AIR CURRENTS Magazine V9i1

AIR CURRENTS Your Complementary Guide to Florida and The Bahamas

Where Did Vacation Go? Get back in touch with your inner sloth

WANNA-DO IT Now it’s easy to know what you want to be when you grow up

WOMEN & MONEY Taking control of your finances is easier than you think

FISHING FOR FUN Hit the water and cast for bonefish

PRESERVING PARADISE Keeping historic Key West historic www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

Volume 9 Issue 1 | CV1

©2007 movado group, inc.

mikhail baryshnikov, dancer, creative force. movado se®. sports elegance in two-tone stainless steel. swiss made. water resistant. movado is proud of its longtime association with the arts. movado.com

284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas (242) 302-2800

•

Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island

Mall at Marathon • Harbour Bay

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Palmdale Marsh Harbour, Abaco

Emerald Bay, Exuma

•

Our Lucaya, Freeport, Grand Bahama

•

Harbour Island

ˆ $ 952-!.

David Yurman Boutique, Bay Street, Nassau (242) 302-2878 #RYSTAL #OURT AT !TLANTIS s -ARINA 6ILLAGE 0ARADISE )SLAND -ARSH (ARBOR !BACO s (ARBOUR )SLAND s %MERALD "AY %XUMA /UR ,UCAYA &REEPORT 'RAND "AHAMA s "IMINI "AY "IMINI

©T&CO. 2008

NASSAU 284 BAY STREET 242 302 2800 PARADISE ISLAND CRYSTAL COURT AT ATLANTIS 242 363 3956 MARSH HARBOUR ABACO 242 367 2473 HARBOUR ISLAND DUNMORE TOWN 242 333 2950 EXUMA EMERALD BAY 242 336 6976

Very famous amongst very few people

Ref. 384.031.600 from the

collection • www.bedat.com • 1-877-BEDATCO (2332826) • © BEDAT & C° LLC, Inc, 2006

284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas (242) 302-2800 Marina Village * Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island Marsh Harbour, Abaco * Harbour Island * Emerald Bay, Exuma Our Lucaya, Freeport, Grand Bahama * Bimini Bay, Bimini

What’s Inside Volume 9 | Issue 1 | 2008

82 91 86

FEATURES 30 Wish List Shopping worth taking a vacation for, with fine jewelry from Cartier, Rolex, Bvlgari and more.

82 Help Wanted Kids learn the answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?”

84 Preservation in Paradise Reclaiming Key West’s good ole’days.

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91 When Did “Vacation” Change?

Climb a mountain or lounge by the pool, vacations aren’t what they used to be.

96 Beach Beauties Small resorts give plenty of reasons to sit back and smile

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What’s Inside Volume 9 | Issue 1 | 2008

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18 24 28 39 51 105 109 110

Letter From the Founder Flybys Inflight Service Menu Island Hopping Florida Fanfare Restaurant Guide Customs Information Route Map

BAHAMAS BOUND 47 Drinks, Art and a Whole Lot of Fun Come sit a spell at Pete’s Pub in the Abacos.

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FLORIDA FUN Brazilian Cout Discover a historic hidden hideaway.

SPORTS & RECREATION Gone Fishin’ Head out with a worldrenowned guide to catch the elusive bonefish.

HUMOR The Herstory of Chocolate The age-old question of why women love chocolate.

REAL ESTATE Give Me That Old Town Feeling The search for a quiet community.

HEALTH & BEAUTY Assessing Risk in Plastic Surgery An interview with board-certified surgeon, Dr. Gregory Neil.

MONEY Women and Money and Power, Oh My More and more women are taking control of their finances.

DINING 102 Sun And...

A dining destination worth the trip.

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www.rado.com

Sintra XXL Chronometer High-tech ceramics

Letter From the Founder Welcome aboard:

F

rom time to time, I talk to you about all of the great things this airline and its family of 500 employees does for you. In this letter, however, I would like to talk to you about the good work another group of people does for you in concert with Gulfstream’s staff of professionals. That group, our PARTNERS IN SAFETY, is the Federal Aviation Administration, generally referred to as the FAA. Our company, as is the case of almost all airlines, is sectioned as follows: Maintenance, Flight Operations and Customer Service. Gulfstream has departmental heads who effectively run those divisions. We have a Vice President of Maintenance, a Vice President of Flight Operations and a Vice President of Customer Service. Those departmental heads operate daily under rules as dictated by the federal government. These rules are called the Federal Aviation Regulations.

To ensure that our airline and all other airlines are operating in strict compliance with those regulations, the FAA assigns one or more persons to work very closely in an oversight position with our departmental heads.

They assign to us a Principal Maintenance Inspector who works with our Maintenance and Quality Control Department, a Principal Operations Inspector who works with our Flight Operations folks and a Principal Safety Inspector who works with our Customer Service people. There are also FAA Inspectors who deal primarily only with avionics, our communication and navigation systems and another inspector who deals with pilot training issues.

Daily, Gulfstream has scheduled maintenance meetings, flight operations meetings and safety meetings whereby we discuss the previous day’s activities and try to determine how we can better improve our performance. We maintain an open-door policy to these meetings and enjoy the FAA’s presence at any or all of these meetings.

Further, as a passenger, you might see an official-looking “customer” seated in the cockpit or in the front row of the main cabin. It is very likely that that passenger is either a Gulfstream internal auditor or an FAA inspector ensuring that all of the rules and procedures which we have laid out on paper are being complied with and do, in fact, work in the “real world” environment. We at Gulfstream continue to work very hard in concert with our PARTNERS IN SAFETY to ensure our customers a safe and professional flight.

Enjoy!

Thomas L. Cooper, Founder President, International Division

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Your Complementary Guide to Florida and The Bahamas

PUBLISHER KENT JIMISON PUBLICATION DIRECTOR WENDY CLEMENTS EDITOR DIANE PHILLIPS CREATIVE DIRECTOR JANICE HARDY EDITORIAL STAFF ALEXAVIA DORSETT ASHLEY HENDERSON ADVERTISING SALES KENT JIMISON TRAVEL MEDIA INTERNATIONAL (954) 346-0712 ADVERTISING SALES FOR FLORIDA & GRAND BAHAMA ADVERTISING OPTIONS, INC. (561) 369-8265 ADVERTISINGOPTIONS@EARTHLINK.NET CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: FAITH FOYIL • LAURIE GAUGH SUZANNE MURPHY-LARRONDE PHIL WENGROVITZ CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: BOB BOWER • ALEXAVIA DORSETT SUZANNE MURPHY-LARRONDE LARRY PHILLIPS • DEREK SMITH TRAVEL MEDIA INTERNATIONAL: 10001 VESTAL PLACE CORAL SPRINGS, FLORIDA 33071 (954) 346-0712 FAX (954) 252-2123.

KJMSN@AOL.COM EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT: (242) 394-0677 DIANE@DPA-MEDIA.COM

AIR CURRENTS© 2008 is published quarterly for the approximately 1,000,000 passengers who travel annually on Gulfstream International Airlines. Copyright 2008 by Travel Media International. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. All opinions expressed in AIR CURRENTS are solely those of the contributors. While every reasonable care has been taken, neither AIR CURRENTS nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage to photographs and material submitted to this magazine. Information contained in these pages is subject to change without notice. Volume 9, Issue 1, 2008.

Subscriptions available for $16.00 per year. Please send check or money order to: Travel Media International, 10001 Vestal Place, Coral Springs, FL 33071, Attn: Subscriptions.

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Exclusive Oceanfront Living on Great Exuma Luxury Privacy Relaxation

8 Oceanfront Estate Sites, 2 and 3 Bedroom Luxury Condominiums, Private Gated Community, All units with Ocean Views

THE PALMS AT THREE SISTERS Great Exuma, Bahamas 866-955-PALM (7256) info@PalmsatThreeSisters.com www.PalmsatThreeSisters.com

Full Amenities Package: Swimming Pools, Restaurants, Tennis Courts, Fitness Center, Health & Beauty Spa & Beach Grille

PHOTOS BY DEREK SMITH

! d e w Pn Great Gifts for Girl Gamers

Bahamas Culinary Team Preps for Germany If you think training for the Olympics in track and field is tough, imagine what it takes to succeed in the culinary arts—all that preparation and tasting and more prep and more tasting. That’s what the Bahamas Culinary team is facing before the super chefs head to Germany in October to compete in the 22nd IKA/ Culinary Olympics. They’ll compete in hot and cold food presentations against 36 international, regional and independent teams from across the globe. Squad management feels the all-Bahamian team is talented enough to come away as winners and hopes to use the forum to establish the island nation as a world culinary capital. The event is held in Erfurt, Germany from October 19–22.

Every girl loves ponies, but gamer girls love to pwn. Basically, “pwn” means you’ve been beaten— bad—and should crawl off and lick your wounds in private. If the girl in your life prefers proving her skills in virtual combat, then these T-shirts from ThinkGeek are the perfect gift (and might even save your butt next time you two go head-to-head). Sexy and cute, these babydoll tees let her express her competitive nature and still look fashionable while she says, “you got beat by a girl.” For the cutthroat gal, try the stretchy and fitted black babydoll tee with “I pwn boys” written on the front in red and white. The softer, “frag you from a distance” gal might prefer two prancing controller-ponies with the phrase “OMG Pwnies!” printed in tan, grey, and red glitter on a black cotton babydoll shirt. Or it might be safer just to get both, because sometimes a girl likes to get up close and personal, and some days she likes to snipe from a distance. These and other fun gaming shirts are avilable at www.thinkgeek.com.

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Your own personal Treasure Island.

You don’t need a peg leg or parrot to go hunting for treasure. You don’t even need a map. It’s found at the breathtaking Abaco Inn daily. So get ready to set sail for adventure or just let us serve it to you on a silver tray.

Either way, it’s a vacation you’ll treasure.

Come Celebrate with Us! Spring Break . St. Patrick’s Day . Easter . Mother’s Day . Memorial Day

Check Our Website for Details .

T A N

Y O U R

T O E S

I N

T H E

A B A C O S

1.800.468.8799 | AbacoInn.com | Elbow Cay | Abaco | Bahamas

“the fishartista™” Inspired by what she calls the intricate detail and vibrant coloring of marine creatures, Florida-based artist Kim Rody’s work is identified by her bold, colourful depictions of marine life. Working with acrylic paints on canvas, Rody strives to convey “the soul of the individual sea creature as well as the surrounding peaceful environment” where the creatures live. Despite painting since high school, Rody worked in the insurance industry for 15 years until she left in 2000 to pursue painting full time. She currently has a studio in Stuart, Florida, though she gets much of her inspiration from The Bahamas. Her art is displayed throughout the eastern coast of the U.S., as well as Texas and The Bahamas. You can find her online at www.fishartista.com, along with a list of upcoming exhibitions.

For the Ladies: The No Yelling School of Fishing Since 1997, more than 5000 fishing enthusiasts have graduated from the “No Yelling School of Fishing”. Doesn’t sound impressive? Here’s the catch; they’re all women. The seminar is offered by Ladies Let’s Go Fishing (LLGF), a Florida-based national organization in conjunction with the Florida Foundation for Responsible Angling (FFRA), and is aimed at attracting more women to the sport of fishing, which has long been dominated by the male species. The organization aims to promote conservation and responsible angling, as well as building a community between experienced women anglers and novices. The regular seminars give women a chance to learn about fishing, or to advance their existing skills in a lively, congenial environment. Seminars are open to both beginner and advanced fisherwomen, with limited scholarships available through the FFRA. For those women who wish to improve their fishing skills or for those novices who want to show their husbands how a real woman catches fish, seminars are taking place on March 28-30 in Ft. Lauderdale, May 16-18 in Stuart, and September 19-21 in Islamorada. For more information on the seminars, special events, membership options, and scholarships, check out the LLGF website at www.

