and Lake Tahoe with friends we hadn’t seen in 15 years!
I had a chance to go to Cozumel in August, and met up with an old friend I volunteered with in Mozambique, Leslie. Of course, she’s young enough to be my daughter, and many people thought shewas! A couple of my yoga buddies came along as well! 
In August, my daughter, Alexandra, became engaged to be married! She and her fiance, Mike, plan on an October 2015 wedding.
Then, in September, I went on a volunteer science expedition with Marine Megafauna Foundation. Off the coast of Ecuador 3 currents converge at a small island called Isla de la Plata, and with those currents come Giant Manta Rays and other pelagic sea life. I volunteered to dive and photograph the animals. It was a very physically demanding trip, but I loved every minute.
Then, a one year “Re-Birthday” celebration for Randy….one year post double lung transplant. An important milestone, and just the first of many I know he will reach!
Next, a wedding and Randy’s 40th High School Reunion. What an incredible night it was, we were all so thankful that he was able to be there.
I visited my family and friends in Ohio in October, which was wonderful, and I even went on a hayride with my sistah Holly’s granddaughter, Becca. Then, off to Kentucky for my cousin Brittane’s wedding!
A quick, and successful, trip to Vegas!
Then, time spent with family and friends during the holidays.
I do believe the signs for 2015 are looking good! Two weddings coming up should give us plenty to celebrate!
Happy New Year to you and yours! Let’s all look forward with joy.
I recently returned from a lovely vacation in the Exumas, an archipelago of 365 small islands which are 35 miles southeast of Nassau. Most of these islands, or Cays (pronounced “keys”) have to be accessed by boat. You could visit one island a day for a year and never get tired of the pristine beaches and coral reefs. I chose to explore from Great Exuma, the largest of the islands.
There are many choices of hotels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, but I chose the Grand Isle Resort and Spa, a private and luxurious villa community with all of the benefits of a 5 star resort. Upon arrival, we were greeted at the gate by a very friendly member of the staff. Checking in was a smooth and quick process, and we were soon unpacked and on the beach! The aqua blue of the water has to be seen to be believed! Our week sped by, and we enjoyed every moment we spent at the Grand Isle. Here is why: [Read more…] about 5 Reasons to Stay at the Grand Isle Resort in the Exumas, Bahamas!
The islands of the Exumas, in the Bahamas, offer so much more than swimming pigs! Though, the swimming pigs are out of this world incredible. However, we were offered the chance to swim with sharks, to snorkel, and feed iguanas. Don’t get too excited…just nurse sharks. Don’t get me wrong, I love Nurse Sharks! I just don’t consider them too dangerous. They have very small (but sharp) teeth, smallish mouths, and basically they are bottom feeders. They mostly sleep during the day. I see them diving in the Caribbean often, they are usually asleep under crevices. Nurse sharks are nocturnal, and can grow up to 4 meters (12 feet). I’ve never seen one that large, the biggest I’ve seen is probably 7 or 8 feet. These were 4 to 6 feet long, I’d guess.
Off of Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a largish population of nurse sharks and they feed them squid and other tasty snacks. I had my camera out and was in the water long before anyone else on the tour got in. The word “shark” evokes terrible fear, but once you learn about them and see them in the wild, you begin to understand they are not waiting for a human to eat. Nurse sharks are pretty. They have white eyes, and their skin is very tough and pebbly. I think they have an elegant silhouette as they swim. After a while, several of the tour members finally got in the water with them, a great opportunity to conquer a few fears and gain knowledge!
Also on the agenda were giant iguanas! I’ve seen pretty big ones, but these are monstrosities! They are huge! And hungry, of course. We fed them grapes. I used a stick to spear the grape, then feed the iguana. Kathy, my cousin, and I were lucky on the second tour, and one of the largest ones had a photo session with us. He must have posed for 10 minutes, and he would have stayed there, I am sure. The minute the boat pulls up to the beach, out they come!
Obviously, they are used to people and being fed by them. As you can see, Exuma Water Sports provided Animal Palooza, and I loved every second of it!
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