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Head Into the n Zone Forbidde

u ever look e a kid, did yo When you wer r, “What can I set and wonde at your LEGO le brother for t back at my lit build that’ll ge l, if so, then my stuff?” Wel messing with Abandoning O is for you.

Forbidden LEG g, Forbidden rules of buildin LEGO’s sensible mix common eas on how to LEGO offers id icks to create s and LEGO br household item ntions. Don’t edibly fun inve useless but incr e LEGO site, eat guide on th look for this gr s), but you dorse these idea (they’d never en m. w.thinkgeek.co by can find it at ww oley, published and Mike Do Ulrik Pilegaard 327-137-4.

ISBN: 978-1-59 No Starch Press.

u n e M e c i v r e S t h Inflig

ts: le On All Fligh b a il a v A e g ra e Bev Complimentary Coffee, Tea Soft Drinks: Sprite, ke, Tonic Water, o C t ie D , a d o S b Coca-Cola, Clu ter, Ginger Ale a W d le tt o B , te Diet Spri Fruit Juices: Juice, ary Mix, Apple M y d o lo B , e ic Orange Ju ranberry Juice C , e ic Ju to a m To 0 Cocktails: $5.0 key, Bourbon is h W , h tc co S , Vodka, Gin, Rum $4.00 Domestic Beer: Bud Lite $5.00 Premium Beer: Kalik Wine: $4.00 erlot y, Glen-Ellen M a n n o rd a h C n Glen-Elle nu brands and me e m a N : te o N Please otice.

28 | Volume 9 Issue 1 ange without n ch to ct je b su re items a

For the Men: Big Cigars and Motor Cars Few things excite the average manly man more than motor cars and big cigars. For those men feeling the urge to get away for a few days with their closest buddies, the Big Cigars and Motor Cars man-only getaway in Tampa is right up your street. You will live the high life in Tampa, enjoying accommodations at Tampa’s newest luxury hotel, The InterContinental Tampa, He-Man sized steaks at award-winning Shula’s Steak House, your choice of a Maserati Grand Sport or Corvette for your driving pleasure, a hand rolled Arturo Fuente cigar, a tour of the Yeungling Brewery, and tickets to the Tampa Improv. For those manly enough to handle it, the Big Cigars and Motor Cars getaway runs from February 1 through May 31, 2008, and starts at $550 per night/ per person. For more information contact Laura Millett, The Zimmerman Agency (850) 668-2222 or lmillett@ zimmerman.com.

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Maxi Marine Diver - 266-33-3A/92 Self-winding. Chronometer certiďŹ ed.

Beaumont House Bay Street Nassau, Bahamas Tel: 242-322-1851 • 800-51-JEWEL www.DiamondsInternational.com

Water-resistant to 200 m. 18 ct rose gold.

Rubber strap with rose gold elements.

Available on gold bracelet.

W W W . U LY S S E - N A R D I N . C O M

Gold and mother of pearl from Amijones. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800.

Marina Village, (242) 363-1141.

Angelique de Paris.

John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, (242) 302-2800. Marina Village, Paradise Island.

Colombian Emeralds International, the world’s foremost emerald jeweler.

Bay Street and Atlantis Paradise Island Beach and Royal Towers, Nassau; Port Lucaya Marketplace and the International Bazaar, Freeport, Grand Bahama; (800) 6-NO-DUTY or www.dutyfree.com.

Cybel Pearls. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800.

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The Bvlgari Shop, Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5824.

John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau (242) 302-2800.

Polished stainless steel 42 mm case.

Self-winding mechanical movement, Cartier calibre 049 (21 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour), date aperture. 18K yellow gold fluted crown. Silvered opaline guilloché dial.

Rounded scratchproof sapphire crystal.

Steel and 18K yellow gold bracelet.

www.cartier.com BOU T I Q UES CARTIER - NAS S AU: 284 Bay Street Tel.: (242 ) 302 287 2 • PAR ADISE ISLA N D : Crystal C o u rt, At l ant i s Tel.: (242) 363 5808

Angelique de Paris. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, (242) 302-2800.

Marina Village, Paradise Island.

The Love Collection. Cartier Boutique, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, (242) 302-2872; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5808.

The Parentesi Collection from Bvlgari. The Bvlgari Shop, Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5824.

John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800.

David Yurman Boutique. Bay Street, next to John Bull, Nassau, (242) 302-2878; Crystal Court at Atlantis; Marina Village, Paradise Island; Our Lucaya, Freeport, Grand Bahama; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.

The Amoro Group from Colombian Emeralds International, the world’s foremost emerald jeweler. Bay Street and Atlantis Paradise Island Beach and Royal Towers, Nassau; Port Lucaya Marketplace and the International Bazaar, Freeport, Grand Bahama.

(800) 6-NO-DUTY or www.dutyfree.com.

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The rare Conch pearl.

Coin of the Realm, Nassau, Charlotte and Bay Streets.

(242) 322-4862.

Tiffany Swing. Tiffany & Co., John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 3633956; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.

A. Jaffe Signature Bridal jewelry. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800.

David Yurman Boutique. Bay Street, next to John Bull, Nassau, (242) 302-2878; Crystal Court at Atlantis; Marina Village, Paradise Island; Our Lucaya, Freeport, Grand Bahama; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.

The Parentesi Collection from Bvlgari.

The Bvlgari Shop, Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5824. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800.

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Colorful bags from Coach.

284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872.

Bags from Dooney &Bourke.

284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872; Marina Village, (242) 363-1156.

Cosmetics by Chanel. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872; Marina Village, (242) 363-1152 .

The Double C motif scarf by Cartier. Cartier Boutique, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5808.

Liz Clairborne’s Bora Bora. The Perfume Shop.

Nassau, (242) 322-2375.

John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872; Marina Village, (242) 363-1152.

Unique Gifts at Little Switzerland. Nassau, Bay Street (242) 322-8521; Key West, Front Street (305) 296-1998; Westin Resort & Marina (305) 293-8600.

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NASCAR® is a registered trademark of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc

OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER OF

ALASKA • ARUBA • BARBADOS • CURAÇAO T LAUDERDALE • KEY WEST• NASSAU • SAN JUAN • ST JOHN ST KITTS • ST MAARTEN • ST THOMAS • TURKS & CAICOS

Available in Nassau | Bay Street 242-322-8521 Key West | Front Street • Westin Resort & Marina toll-free: 1-800-524-2010 • www.littleswitzerland.com

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Watches from Movado.

John Bull, 284 Bay Street,Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.

Our Lucaya, Freeport, GBI. Little Switzerland; Nassau, Bay Street (242) 322-8521; Key West, Front Street (305) 296-1998; Westin Resort & Marina (305) 293-8600.

Tiffany Grand™ stainless steel bracelet watch. Tiffany & Co., John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-3956; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma. Photo by Charles Masters.

Watches from TechnoMarine. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau,(242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis; Marina Village, Paradise Island; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.

Our Lucaya, Freeport, GBI.

The Breitling Chronometre Certifie.

John Bull, Crystal Court at Atlantis; Marina Village, Paradise Island; Our Lucaya, Freeport, GBI; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Dunmore Town, Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.

Watches from Tag Heuer. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis; Marina Village, Paradise Island, Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma; Our Lucaya, Freeport, GBI.

Watches from Ebel. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis.

bahamas bound

Harbour Island’s famous pink-sand beaches keep visitors coming back time and time again.

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Island Hopping Your Guide to The Islands of The Bahamas From steel drum bands to cab drivers, the inherent charm of the locals makes a stay in Nassau truly a pleasure.

J

ust 50 miles east of the South Florida coast lie over 700 tropical islands and cays that combine the seascapes of the Caribbean with the untouched quality of the South Pacific. Statuesque flamingos walk the shallow waters in search of shrimp while just beyond, along the sun-drenched pink-and-white sand beaches, land iguanas feast on hibiscus flowers. In The Bahamas, “fast paced” is confined to wave runners and roulette wheels. Here, world-class resorts offer accommodations for families, business travelers and couples in search of seclusion. Use our guide to Gulfstream International Airlines Bahamian destinations, and you’ll learn why they say it’s simply better here.

The Abacos The famous red and white candy-striped lighthouse still serves as a beacon to all the sailing, fishing and yachting enthusiasts who come to play in the tranquil waters of the Abacos. The 130-mile stretch of bays, beaches, secluded inlets, pine forests, lagoons and pastel New England-style villages welcomes visitors who seek first-class diversions. The Albert Lowe Museum, located on Green Turtle Cay, highlights the area’s unique culture, from its shipbuilding traditions to its local artists. This quiet island escape entices those seeking unspoiled beaches and an extremely laid-back atmosphere. www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

Volume 9 Issue 1 | 39

bahamas bound

Andros is the largest island in The Bahamas and the fifth-largest in the Caribbean, attracting divers and fishing enthusiasts, as well as casual sightseers.

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Andros Andros is the largest island in The Bahamas and the fifth-largest in the Caribbean, attracting divers and fishing enthusiasts, as well as casual sightseers. Mostly flat, its 2,300 square miles is one of the biggest unexplored tracts of land in the Western Hemisphere. It consists of pine forests, thick impenetrable bush, mangrove marsh and palmlined beaches along the east coast, riddled with lakes and creeks, and most of the local residents live along the eastern shore. Andros has three waterways, or bights, which cut the island straight through, east to west. The Andros Barrier Reef, the world’s third-largest barrier reef lies off the coast, and divers come from all over the world to explore it. The reef plunges 6,000 feet to a narrow drop-off known as the Tongue of the Ocean. The island also offers a vast array of Blue Holes for the experienced diver. These underwater cave systems are found both inland

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and in the ocean, and though no one has even gone in one and out the other, it is believed that they do connect. Bonefishing here is among the best on earth, and Andros is also known for its world-class marlin and bluefin tuna fishing.

Bimini Located a mere 50 miles from the coast of Florida, Bimini is made up of three major islands—North, South and East Bimini—that are rich with history and natural resources.

Most of the islands’ population, about 1,600 residents, live in Bailey Town in North Bimini, while the main tourist center is in Alice Town, also on North Bimini. Most of the hotels, restaurants and fishing operations can also be found here.

It’s believed that this tiny island was once part of the road system of the Lost Continent of Atlantis. But today it’s the fishing that makes this island known throughout the world.

Cat Island Named after the pirate Arthur Catt, Cat Island is the sixth largest island in The Bahamas, located near the Tropic of Cancer. With temperatures in the high 60s during the short winters, rising to the mid-80s in summer, and pristine virgin beaches, Cat Island is one of the most beautiful islands in The Bahamas. Local historians claim that Cat Island residents were the first to see Columbus. The great explorer himself was believed by some to have been welcomed here by the Arawaks.

Beautiful beaches offer an array of water sports. The island’s north side is wild, untamed shoreline.

Boating and diving are among the main reasons to go to Cat Island, and diving lessons are available for novices.

Eleuthera This intimate isle of rolling hills and lush green forests beckons visitors with the subdued charm of

Volume 9 Issue 1 | 41

bahamas bound

yesteryear. Quaint colonial villages echo the history of the island’s pilgrim settlers who arrived over 300 years ago and named the land Eleuthera, “freedom” in Greek.

Vacationers indulge in that same carefree spirit as they roam miles of pink sand beaches that lead to lush plantations where exotic fruits from pineapples to mangos grow in abundance. The mile-long Cave at Hatchet Bay invokes the Earth’s past with spectacular stalagmite and stalactite formations that glitter by torchlight. Eleuthera is one of the longest islands in The Bahamas, 110 miles from top to bottom. Use caution when visiting this idyllic island retreat: You might never be able to wear a (business) suit again.

The Exumas This 365-mile-long string of islands and cays—most of them uninhabited—is the great yachting mecca of The Bahamas. These waters, some of the prettiest in The

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National Trust, encompasses much of the coastline. The park is accessible only by boat and is one of the major natural wonders and sightseeing destinations of The Bahamas, with an abundance of undersea life, reefs, blue holes, and shipwrecks. Portions of the James Bond thriller Thunderball were filmed at Staniel Cay. Not far from George Town, the largest settlement on Great Exuma, is the rapidly growing Emerald Bay area with 5star Four Seasons resort, luxurious condotels at Grand Isle, the recently opened Emerald Bay Yacht Club & Marina and the famous Greg Norman Golf Course.

Bahamas, are also ideal for fishing (bonefishing especially).

The Exumas stretch more than 100 miles from Beacon Cay in the north to Sandy Cay in the south.

The Exuma National Land and Sea Park, protected by The Bahamas

Grand Bahama Island A favorite port of Old World pirates and modern day rumrunners, Grand Bahama remains largely untouched since its swashbuckling days. Those seeking adventure can explore uncharted primitive forests, scuba dive through prehistoric

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underwater caverns, or swim side by side with dolphins. Freeport/ Lucaya offers posh resorts with service designed to pamper, splendid oceanview suites, and nightlife from casinos to musical revues. This tropical metropolis appeals to the sports minded with championship golf, renowned tennis facilities and deep-sea fishing. Discover vibrant island history where remnants of the Arawaks, the native Bahamians, depict the ancient culture that invented the definitive tool for the skilled beach bum: the hammock.

shows and upscale casinos where visitors revel—and gamble—into the night. From steel drum bands to cab drivers, the inherent charm of the locals makes a stay in Nassau truly a pleasure.

Paradise Island

Nassau Captains of all walks of life have long welcomed the sight of the sheltered harbor in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas. Parliament Square in downtown Nassau displays the island’s colonial history with the Old World pageantry of the Supreme Court and the traditionally dressed police force. Visitors roam through the straw market filled with

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handwoven baskets before heading to scores of designer boutiques that house fine jewelry, watches, leather and perfumes. Hit the white sand beaches for the ultimate in water sports and relaxation. The club scene comes alive with lively cabaret

Aptly named, this island treasure attracts the world’s most recognizable people for worldclass yachting and casino action, Bahamian style. Stately hotels line the sugary sand beaches and pristine reefs adorn the shallow coastal waters. Though the jet-setters call this port the Monte Carlo of the New World, the island’s West End retains the flavor of its colonial past with white picket fences, exotic flowering plants and breezy front porches. Visitors can slip into the island mentality without leaving luxury behind.

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bahamas bound

Drinks, Art and a Whole Lot of Fun Bahamas Peteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pub

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By Laurie Gaugh

PHOTO BY LARRY PHILLIPS

I

PHOTO BY BY DIANE PHILLIPS

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n the 1940s, Canadian art professor Randolph Johnston left behind Toronto and what he called “the megamachine” of the western world, sailed on a schooner to an outer island of The Bahamas, and, at a tiny deserted beach in 1951, began his new life in a cave.

Johnston wasn’t alone. He’d brought his wife, artist Margot Broxton, and their three sons along to the secluded tropical spot which they named Little Harbour on the island of Abaco in the northern Bahamas. For years, Johnston and his family lived a Swiss Family Robinson adventure, dwelling in good weather on their boat and in rough weather, taking refuge in the safety of the cave. Even as they built their thatched hut, or earned dollars transporting goods on their schooner, they continued to develop their true passion—art.

The family went on to achieve international fame as artists and sculptors, using the 5000year-old “lost wax” method in the casting of their bronze sculptures, many of which are sold in prestigious art galleries around the world. One of Randolph Johnston’s most notable pieces, St. Peter: Fisher of Men, rests in the Vatican Museum in Rome.

I came to Abaco by chance (a writing job I’d found online) and was thrilled the day I happened upon Little Harbour. We’d rented a car and while looking for a beach, found ourselves trying to negotiate a winding, hilly, pot-holed, rocky road seemingly leading nowhere through a forest thick with strangling vines, twisted pines and palm trees.

At the end of the terrible road lay a perfect half-circle of white sand beach, and beside it, the tiny settlement of Little Harbour.

The first thing I noticed was that places to stay in Little Harbour were rather small. A dilapidated sign in no particular spot read, “One Particular Harbour,” after the well-known Jimmy Buffett song. I walked beyond the sign, over a sandy hill and down again, and came face to face with the vast aqua-blue wild heart of the ocean. The waves were crashing hard onto big jagged rocks, thundering up jettisons of water and dousing me with salt spray. I scanned the beach up and down and saw only washed-up seaweed and more rocks. Clearly, this was a spectacular place.

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bahamas bound

I soon learned its history back on the other side of the hill, at Pete’s Pub. Pete Johnston is one of Randolph’s three sons who grew up in the cave, and since I once lived for a while in a cave myself—on the coast of California when I was 21—I was interested in the man.

Pete owns not only Pete Johnston’s Gallery and Foundry where he and other local artists showcase and sell their sculptures, but this outdoor pub, the only drinking/eating establishment around. With the

PHOTO BY BY DIANE PHILLIPS

pub’s ramshackle and homemade, folksy décor, I felt as if I’d walked onto the Gilligan’s Island set. The “building” is the essential cruiser’s watering hole complete with salty old sailors, and it’s constructed out of boards from the original schooner which the Johnston family washed 48 | Volume 9 Issue 1

ashore on. The floor is pure sand and walls don’t exist at Pete’s Pub, although on the ceiling rafters hang hundreds of t-shirts which visitors have left over the years after too many piña coladas. I ordered a piña colada myself and chatted with the waitress behind the bar. Pete, she told me, was nearby. If I went for a walk—it takes five minutes to walk from one end of Little Harbour to the other—I’d bump into him.

Over grouper burgers and drinks, our waitress told us how she and a boyfriend sailed to Little Harbour years ago by accident, which seemed to be a common theme, and she never left. “This place kind of grabs you,” she said. She also told us if we were lucky, we might catch a wild boar roast that goes on until the last person stumbles home at dawn. Pete himself often sings a medley of sea shantys with his guitar.

Later, I went for a walk to the end of the village, hoping to run into Pete. I never did find him, although I did come across many of his bronze statues glimmering in the afternoon sun. One, standing alone and near the water, was a life-size woman who looked as if she’d strolled out of the ocean; seaweed was growing

out of places where you’d expect body hair and vines encircled her legs. As I was admiring the statue, Sam, an electrician who said he’d left his hometown of San Diego forever because “he couldn’t take the crowds of America anymore,” suggested that I watch the bronze woman carefully, since “every year her seaweed beard grows a quarter inch.”

And that’s about the pace of Little Harbour. In a world spinning hot and fast, it’s comforting to know there’s still a little space left in it for those wanting to create their own reality far from the madding crowd.

If You Go: Little Harbour is 30 miles south of Marsh Harbour, Abaco, off the Great Abaco Highway. Getting there is much easier by boat than by car. At Pete Johnston’s Gallery and Foundry, most items are for sale but some are part of Johnston’s personal collection. The studio is open daily from 10am to 4pm. You can visit the foundry by appointment. Pete’s Pub is open daily from 11am “until everyone leaves at night.” Closed in September and October. www.petespub.com.

Lauded by Time magazine as “one of the new generation of intrepid young female travel writers,” Laurie Gough is author of Kiss the Sunset Pig, newly released with Penguin, and Kite Strings of the Southern Cross: A Woman’s Travel Odyssey, shortlisted for the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award, and silver medal winner of ForeWord Magazine’s Travel Book of the Year in the US.

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Florida fun Children young and old will discover magic at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando.

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Florida Fanfare Your Guide to the Sunshine State

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ention Florida and instantly images appear of white-sand beaches, endless expanses of blue sky, sunshine and sparkling turquoise waters, but Florida offers much more. World-class restaurants, shopping, museums and cultural events fill city streets, while theme parks, nature preserves and historical parks cover more square miles than sunbathers. Here are just a few of the many things to do while visiting Florida.

Fort Lauderdale Often referred to as the “Venice of America,” Fort Lauderdale is worldrenowned as a yachting and sporting destination. Boating enthusiasts enjoy the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the biggest in the world. Water lovers will also delight in water skiing, kite surfing, canoeing and kayaking, while landlubbers will revel in hiking, biking and fishing. Fort Lauderdale’s diverse ecosystems provide a magical world of flora and fauna. Scuba Diving magazine has named Fort Lauderdale one of America’s “Best Dive Destinations” and “Best Overall Value” for diving. For those who enjoy a more leisurely day, Las Olas Boulevard provides boutiques and art galleries, world-class cuisine, sidewalk cafes and jazz houses. Tucked away in the heart of the city is the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District, a delightful assortment of shopping, dining, waterfront parks and major cultural attractions.

Fort Walton Beach

Top: Key West’s Eco Discovery Center. www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

Refreshingly quaint, Fort Walton Beach is a charming seaside resort town, with dazzling, snow white sands, brilliant green waters and a distinctly Southern grace characterize the Emerald Coast.

Home to several museums, one of the more popular attractions is Gulfarium, a park featuring marine life exhibits and performances. Shopping and dining are captivating experiences in historic downtown Fort Walton Beach. For those who prefer to explore the great outdoors, the 100 Fathom Curve draws closer to the Volume 9 Issue 1 | 51

Florida fun

Visitors to Key West can pet a shark, tour a cemetery, visit Hemingwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former home with a wall dedicated to portraits of his wives and lovers, or experience the riches of a spectacular salvage expedition.

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area than to any other spot on the Gulf, providing exceptional diving, snorkeling and shelling. Saltwater fishing is a universally recognized sport here, and the bounty of the sea yields cobia, triggerfish, king mackerel and more in the “Billfish Capital of the World.”

Gainesville The city’s Northeast Historic District is a 63-square-block area of 290 historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The University Art Gallery and Teaching Gallery at the University of Florida offer alternating exhibits year-round, all open to the public.

Century Tower in the center of the university’s grounds houses one of Florida’s four carillons. While you’re there, stroll through the primitive foliage of the Lake Alice Wildlife Preserve that edges the campus.

Jacksonville You’ll find the best of two worlds in Jacksonville, a metropolitan giant with urban amenities

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bordered to the east by miles of wide Atlantic beaches. Boasting a sunny, year-round climate with average temperatures of 78 degrees, Jacksonville offers 20 miles of soft, white beaches and more than 50 golf courses. This lively urban area is a magnet for those who want big-city thrills such as greyhound racing, major sporting events and a spirited nightlife. Jacksonville Landing is a bonanza of shopping, dining and entertainment from morning till evening. Visitors are likely to catch one of the many celebrations held throughout the year, including the annual Jazz Festival or International Sea & Air Spectacular.

Key West Visitors to Key West can pet a shark, tour a cemetery, visit Hemingway’s former home with a wall dedicated to portraits of his wives and lovers, or experience the riches of a spectacular salvage expedition. The island’s beaches offer ample sunning and water sports opportunities, while beneath

the surrounding turquoise waters, historic shipwrecks, a living coral reef and a myriad of marine life beckon underwater exploration.

Hardly a weekend goes by without some kind of special event or festival. January brings the Key West Literary Seminar, celebrating the island’s heritage as a writer’s haven.

In July, the 10-day Hemingway Days Festival begins with writer’s workshops, costume contests and other activities. In late October, Fantasy Fest features revelry and surprises to the island.

Land lovers can discover the coral reefs without getting their feet wet at the Key West Aquarium, the first tourist attraction in the Keys. And no visit to Key West is complete without viewing a sunset at Mallory Square or atop LaConcha Hotel.

Miami From parks to animals, shopping to nightlife, you can be sure to find the right activity to fit your personality and budget. Nature lovers will enjoy Everglades National

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Florida fun

Park, the third largest national park in the continental United States, with 1.5 million acres of rare and beautiful ecosystems. Miami Metrozoo lets you experience the excitement of the world’s jungles with more than 800 animals in a 290-acre habitat. For late-night fun, head for South Beach and Coconut Grove, where you can dance the night away in a trendy nightclub, sample the fare at a world-class restaurant or shop at the stylish boutiques. Check your calendar because Miami also hosts festivals throughout the year, including Taste of the Grove, a food-lover’s paradise, Coconut Grove Arts Festival, for those who are more artistically inclined, and Calle Ocho, an extravaganza of Cuban music, food and dance.

Orlando The Orlando/Kissimmee/Lake Buena Vista area is home to some of Florida’s best-known attractions.

Walt Disney World theme parks guarantee to bring out the child in

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us all. Adventurous types will want to check out Universal Studios Florida, where they can “ride” their favorite movies. More thrills can be found at SeaWorld’s newest attraction, Kraken, a floorless roller coaster that plunges underwater. Make time stop and enjoy New Year’s Eve every night at Disney’s Pleasure Island.

Downtown Orlando boasts Church Street Station with restaurants, shops and games for the whole family.

Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven slows you down and offers stunning botanical gardens and Southern belles in billowing skirts. On the water, the action-packed water ski shows are as thrilling as they are entertaining.

Pensacola Known as the “City of Five Flags,” Pensacola’s rich history lends itself to fascinating historical sites, giving tourists the chance to soak in its varied and colorful past. Within just a few blocks, Historic Pensacola Village offers guided tours of exhibits including furnished period

houses, museums, and archaeological sites spanning from the earliest Spanish explorers to the 1920s.

The downtown area burgeons with art galleries, theatrical and symphony performances, bigname musical stars, and delightful restaurants and shops ranging from down-home to exquisite. To the west is the Naval Air Station, which boasts the world-renowned National Museum of Naval Aviation and hosts the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show each November. Also in this area is the 16th-century Spanish Fort San Carlos de Austria, Fort Barrancas and the Pensacola Lighthouse, which was built in 1859 and is still in use today.

Boasting some of the most pristine white sands in the state, Pensacola’s breathtaking beaches offer the perfect setting for a seaside vacation. Most are protected by federal and state programs that keep them pristine and easily accessible to the public. Gulf Islands National Seashore provides a protected environment for more than 280

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Experience the

Boest ft

he Islands

ay Packages Day-dAitiw on to daily scheduled transportation service

In ad ance to experience the Islands of The Baham , Bahamas Fer the ch arbour Island Package Includ as in ways neverries also offers v is e H before a New igh-Speed Ferr y Service from Nassau to s: vailable. itors H a r b • H o u r o Island a rical Island tour f Scenic Harbour Island nd Hote • Histo t use for the entire day l Pick-up r a C f l o • G k S n i a n P d o t B s s e e a c c c h A e s c • Publi ic Bahamian Lunch nt • Authe

s: $174 Children under 12 Adult Package Includes (Availabl : $114

e for gro os ups of Andr pristine beaches or tour the historic settl 15+): ement of • Enjoy u t r n e r t y r a i d p s e t n F o o t r y h a e e d s I r h Creek s u l a t n a d of A • S e Tours and Bonefishing available upon r ndros r u t a N equest • Children under 12: $45 s: $80 Adult quire on our Day-A way package: Ad ults w/v in ehicles Also $155

Call for Reservations

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Florida fun

The South Florida Fair is a must see for those visiting the area. Check your travels dates to see if the Fair is in town when you are.

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species of birds, nature lovers will delight in these unspoiled stretches of shoreline. The more active vacationer will enjoy fishing, windsurfing, snorkeling or scuba diving in the Gulf or Pensacola Bay. Nearby Milton, dubbed the Canoe Capital of Florida, offers opportunities for camping, canoeing, kayaking and tubing along its crystal-clear spring-fed waters.

Tallahassee With its rolling hills, canopied roads of moss-draped oaks, and Southern charm, Tallahassee defies the stereotypes most people hold when it comes to Florida. With the Gulf 25 miles away and the Georgia border only 14 miles to the north, Tallahassee is strategically located in an area known as the Big Bend, straddling the foothills of the Appalachians and at the juncture of Florida’s Panhandle and peninsula.

Magnificent plantation houses, the newly restored capital building and the Museum of Florida History

reflect the city’s deep-rooted history. A great deal of the appeal of Tallahassee is that it retains its youthful spirit, despite its long history. Florida State University, home of the Seminoles, is the second largest university in the state. There’s also Tallahassee Community College and Florida A&M University. The city is brimming with school spirit, and football season is a colorful and exciting time to visit when there is a game in town. With college students around, a thriving nightlife is far from lacking. But if a leisurely day about town is more your style, you will find every sort of shopping, dining and interesting things to see graced with Southern style and hospitality.

Tampa Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is 335 acres of family adventure, combining world-class animal habitats with heart-stopping rides. The exotic African theme whisks you to another land as easily as the many roller

coasters whisk you into the air.

For something different, try Duck Tours of Tampa Bay, a narrated 80-minute land and sea tour in a genuine WWII amphibious vehicle.

Wander along beautiful Tampa Bay, with shops, restaurants and sights for visitors of all ages. Be sure to stop by historic Ybor City, restored to its old-time charm. Watch Cuban cigar makers roll a stogie in Ybor Square, and dance the night away along La Séptima.

West Palm Beach Take a drive on the wild side through Lion Country Safari, one of the world’s first cageless zoos.

For the less brave, the Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park is the number one family attraction in Palm Beach County. This 23-acre zoological garden is home to more than 400 animals from around the world. For stargazers, the Aldrin Planetarium offers exciting star shows and spectacular laser light concerts.

2007 ASID Design Excellence Award: INTERIOR DESIGN

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Brazilian Court Palm Beach’s historic hidden hideaway

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he rich are different. They stay at the Brazilian Court, Palm Beach’s oldest and most treasured small hotel. Hidden on the tranquil residential road of Australian Avenue with its manicured mini-manses, behind a long canopy that guards the entryway from prying eyes, the Brazilian Court has been a stalwart of Palm Beach society since 1926. A product of the Roaring 20s, it began its first incarnation as a residence before being turned over to famed architect Rosario Candela whose lavish apartments remain among the grandest in New York City, and a bit later, to the architect who left his mark throughout Palm Beach, Maurice Fatio.

The hotel’s elegance has been re-cast twice, once in 1936 and most recently in 2003, each re-inventing of its identity careful to retain the Mediterranean Revival lines and the bones that made it special—thick, solid walls, pecky cypress ceilings in the lobby and lounge area, palm and fern-lined courtyards that lend intimacy and the cachet of discreet privacy in the heart of the hub of hob-knobbing. Its own literature describes it as “attracting celebrities, aristocrats, politicians and socialites” ranging from Greta Garbo to Tommy Hilfiger.

Air Currents went on the road for a visit to check out this historic, five-star wonder that received national historic preservation status in 1994 and is now being converted into condotel suites with price tags at up to $3.5 million. (Room rates in summer start as low as $329 for a studio.) Like classy ladies and fine wine, the Brazilian Court improves with age. Conversion to a condo hotel has brought new luxury—bathrooms you could live in, large plasma TVs, a spa and salon, pool. As you dine in the courtyard where Chef Daniel Boulud’s creations have won him adoring fans from the Big Apple to this seaside town, your imagination drifts to the days when Cary Grant danced the night away with a star in his arms and the stars above for candlelight. (www.thebraziliancourt.com) —Diane Phillips www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

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PHOTO BY ALEXAVIA DORSETT

Gone Fishin’ Life, liberty and the pursuit…of bonefish

By Diane Phillips

PHOTO BY DIANE PHILLIPS

T

he sport of bonefishing has been called alluring, gripping, addictive, relaxing and if you are wondering how something that is gripping can also be relaxing, it’s clear you’ve never stood on the bow of a boat over sandy flats or waded in a creek beyond the mangrove line and cast your line to catch the elusive ‘bones.’

Bonefishing is all those things—gripping, addictive, even seductive—but when we tried our hand and the bonefish returned the compliment by trying our patience, it wasn’t alluring or stress-busting that came to mind. It was the phrase first cobbled out of the Declaration of Independence and more recently adapted in part in a Cadillac commercial that kept haunting me: Life, liberty and the pursuit. I kept finishing the sentence adding the words “of bonefish.”

Pursuit—that’s the real, the underlying fascination with the sport that’s been known to reduce CEOs to cowering silent beggars hoping to hook just one.

Unlike big game fishing where it takes a combination of brawn and brain to land 200 pounds of fighting flesh, bonefishing is a mental game. It’s as far from an Ernest Hemingway day on the rough seas, battling a 300-pound marlin or sailfish, as a Model-T is from an Indy 500 entry. Bonefish average four to six pounds, though rarely one has weighed in at 15 or more. But pound for pound, they are said to put up the most fight of any fish in the sea. And because they zip past at up to 25 miles an hour, they make up in speed what they lack in bulk to keep themselves safe from much larger predators, including humans.

And that is the position we found ourselves in. There we were, the three of us, friends from Nassau, standing on the bow of an 18-foot flats boat that had seen better days with a bonefish guide who was about the best in the world, we www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

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Sports & recreation reckoned, having You grovel, begging for keeping or eating to fall for your itty bitty met at least one a slithery little slippery other before, and silvery fish that you have bit of shrimp dangling from your 8- or 9-foot the words kept no intention of either playing over and keeping or eating to fall fly rod with about 200 yards of backing. over: life, liberty for your itty bitty bit of It becomes personal. and the pursuit shrimp dangling from Just you and the fish (of bonefish). I your 8- or 9-foot fly rod you never see, the one wondered what with about 200 yards whose name you’ll the others were of backing. It becomes never know or make thinking. It wasn’t until much later up, the one you’d just personal. when I asked and like to lay eyes on for Alexavia, Alex for short, confessed, “I a second. You get real quiet and like was praying, ‘Come little fishy, fishy, Alex said, you start praying, just one fishy, just one little fish, please.’” little fishy please.

Which made me feel a lot better This, of course, is an amateur’s about the life, liberty and pursuit-oftake on bonefishing, but heck, bonefish-broken-record in my head. everyone has to start somewhere.

None of us had ever gone before But that’s the thing about (I tried once kind of, but that didn’t bonefishing. count). And we were lucky. We were Unlike other sports where you in just about the most beautiful place give it the best you’ve got and you in the world for bonefishing or for act or become stronger, faster, just being alive, a small resort with rougher, tougher, more powerful, a big reputation called Cape Santa bonefishing turns you into focused Maria Beach Resort in Long Island Jell-O. You grovel, begging for a in the southern Bahamas. Give me slithery little slippery silvery fish that you have no intention of either the choice of a thousand places to 62 | Volume 9 Issue 1

go and Cape Santa Maria will be at or near the top of the list every time.

Two and a half miles of crescent beach, shallow blue, turquoise and shimmering green waters so brilliant in color you have to stare hard to make sure it’s not a painting. Private cabanas right outside your villa and the accommodations are island style, luxury finished.

Somehow, we said a temporary goodbye to that wondering whether we had made the right decision to climb aboard Bert’s boat which must have agreed that we did not.

With winds steady at 18-20 and gusting higher, experienced ‘bones’ as bonefish are called are extremely sensible and hide even better than they normally do which as far as we could tell was their most outstanding personality trait. That means bonefishers also stay home and adjust their bait or fly or rod or reel or catch up on a magazine about other bonefishers’ tales, woes and wisdom. We did not have the luxury. We were there for one day and one night and this was the day www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

Discover Paradise..

that we were going bonefishing, even if Bert’s boat which always behaves chose that very day not to.

The ride was rough, but given a choice between being on the water and not, at least two of us would have voted for exactly where we were. The real problem was that the flats were anything but. They resembled hills and valleys bathed in water, not the kind of environment where you can watch for the slightest movement beneath the flat calm water, cast a line silently and pray like Alex, ‘Come on, little fishy…’

But perfection comes in many forms and sometimes in the most surprising places and moments.

On that day, with strong winds blowing, after breakfast of homemade banana bread, hot coffee, freshly squeezed limeade made from limes off the tree just outside the window, we left behind the warm hospitality of the resort that had just been ranked number one in the Bahamas by TripAdvisor.com and we headed out for the adventure.

The first hint of perfection, other than what we left behind like overstuffed chairs on the patio overlooking the dramatic sea, was our guide, Bert Adderley. Medium height with a round face and merry eyes, Bert is the kind of guy any woman in her right mind could fall in love with. He’s like the teddy bear www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

Located on the famous Three Sisters beach on Great Exuma, Exuma Palms offers newly renovated rooms with private balconies overlooking the beach and ocean. All rooms have the comforts of home, with air condition, cable TV, ceiling fan, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and two queen beds. Our restaurant and bar offer breakfast, lunch and dinner with daily specials and happy hour. Enjoy local Bahamian cuisine as well as standard fare. When the mood strikes, watersports, golf, hiking and shopping are all close by. Whether you want to just lay or stroll on our white sand beach or go for a sail, Exuma Palms Hotel is the place for you!

THE EXUMA PALMS HOTEL (242) 358-4040 • Fax: (242) 358-4041 www.exumapalms.com Great Exuma,The Bahamas

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Sports & recreation “Shannon Glyn” 30X40 acrylic on canvas

fishartista® • Original paintings • Gicleés on paper & canvas - all sizes • Notecards, holiday cards & posters

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you hugged as a kid to their lodge of You watch for the but better, since he’s choice to order a thick slightest movement handy on a boat. steak for dinner. beneath the flat calm We had heard all With Bert, the water, cast a line silently the stories before seriousness that we and pray like Alex, about how you have feared vanished. He ‘Come on, little fishy…’ had already calculated to be silent when you are bonefishing, tides and wind and keep your eyes peeled, don’t make knew if we were going to catch any startling moves. Everything anything it had to be in a highly we had read and from my first protected area. He put us at ease and experience, bonefishing was a sport before we knew it, we were singing that attracted those normally highlyon the way out to what turned out to stressed or high strung people be almost a milk pond hidden from because it forced quiet and patience. view, laughing and sharing stories.

Its very rules allowed them to Once inside the creek, we readied unwind. Standing in the flats or on the lines and began casting, adjusting a flats boat, casting the line, waiting the drag as he demonstrated. Every for the catch, reeling it in, maybe minute that we cast and held or measuring or weighing it and then reeled in and re-cast felt like an detaching it, sliding it gently back hour. The lack of action was taxing. into the water and starting all over And then, finally, Marilyn’s line hit again. Serious business, this catch first and you’d have thought we and release. It’s not that bonefish won the Florida lottery. “I got one, aren’t edible. Being among the most I got one, I got one.” Flies, jigs, careful eaters in the sea, feeding off tippets, all the terminology suddenly shrimp, catfish and small crustaceans, became valuable parts of our new they’re reportedly very tasty. But lives as bonefishers. Then I got one, they don’t get their name by accident and Marilyn got another. Finally, and cleaning and preparing the Alex, about to give up, wondering bones is an art form that takes more what she had done wrong in life, patience than catching them so most felt a nibble. With Bert’s gentle folks go just for the sport and return instruction, she reeled in and just as www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

she was about to be so excited about her first catch, he showed her how to release it and as she did, it took one look at her—it must have been male—and planted a big slobbery kiss on her cheek. She freaked, and quickly recovered. “This is exciting,” she said, “except for that part.”

All in all, we caught seven bonefish that day, probably none greater than four pounds, and I caught a small blue runner, a member of the jack family. I put him back, too, reluctantly. They make great eating with a bit of garlic and onion fried up in a pan as the sun goes down and the anchors are set for the night.

But I digress.

Bert is the kind of There is a reason why guy any woman in bonefishing attracts her right mind could doctors, lawyers and fall in love with. He’s stock brokers to places like the teddy bear like Cape Santa Maria you hugged as a kid Beach Resort or the but better, since he’s lodges of Andros handy on a boat. closer to Nassau, why

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moguls and highly paid executives fly from all over the United States, South America or Europe to book appointments with one of the certified bonefish guides in The Bahamas.

It may not make you

stronger like weightlifting or faster like track, but it re-sensitizes the senses. It reminds you to appreciate the molecules of air, the water, the silence and the wind. It is not only about the pursuit of bonefish. It is about the pursuit and the finding of happiness.

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The Herstory of Chocolate Why women love chocolate

By Faith R. Foyil

I

heard that Americans consume three billion pounds of chocolate each year. So when I watched the TV commercial actress take 30 whole seconds to savor one tiny square of Ghirardelli chocolate I assumed she scarfed down the other 15 pieces later.

Chocolate, believed to be an aphrodisiac by the Aztecs, was originally called Xocolatl. But Cortez, the sweettoothed Spanish conqueror and apparent linguist, foresaw how “X” words would be relegated to the back of the dictionary and changed the name to “chocolate.” Perhaps this word also sounded closer to other trendy Spanish foods of the time like Cheetos, Cheerios and cheddar cheese. Cortez brought chocolate beans to Europe. He left the Aztecs with a great big thank you and an even bigger smallpox epidemic. English colonists brought chocolate to America and the rest was history—or perhaps herstory since women statistically consume more chocolate than men.

Women report feelings of elation after eating chocolate. This may be due to the release of endorphins, like we get when exercising, but without the sneakers and water bottles. But releasing endorphins, while good, is not the only reason today’s women eat chocolate. We have many other valid reasons including PMS, stress, holiday celebrations, birthday parties, trash day, Monday through Sunday and being awake.

Sometimes one special calendar event gives us an even greater excuse to eat chocolate. Like Lincoln’s birthday.

That date always works for me. And right after Lincoln’s birthday there’s Valentine’s Day. This is the day when true love runs deep, as does my hand into a large bag of Nestles’ chocolate morsels stashed in the kitchen cabinet under the pretense of intending to bake cookies.

Valentine’s Day was originally a pagan festival named after a religious guy named St. Valentine who apparently liked chocolate. This reminds me of another chocolateoriented holiday, Halloween, which is the currently non-religious holiday named after a once religious celebration known originally as All Saints Day. And, since we’ve www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

temporarily segued off chocolate onto the topic of holidays and their origins, here’s my personal favorite: Those Nine Long Months, the precursor to Labor Day. So it’s obvious that Labor Day, Halloween, Lincoln’s birthday, Valentine’s Day and just about any day is the right day to eat chocolate. And it should be noted that, in addition to the addiction, er tradition of eating chocolate on special days, some people, on these special days, as crazy as it may sound, actually give chocolate away!

I decided to be trendy and give chocolate away to my kids which I’d purchase while grocery shopping.

I headed to the store at 11am. There were plenty of senior citizens, young mothers and pre-lunch temptations. The bargain hunter in me found it hard to resist the two-for-one priced giant bags of chocolate. It was exciting. Kind of like a shoe sale, only the bargains would end up on my thighs, not feet.

“The secret is to buy something you really don’t like,” a fellow shopper said.

“Yes, I know,” I said. “But these peanut M&Ms are tough to resist.”

“Try some Skittles,” she suggested. “You won’t eat them but the kids will.”

“But Skittles aren’t chocolate,” I said. “I really wanted to give chocolate.”

I left the big bad, er, bag candy aisle and headed to the cash register candy bar display. I figured I might be less tempted to steal chocolate from the kids if I only bought them individually wrapped bars.

If you’ve read this far and are now inspired to hop on the chocolategiving bandwagon, you’ll discover the world is your coco-asis with tons of brands and types to choose from as sold by a multitude of retailers.

And for any guys reading this who wish to impress a special female, keep in mind that we women love flowers, clothing and jewelry, too. And they’re even more romantic when accompanied by a big kiss— Hersheys will do just fine.

Faith Foyil is a humor writer and the author of Sunny Daze and 101 Haiku for Moms. A regular contributor to AIR CURRENTS, she was the June 2006 winner of the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Group.

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Rum Cay, Bahamas

Isle of History, Mystery and Breathtaking Beauty

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here are moments that tug at your heart and never let go—the first time you hold a newborn, the sight of her all grown up graduating from high school, then getting married.

Granted, it’s not the kind of emotion you usually experience with geography unless, of course, you’ve been to Rum Cay, Bahamas. If you have, then you’ll understand that it is possible to fall in love with a place. You’ll accept the quickened pace of your heartbeat when you approach the dramatic limestone portal that welcomes you to Rum Cay’s private world. You’ll sigh, remembering the calm that comes over you when you sink your toes into the talcum powder sand or float among the mangroves in the protected ponds or snorkel through the twin bays.

It is hard not to fall in love with Rum Cay, a once-remote isle in the south-eastern Bahamas, now easier to access.

Rum Cay lies 180 miles southeast of Nassau, 360 miles east of Miami and 40 miles from Great Exuma. It measures all of nine and a half miles long by five miles wide and is home to a year-round population of about 100 persons.

Today, there is good reason to pay attention to Rum Cay Once the pristine find of a privileged few, Rum Cay is opening its doors to the privileged many.

The main reason for the change is a company called Montana Holdings Ltd., headed by an energetic Englishman named John Mittens who moved lock, stock, barrel and family to The Bahamas after a serious love attack with Rum Cay where he bought 897 acres in 1999.

A telecommunications giant, Mittens spent 12 years with British Telecom and 17 with Cable & Wireless, part of that as chairman of the C&W Wireless Messaging Council, coordinating e-mail and Internet services across 50 countries. He’s better known publicly as founder and CEO of the I21 network, the largest fiber-optic network in Europe. It’s only worth pointing out to get the full impact of the magnetic pull required to lure a man like Mittens, an entrepreneurial pioneer in a booming telecom industry, away from the fibers, optics and power of the high-tech world to invest in excavation, development, preservation and protection of a remote island in The Bahamas that he could not get out of his mind.

“Sometimes,” confesses Mittens, who lives with his wife and two daughters in Nassau, “I think I must have been nuts and then I fly back to Rum Cay and fall in love all over again and there is no doubt in my mind that this is the most beautiful place on earth.”

Despite its tiny year-round local population, the place Mittens calls “the most beautiful” on earth has a surprising

wealth of things to do if you love the water—and enough boaters, divers and surfers do, that Rum Cay is kept just busy enough. Most of the activity centers around Sumner Point Marina. In addition to attracting fishing vessels and cruisers, it’s the area that draws surfers from as far away as California and Hawaii to catch the waves. The waters on both sides of the island, and the twin bays on either side of a small offshore isle, lend themselves to full days of swimming, diving, snorkeling, fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing or just exploring by small outboard or dinghy.

For the more adventurous, roaming the 45-square mile island by vehicle is like finding yourself in the midst of a re-enactment on the Discovery Channel. From Indians to shipwrecks, cattle and horse ranching to pineapple and sisal plantations, centuries of history unfold in a telltale piece of pottery, a rambling rubble wall that once guarded livestock, the sight of a boar in the wild. First inhabited by gentle Lucayan Indians who named the land Mamana, it was the second landfall of Christopher Columbus who renamed it Santa Maria de la Concepcion. Legend has it that it takes its present name from a rum-laden vessel that ran aground off its shores, spilling its liquid gold to the delight of the few islanders who showed their appreciation by naming it after their surprise bounty.

Throughout history, Rum Cay has seen its share of National Geo-worthy drama. In 1861, the 101-gun, 1400man crew British battleship Conqueror went down with all sails filled with wind, running smack into a reef off Rum Cay, leading to this letter from a crew member reported weeks later in a February 1862 Illustrated London News: One of the finest line-of-battle ships in her Majesty’s service—the Conqueror, 101 guns—three days ago in the highest state of discipline and preparation for war, with nearly 1400 persons on board is now a useless wreck…

No lives were lost and most gear was salvaged but there was other bad news—the entire cargo of wine and ale was destroyed.

If Rum Cay’s 600-year history has been seasoned with intrigue, with good fortune and bad, its future could be the kind of stuff of which island dreams are made.

Montana Holdings has unveiled plans to transform 897 acres of rolling hills and lush interior and its extensive shoreline into a quiet, prestigious resort community modeled after a cozy Italian hillside waterfront village. The company plans private villas and single-family residences, a small boutique hotel, spa and fitness center, 9-hole golf

course, equestrian trails and a Blue Flag megayacht marina. They have already sunk nearly $30 million into the project’s infrastructure. Where one large tree had to be removed, Montana Holdings planted what will become a new forest. They spent $1 million on historic and environmental impact studies.

Despite housing market concerns elsewhere, reservations are coming in at a fairly steady pace at preconstruction prices and the picture is rosy for the island that is coming of age.

“Rum Cay is an untouched treasure and development must proceed with extreme care,” says Michael Farrant, Chief Operating Officer of Montana Holdings. “That’s the only way benefits can be maximized without damaging the pristine environment.”

Farrant says careful development will translate into “better health care, new schools and the opening up of jobs that will keep the young people of Rum Cay from having to leave their homeland to seek work in Nassau or elsewhere.

This is the island that all of us at Montana fell in love with and those who call Rum Cay home deserve to have protected.”

Getting there: Fly Continental Connection to Nassau and hop on one of the reasonable charters to Rum Cay. If you are connecting with a boat, Continental Connection flies directly from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami daily to George Town, Exuma, 40 miles away. Private aircraft can also use the new 4,500-foot runway at the Rum Cay airport.

Where to stay: If you are not on a boat, your best bet is the cottages at Sumner Point Marina where the accommodations are reasonable, food good and the company lively. (www.rumcaymarina.com) Investing: Check out www.rumcay.com.

Real Estate Give Me That Old Town Feeling Just make sure it’s got all the new amenities REAL ESTATE’S NEW WAVE Homes in communities like Bayroc on Cable Beach in Nassau, above, attract buyers who want 24-hour security and instant access to highend amenities ranging from clubhouses to spas along with the feeling that they are part of a community.

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By Diane Phillips

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hen it comes to real estate, what’s old is new again, but with a distinct twist.

Buyers are opting for that old town feeling, just so long as it comes with all the new amenities.

“The search for sprawl is giving way to the quest for community,” says Larry Roberts, President of the Bahamas Real Estate Association and Chairman of Bahamas Realty. Tighter clusters of top-end townhomes and smaller setbacks in single family residences are the result of homeowners’ seeking the most for their money along with a sense of belonging. Location is still number one. “In The Bahamas, the sea, either being right on the beach or having a view of the water, is still the primary determinant of value, but second to a waterfront or water view location, it’s a sense of community in a quality-built, amenity-rich environment— www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

Florida Housing Market Showing Signs of Rebound

Above: Seabridge, a $200 million ocean view community in Nassau maximizes elegance within and activity opportunities outside.

Top right: Sumptuous baths and kitchens like this one in Ocean Club Estates are strong selling points in a market that demands perfection. www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

There are signs the housing slump that has crippled the Florida real estate market is beginning to loosen its grip with some areas, particularly on the west coast and parts of Palm Beach County, on their way to a rebound.

The 2008 Fund Real Estate Forecast report by Hank Fishkind, Florida’s premier economist, commissioned by the Florida-based Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund’s Consumer Education Campaign, found positive Bill Tison indicators for Sarasota on Florida’s west coast and nearby Manatee County. Compared to other regions in Florida, the volume of home sales remained high and while average home prices are down from the beginning of last year, they are significantly higher than they were towards the end of 2007.

Other regions in Florida show mixed results. Orlando remains the strongest residential market, thanks to the fast-growing industries of tourism, healthcare and defense manufacturing while Miami-Dade continues to struggle, largely as a result of a condominium over-build.

The pockets of good news are widening. Boynton Beach-based Re/Max broker and 35-year veteran of the real estate industry, Bill Tison, cautions people to remember that recent trends should be taken in context. “Florida certainly has seen an economic boom over the past two to three decades and that boom has impacted real estate prices,” he says. “While the market has experienced a certain amount of loss recently, it has been cushioned by the state’s overall prosperity which was impossible to sustain indefinitely. Many property prices had been artificially inflated due to demand. This current drop in value, while seemingly noteworthy, may bring these property values down to a more realistic level in comparison with the rest of the country and that is likely to make Florida more attractive again.”

Tison sees the current state of the market as an anomaly. “A year ago it was a buyer’s market, now it’s a bargain hunter’s market,” he says, “and those who act fast may get a lot more home than they thought they could afford for a lot less than they ever expected to pay.” Certain areas seem to have a built-in cushion, he notes. “While overall sales in Palm Beach County have declined, those cities like Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Lake Worth that invested in creating lively downtowns have remained desirable relative to other markets and that’s an important economic lesson for all of us going forward.”

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Real estate

and that’s new. Not long ago, second to location, size mattered most—size of lot and size of home.”

If lot size is taking a back seat to individual and collective amenities, buyers are becoming more savvy— and more demanding—about what they want in a community.

According to William W. Williams, a director of Atlantabased Source Development Group LLC, which recently broke ground on a $200 million development of

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high-end townhomes in Nassau, homeowners expect quality construction, top-end appliances, magazine-worthy cabinetry and sumptuous bathrooms. “Elegance within and activity opportunities outside,” says Williams.

“You don’t realize how much the market has changed until you stop for a moment to think about what your parents’ expectations were,” he suggests. “A house on a lot big enough that they could add on if

the family expanded, a place to barbeque on Sundays or toss around a football, a garage where you could store bikes and tools.” Today’s buyer wants perfection when they move in.

“Stainless steel appliances used to be a luxury. Today they are expected,” Williams adds. “It’s part of our way of life, wanting the best now, wanting our private space to be posh and our common space to be friendly.”

Banking on the financial ability of homeowners to afford their champagne taste, Source Development designed luxurious townhomes and condos with huge square footage—three- and fourbedroom residences up to 4,320 square feet—and pre-construction price tags starting at $1.8 million.

The 10-acre development on West Bay Street could eventually have a total of 90 townhomes. The initial phase is expected to be completed within 18 months.

“What we are seeing is people who want that old town feeling, being part of a neighbourhood, so long as they have all the new amenities,” says Williams. “Green space, swimming pools, a sense of being in your own private home while enjoying the comfort of security together are as important a part of the package as granite counter tops and marble baths.”

The connecting-to-community phenomenon that gave rise to places like Ocean Club Estates on Paradise Island centred around golf, tennis, boating and a lifestyle that was once reserved for vacations is expected to be the main driving force behind sales of mid- to highend condominiums, townhomes and gated communities in 2008.

Ocean Club Estates leading sales brokers Mario Carey of Bahamas Realty and Peter Dupuch of ERA Dupuch Realty Ltd. believe that lifestyle behind those privileged Paradise Island gates is without parallel for those who like an active life.

“You’re close to Atlantis with all the dining, attractions, casino and shopping options yet you are in a very private world with the golf www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

Ocean Club Estates on Paradise Island in The Bahamas. club, great Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course, now the new beach club and every residence is either right on the water or has a view of the water,” says Carey who has enough certification letters after his name to populate a new real estate alphabet.

And Dupuch agrees: “People who could live anywhere choose Ocean Club Estates. There has to be a mighty good reason.” Listings for a single-family residence packed with luxurious amenities and practical utilitarian features but with narrow setbacks range from $3.5 million to $17 million. And sales are brisk.

“Part of the change is very subtle,” explains Bahamas Realty’s Silvina Andrews. “A few years ago, when sales of condominiums and townhouses began to pick up because the newer ones just had so much more to offer, clients used to say they were tired of all the maintenance of owning a single-family home. Today, they are saying they want someone else to handle maintenance but they also want to know that the activities that bring people together are all available—a clubhouse and fitness center, one or more pools, jogging trails, maybe a Par 3 golf course or practice greens, lighted tennis courts.

It seems like the more technology separates us by allowing us to use email instead of talking to each other, for instance, the more people search for ways to connect. And the real estate market reflects the desire to find ourselves not just in a house, but in a community.” www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

Volume 9 Issue 1 | 73

Health & Beauty 74 | Volume 9 Issue 1

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Assessing Risk in Plastic Surgery Air Currents interviews board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Neil AC: Why do you think plastic surgery is becoming more and more popular?

DR. NEIL: We wake up, comb hair, brush teeth, dress and accessorize. We present ourselves to the world in the best possible light, helping it to along with a smile. We all want to look our best. More and more, plastic surgery utilizes the most sophisticated tools along with less invasive surgery and shorter recovery times. We can do it with minimal risk and minimal down time, so why not.

AC: What are the risks of plastic surgery?

DR. NEIL: There are risks which apply to all surgical procedures such as

“Sophisticated tools... less invasive surgery... short recovery times”—the reasons plastic surgery is becoming more popular.”

risk of anesthesia, bleeding, infection, and scarring. There are risks and more specific to plastic surgery... consider breast implants for example. Technology has allowed us to greatly improve the reliability of such devices since the 1960s, but they still have to be sized right and put in the right place to look symmetrical and natural. Intense scarring around breast implants may lead to a rare condition called capsular contracture which may necessitate additional surgery. We discuss such risks associated with specific procedures when we first consult patients who are interested in these procedures.

AC: Why do they call it plastic surgery anyway?

DR. NEIL: Plastic surgery comes from the Greek word plasticos, which means “to mold.” The specialty includes reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. Many plastic surgeons also are experts at hand surgery. Reconstructive surgery means repairing defects caused by accidents, gunshot wounds, cancer, natural aging, birth defects, etc.. Cosmetic surgery developed as a refinement of reconstructive surgery. If we can repair a broken nose to make it look great, we can apply similar principles to help someone who is not happy with the shape of their nose even though it’s not actually broken. Other principles we apply to reconstructive surgery such as hiding scars in natural skin creases can be applied to eyelid lift, facelift and breast augmentation with a short scar under the arm so there are no visible scars on the breast.

AC: I know most plastic surgery is very safe, but you occasionally hear about plastic surgery “gone awfully wrong.” How do you prevent problems in plastic surgery?

DR. NEIL: I think one of the best ways to minimize risk to the patient is to give them good information. Many patients will come to my office having researched procedures on the Internet. Not all the information they are going to get on the Internet is written by experts, but it’s a start. Knowledgeable www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

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Health & Beauty

The other good reason for spending time with the patients are also my happiest patients. Knowing expected patient is to help create realistic expectations. Your plastic benefits of surgery as well as a working knowledge surgeon can never meet or exceed expectations unless of common complications helps our clients to avoid they invest the time to communicate what are realistic problems. expectations. I will often bring someone back for a second Working towards good health before plastic surgery session with me if I feel their expectations are unrealistic. will minimize risks of anesthesia and improve blood Most times, I get the spouse or significant other, maybe supply so tissue heals well with fine line scars. Stop even family members involved. People tend to remember smoking because nicotine starves your skin and tissues what they expect to hear. Family members and significant of oxygen and slows the healing process. Serious medical others are very useful to remind patients of important conditions such as diabetes and connective tissue information affecting recovery. disorders may affect your ability to heal according to schedule. A blood pressure medicine called a diuretic may also decrease blood flow to the skin after surgery, AC: Do you do anything in your pracyour doctor may be able to recommend a substitute. If tice which is unique to help get patients you had previous problems of anesthesia, mention this to through surgery? your doctor. Avoid herbal medicines such as garlic tablets, DR. NEIL: For some of the more difficult cases, I have ginkgo biloba, ginseng root, flax seed oil, Noni juice, no hesitation in consulting experienced colleagues to get goji juice, omega-3,6,9, cod liver oil, vitamin E, aspirin, their opinion. If someone has had surgery by another Coumadin, and NSAIDs. These act as blood thinners plastic surgeon, I first encourage and may increase bleeding and them to return to that surgeon for complications after surgery.

“Your plastic surgeon can never meet their follow-up care. If they are Avoid fat burners, tea and or exceed expectations unless they unable to do so, I make a point to caffeine after surgery to improve invest the time to communicate what contact the surgeon and let him blood flow to the skin. are realistic expectations” know I am assisting with the care Surgery is always stressful. of his patient. Very often this will Talk to your doctor if you give him an opportunity to send me relevant operative have a tendency to become depressed or if you’re on reports or impart valuable information which will assist medication to control mood swings. Support from a me with delivering good care.

Not only is this good for peer group, counselor, psychotherapist or psychiatrist the patient, but I think it’s also good manners. may be beneficial before and after surgery. Many young successful people have surgery and do not take the time to rest after surgery. Rest is a very important part of AC: What are some of the procedures you recovering so that you can heal well and I get back up to really enjoy doing? speed quickly.

DR. NEIL: Three times per year I pack my instruments

AC: How can you really tell them all the risks if you want to sell the surgery? Aren’t you afraid you’ll scare them off?

DR. NEIL: I’ll tell you a little secret. Every time they show an episode of “plastic surgery gone awfully wrong,” my office is overflowing with new consultations for the next month or two. Showing bad outcomes on TV doesn’t deter people from having plastic surgery, but they start choosing more carefully who will be their plastic surgeon. We don’t need to sell plastic surgery, the patient is already sold on plastic surgery if they are sitting in my waiting room. They are not in my office to decide on plastic surgery, they are in my office to decide if I will be their plastic surgeon.

At the first consultation clients want to know if they can trust the surgical team to take good care of them and it’s not all about the money. Patients develop confidence when they realize you’re willing to tell them the truth.

If someone doesn’t want to hear the truth they probably should not be having plastic surgery.

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and travel to remote areas where we do free outreach reconstructive surgery, mostly for kids with birth defects.

Seeing the results of challenging reconstructive surgery is really how I get my kicks. I will say, though, that I enjoy seeing the boost in self-confidence that my patients get from even simple cosmetic procedures. Simple procedures which I do frequently include injectable fillers such as Restylane, Botox for frown lines, rhinoplasty, eyelid lift, breast augmentation, and breast reduction to reduce large painful breasts. I like the underarm approach for breast augmentation because there are no scars on the breast. We specialize in a technique for breast reduction which gives minimal scars and a longlasting perky result.

Dr. Greg Neil is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon practicing in The Bahamas since 2001. His practice includes cosmetic surgery, reconstructive surgery and microsurgical reconstruction of the hand. Cases are performed in hospital or at a private surgical suite (outpatient). Favorite quote: “Plastic surgery is no substitute for healthy living”

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money 78 | Volume 9 Issue 1

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Women and Money and Power, Oh My T

oday’s women learn more, work more and earn more than any previous generation. By 2010, women will control nearly 60% of U.S. wealth. So why is it that, according to one recent survey, 90% of them report feeling just “somewhat” or “not at all” financially secure?

The Allianz Women, Money, and Power Study, commissioned by Allianz Life Insurance of North America and conducted by Age Wave and Harris Interactive Inc., found that despite increasing financial participation and confidence, an overwhelming majority of the women surveyed still grapple with financial insecurities. Nearly half acknowledged a “tremendous fear” of losing all of their money and becoming “bag ladies”—48% of those with incomes in excess of $100,000.

These insecurities and fears seem to have two predominant causes: the importance of money to overall security and a lack of financial knowledge. Nearly twothirds of women respondents chose “feeling secure” as the most important aspect of having money—ranking security as 15-20 times more important than moneyrelated status and purchasing power. And 62% either lacked sufficient knowledge or were too intimidated by financial complexities to take a more active role in managing their money.

Yet despite the lingering insecurity—and the specter of the old bag lady—many of the survey’s participants reported growing levels of financial confidence, identifying themselves as financially capable, savvy and self-reliant. The study employed a bit of whimsy in defining five distinct financial personality profiles for participants to match themselves with: Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Belle, Goldilocks and Wonder Woman.

And very few women seem to be waiting for their patron princes to come.

Goldilocks was the clear winner, with 35% of women identifying themselves as financial investigators, taking the time to gather information and weigh their options carefully.

The 23% that chose Belle share financial responsibility equally with their Beasts, and value candid financial communication. www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

18% don’t need any help at all and feel capable of handling whatever comes along. These Wonder Women are confident, empowered and extremely knowledgeable about investing. The Alices in Wonderland are less bold.

17% of respondents reported feeling confused by all of their options and seek to avoid the issue altogether.

A mere 8% are hanging their hopes on Prince Charming. The Cinderellas feel they lack the intelligence and financial understanding to make decisions, and are hoping for a prince to come assume the burden.

The percentage of women looking to men as sole financial providers is a small one, and increasingly women identify men as financial partners. Yet as the footing levels out, clear differences remain in the way women and men approach finances. In relationships, women were much more likely to identify financial disputes as issues of power and control, while men classified them as matters of trust. The study also found that, compared to women’s responses, men were three times more likely to take risks, but nearly as likely to overestimate their leadership roles in investing and savings.

One thing both men and women did agree on was the importance of working with financial professionals, though they differ on exactly who —women were twice as likely as men to work with female financial advisors.

Unfortunately, finding a female advisor may prove another barrier to women’s financial involvement, as 80% of advisors are men. But this statistic may soon change as more and more financial services firms aim their recruitment efforts at female advisors.

Overall, the study found that despite their trepidation and perceived barriers, women are increasingly active financial participants and are eager to broaden their knowledge. Women want simplicity, predictability and security in their finances, and they are ready, willing and able to take the lead.

Phil Wengrovitz is Associate Vice President, Investments at Raymond James & Associates, Inc. Member New York Stock Exchange / SIPC. 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Suite 600 Coral Gables, FL 33134 (800) 523-3295 www.RaymondJames.com/wengrovitz.

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The family has a passion for the water so water-like features were created in just about every room using unique textures and patterns in a way that is very fresh and unusual. Custom tile work gives the appearance of a custom area rug under the dining table and keeps the look clean and contemporary.

Sophisticated Seaside

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reated to evoke the laid back aĴitude and casual lifestyle found in the Florida Keys, EZK is a contemporary knock out on the serene island Key Colony Beach.

“Our focus was a contemporary design. That being said, the space also had to be warm and welcoming.” Stated the lead interior designer on the D’Asign Source team. The things that really make this design so special are the interesting architectural features and the immense views you get from every vantage. Strong furnishings with sleek styling were selected to compliment the dazzling details found throughout this modern marvel and create a natural flow from room to room.

The great room takes advantage of stunning views of the Atlantic with floor to ceiling windows that fill the entire east wall. Silver and blue geometric paĴerns painted on the walls bring the color of the ocean’s water into the home and beautifully compliment the pine ceiling, marble floors and the home’s many wooden accents. The entire lower living area utilizes a shared floor space for easy interaction among family and friends.

In the primary suite the walls were finished to emulate the shimmer of the ocean’s surface. The walnut flooring coupled with deep stained ceiling and furnishings provide a look deeply rooted in the West Indies, a popular design trend that

has stood the test of time. These rich woods were brought into the suite’s bath too. A major trend in private homes today is a bath with all of the features you would find in a luxurious spa at a fine resort. This is a movement we don’t anticipate going away anytime soon, every day is a good day to pamper yourself! In the bath a natural stone mosaic adds the visual interest of a cascading waterfall coming from the whirlpool tub.

This project provided D’Asign Source architects and designers the opportunity to stretch their creative wings. The end result is a breathtaking home with classic contemporary styling. Still there is no doubt when you lay eyes on this project that it is 100% D’Asign Source. The beauty of this home is very much in the details, a trait that D’Asign Source has become renown for.

You can do what you wannado at a city made just for kids

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its way to an emergency. Like a city bursting with life, its sidewalks are filled with shops, a bakery and a radio studio. There’s a hair and beauty salon, a candy factory, a modeling studio, post office, bank, dance club, and it’s all designed for kidizens ages 2-14 who don appropriate attire for each role they play and ‘job’ they try out.

This is the first Wannado City in Florida and its location in the largest mall makes it easily accessible from I-95 or I-595. There is plenty of parking. A daily child’s admission fee of $29.95 depending on season covers many of the jobs. Those that incur an additional ticket are reasonable and everything about Wannado City from the height of counters to signage is geared for little people who clearly rule.

Far more than a playground, Wannado City is a make-believe employment emporium, an environment that makes children feel important whether they are playing astronaut or bank teller, jewelry maker or town baker. Once inside, the only limit to how many jobs or professions your little one can try is how long your feet can last.

More than 100 occupations are available for the trying—from archaeologist to clown, juggler to Xray technician, sculptor to police chief. Each is called a Real-play venue. One of the most appealing, a constant draw with children doe-eyed at the window, is the hospital nursery with ‘newborns’ who needed lots of tender, loving care.

A word of advice: If you are planning to go to Wannado City, spend time online with your children, looking at offerings and schedules, planning out which jobs they want to try and what they want to be when they can be anything they want to be. Map out a general guideline or you might find that between the fights of Joey wanting to be a judge and Jeannie wanting to be a pilot you’ve missed the starting time for both and have to wait another 20 minutes and by that time, the line at one may have built up, causing another disappointment. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Smart parenting can make child’s play of “showing up for work” for youngsters who could have the best days of their working life without ever having to fill out a job application or worrying about taxes.

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Story and photos by by Suzanne Murphy-Larronde

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hey paved paradise and put up a parking lot say the lyrics to a popular anthem from the 1960s, but in the case of Key West, it was the proposed demolition of a vintage two- story house to make way for a gas station that unleashed a movement to preserve the Island City’s historic district, a unique collection of 19th and early 20th century buildings of mostly wood frame construction.

The year was 1958 and leading the rescue charge was a 5-foot-1inch dynamo by the name of Jessie Porter Newton, aged 60. Blessed with wide ranging social connections, boundless energy and the public relations savvy of a Hollywood agent, the fifth generation Conch was literally born to the task. When news of the projected tear-down began to circulate, she put out an SOS call to Miami entertainment mogul and philanthropist, Mitchell www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

The Audubon House and its namesake, John James Audubon Wolfson Sr., a Key West native and personal friend. Not long after, his family foundation purchased the

endangered property and quickly set to work on its restoration, infusing the American Classic Revival house and its surroundings with new life and a fresh identity.

Two years later, the once-neglected Geiger House, corner Whitehead and Greene Streets, opened its doors to the public as the splendidly refurbished Audubon House & Tropical Gardens, so-named in commemoration of the celebrated naturalist John James Audubon’s 1832 sojourn in the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas where he added no less than 18 new species to his “Birds of America” folio. Not surprisingly, local newspaper headlines proclaimed the museum’s inauguration an unparalleled success, but for Jessie Porter Newton and the scores of other dedicated activists she had helped mobilize, the preservation victory held out a greater promise, that the architectural legacy of Key West’s Volume 9 Issue 1 | 87

at 410 Caroline Street where they were converted into rental and guest apartments. “They move like ships too,” she declared in one of her many pro-restoration newspaper interviews, referring to the structures’ supple but sturdy wood beam and peg construction. The most famous of these rescued relics became known as the Robert Frost Cottage in honor of the poet laureate, a longtime family friend who spent many mild south Florida winters happily holed up there as the guest of Miss Jessie.

But Robert Frost was only one of many luminaries to seek out the conviviality of Jessie Porter Newton’s backyard garden on Caroline Street.

Over the years, the frequent gettogethers she organized attracted

The Heritage House historic district might at last be taken seriously.

Jessie Porter Newton, a.k.a. “Miss Jessie,” was a Conch original with roots buried deep in the coral and limestone sub-soil of America’s southernmost city. Her great grandfather, William Curry, who arrived as a poor immigrant from The Bahamas at age 15, made a fortune salvaging cargo from trading vessels that, before the advent of lighthouses, regularly foundered on the island’s treacherous offshore reefs. He and other 19thcentury seafarers were among Florida’s earliest recyclers and, with the aid of ship’s carpenters and rescued lumber, they built many of the distinctive 88 | Volume 9 Issue 1

houses that can still be admired in the quaint neighborhoods of the historic district. A generation later, another illustrious relative, her grandfather Dr. Joseph Yates Porter, made his mark as a leading yellow fever researcher and the state’s first public health officer.

In 1934, long before it became fashionable, Miss Jessie made a significant commitment to Key West preservation with the purchase and restoration of a two-story Conch house trimmed by porches and a picket fence, but she didn’t stop there. Over the following decades, she bought and relocated other old buildings to save them from demolition; a few ended up at her half-block compound www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KEY WEST VISITORS BUREAU

writers like Ernest Hemingway, Thornton Wilder, John Dos Passos and poet Archibald MacLeish while entertainment legends such as Tallulah Bankhead, Sally Rand and Gloria Swanson also came calling. And in 1960, just months after the triumphant Audubon House opening, a group of stalwarts met at her home to celebrate the event and consolidate their victory through the establishment of the Old Island Restoration Foundation (OIRF).

Headed up by Miss Jessie, the fledgling organization would ultimately forge the old district’s first permanent preservation plan.

During the decade that followed, the OIRF joined forces with both private and nonprofit groups to gage and garner support for its ambitious agenda. In the early 1960s, the organization’s volunteers signed up hundreds of new supporters to the cause and in concert with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, held public meetings that highlighted the Island City’s rough and tumble beginnings as a maritime and trade center while educating residents and property owners about the economic benefits of restoration.

The year 1967 brought the National Park Service-sponsored Historic American Buildings Survey to town for a collaboration with the OIRF. Working in tandem and with help from student volunteers, the two organizations documented several thousand vintage structures within the 200-block historic district by means of photographs, drawings and historical research. And the following year, the Hemingway House at 907

The Hemingway House Whitehead Street, residence of the celebrated author during the 1930s, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Both events served as powerful validations of the enduring contribution of Key West’s signature Conch architecture to American culture.

Through successes and setbacks alike, Miss Jessie remained active in the front lines of the preservation movement until her death in 1979 at age 80. In the nearly 50 years that have passed since the Old Island Restoration

Foundation first took shape, her antique-filled home on Caroline Street has been transformed into the Key West Heritage House Museum and Robert Frost Cottage and site of the annual Robert Frost Poetry Festival while heritage tourism itself has risen in popularity to become Key West’s number one visitor attraction.

Somehow, you get the feeling that that’s how Miss Jessie had it planned all along. For more information, visit www.heritagehousemuseum.org.

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By Diane Phillips

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n July 29, 2005, dozens of dedicated, determined, driven, sane or otherwise surfers gathered on a beach in California. Their goal: to set a world record by catching a ride on a monster surfboard in the world’s largest professional surfing competition. What’s amazing is not the size of the board or the hosting of the happening. It’s that so many fully grown people, adults who worked all year long, used vacation time to scramble to the California beach to take part in the big board event. There they were, wannabe recordsetters gathered on a board jammed against barely clad people they did not know who were also standing on a board waiting to get out far enough to ride a whopping wave back in after which, if they were lucky, they would wind up standing next to all those same people they did not know which was a better alternative than falling and having all those people topple on top.

And they called it vacation.

Sure enough, not everyone traveled to get there or even took time off to do it. But the fact that some did is exactly the point.

Which brings us to this point: When did the concept of vacation change? What happened to the idea of taking time off to just, well, take time off, to sleep late, to sip a good cup of coffee sitting down instead of on the run, to taste the deep rich flavor of java beans that weren’t double-burned for an extra dose of caffeine.

When did the chaise lounge become evidence of slouching instead of an instrument of rejuvenation? www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

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So disdained is the image of putting your feet up that one leading website on travel starts out chastising those who choose the chaise. Get off the chaise lounge, it orders, and discover a new world of adventure. Take a jungle tour. Explore an underwater coral reef, or add a few rare entries in your birding book. Great, but for those of us who work outlandish hours to meet outrageous demands, discovering a different sense of adventure might be exploring what it feels like to do nothing, even 10 minutes of nothing with no guilt attached.

That’s not to say that all great vacations are made of nothing-ness. Just to pose the question, when did vacation become another time to punch in and punch out and see how much you could do and get done off the job, what records you could set, how many miles you could log, how far you could hike, how high you could climb, how deep you could dive? When did it become a lot like work but not paid?

If you doubt how much vacation packages depend on excitement to edge each other out in the struggle to become number one in adventure travel, listen to these fast-paced, adrenalinepumping words aimed at serious mountain bikers looking for the ultimate ride: ‘21 gears grind as spokes spin in a frenzied blur. Suddenly the bike is lifted airborne over an inconvenient rock, the back tires slide out to avoid a stump, then gears climb again…’

Whew, you need a breather after reading the description. And we haven’t even hit the trail.

Vacationing has become so competitive that you can buy bragging rights that pass for living room decorations, attractive wall maps with stick pins in the shape and color of flags of states or countries you and the family have been to. One company offers a bronze plaque with the family’s name and crest, reinforcing the feeling that loved ones who hike together, bike together or dive together will stay together. To the callous at heart, the personalized travel map packed with stick flags is further irrefutable proof that whoever possesses it is saying they’ve been there, done that.

There’s no shortage of adventure options, that’s for sure. The world is filled with them. For those who don’t mind traveling while the earth revolves around the sun a time or two, there’s the thrill of a wildlife safari in Africa, or the chance to see a volcano erupt in Hawaii or Costa Rica or be amazed at any one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Doing more rather than less and calling it vacation is only part of recent lifestyle trends.

Another is the increased role children are playing

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Vacationing has become so competitive that you can buy bragging rights that pass for living room decorations, attractive wall maps with stick pins in the shape and color of flags of states or countries you and the family have been to.

What happened to the idea of taking time off to just, well, take time off? To sleep late, to sip a good cup of coffee sitting down instead of on the run, to taste the deep rich flavor of java beans that werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t double-burned for an extra dose of caffeine.

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in determining where the family goes and what it chooses to do for vacation, whether it’s the twoweek or longer annual or a long weekend. In one widely quoted Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown study, 63% of children surveyed said they wanted a ski vacation. Two years after the study was completed, ski vacations increased more than 10%.

The days of children being told where they were going and how to behave once they got there not to mention on the way have obviously gone the way of the clock-less vacation that was all about swimming or sleeping or getting a massage or eating when you wanted to. But as long as we’re talking about it, the idea of relaxing, rebuilding and regenerating is not extinct. Small steps are being trod on the comeback trail, the one that takes you not always to distant lands, but deep inside your soul to find yourself and a sense of peace. Spas are increasingly big business, a credit card-payable antidote to the frenzy of activity that continues at the same breakneck pace on vacation as it does at work.

While spa menus become ever more exotic and spas themselves more lavish, RV parks more sophisticated, another trend is quietly gaining ground—the slower vacation in the more appealing home away from home. You see it in the condo hotels that are gaining in popularity. A far cry from the old-fashioned hotel room, the million dollar plus mini-manses where families can gather in front of a wide screen hi-definition TV or cook their own meals with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the beach are attracting multi-generational guests.

You see it in many of the family of Out Islands of The Bahamas where small resorts list as one of their amenities beachside hammocks, non-motorized water sports or bone-fishing.

Maybe it’s not as hard as it sounds. Maybe it’s just a matter of slowing down enough to prepare to unwind, of climbing into a hammock in jeans and an old t-shirt, leaving the power suit and guilt behind, grabbing a novel rather than a how-to book on business, of sighing and savoring the silence.

Maybe it’s re-learning the art of being in the moment. Like these words that someone sent me: Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?

Actually, it’s not. But getting to that place may require determination, the same fierce commitment to relax and get off the fast track as it took to get on.

Who knows? There may be an innovator out there now, thumping her fingers on the desk, thinking there’s a market in pre-vacation packages teaching you how to unwind for a flat fee of…

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Beach Beauties Small Resorts of The Bahams

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Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour Marina 272 Reasons to Go

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baco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour Marina in Marsh Harbour, Abaco occupies a unique place in the world of small resorts.

With 82 rooms, suites and villas, it’s still small enough to fall into the category that connotes personal attention and intimacy not expected in mass market resorts. But with more than twice as many boat slips as hotel rooms, amenities-packed Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour Marina overflows with so much activity that it’s easy to forget you’re in a small resort – until a flower-shirted employee passes you with a wave and asks, “How was your early morning swim, Mr. Hansen? Would you like me to hold an order of boiled fish for you in case we get especially busy at breakfast?”

The largest protected marina in The Bahamas with 190 slips, some capable of handling a vessel up to 200 feet, 72 oceanfront rooms, four 1-bedroom suites and six 2-bedroom villas with

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full kitchens and patios overlooking the Sea of Abaco add up to 272 reasons to go to Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour Marina on your next trip to The Bahamas. And that’s not counting the two lighted tennis courts, free use of water sports equipment, two swimming pools (one heated), fitness center, NAUI dive shop, gift shop, bicycles, Angler’s Restaurant and the casual bar and grille by the pool.

Numbers alone don’t begin to tell the story. Because of the setting, with pools steps from the docks and the outdoor restaurant, dive shop and boutique in a central area, but rooms and villas staggered across vast grounds, guests can enjoy lively times or a quiet retreat.

Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour Marina sprawls across 50 acres of rambling walkways and casual tropical landscaping. A crescent beach on one side and a long drive on the other lead to the main hotel where each room has a generous patio. The hotel is where you’ll find tennis courts, fitness center, Angler’s Restaurant and a 2,500 square foot meeting facility.

Inviting one and two-bedroom private villas, with fully-equipped kitchens and pleasant living rooms, dot the property, each with its own porch, barbeque, lawn and marina or harbor view. Activities poolside are shared with marina guests and there’s hardly an hour when there aren’t families playing, friends reuniting, divers back from a day’s trip talking about their adventures, fishermen telling tales of the one that got away. Sailors and power boaters rendezvous at Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour Marina.

For tennis, golfing, biking or diving buffs, there are plenty of choices. The nearby Treasure Cay Golf Course is a favorite. With ocean breezes, challenging, tight fairways and 66 sand bunkers, the nearly 7,000 yard long course attracts golfers from all over.

Abaco is also known as an artists’ haven (see feature story on Pete’s Pub & Gallery) and there are plenty of galleries, quaint shops and museums to visit all within easy reach either by foot, bicycle or by rental boat. With an 18 to 24-footer, you can explore dozens of nearby cays and islands with famous settlements including Hope Town on Elbow Cay, home of the famed redand-white candy striped lighthouse, or venture a little further a-field and motor over to Green Turtle Cay. The resort is a favorite for weddings, and there are always new dive, tennis, wedding, honeymoon, reunion and art packages offered. If you like boating, swimming, snorkeling, if you love the outdoors, you’ll love Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour Marina.

For information, check out www.abacobeachresort.com or contact 1-800-468-4799.

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The Cove: Eleuthera

Abaco Inn Nestled between the shimmering Sea of Abaco and the deep blue Atlantic on a stretch of smooth white sand lies Hope Town’s inviting Abaco Inn. At the Abaco Inn you will refresh your body, soothe your mind and feed your soul. Surrounded by coconut palms and sea grapes, the Abaco Inn promises a friendly, leisurely escape and the perfect excuse to indulge yourself as you lounge on our snow-white beaches, slip into the jewel-blue sea, soak in the sun, dine in the breezy terrace, sip a tropical drink and are filled with the peace of Bahamian life. The inn offers guests 12 recently refurbished rooms, private bath and hammock. Eight one-bedroom suites with kitchenettes, private deck, one two-bedroom suite with two baths & kitchenette.

From the informal club house lounge which serves elegant dinners, tropical lunches, and leisurely breakfasts, guest have a view of the breaking surf in front of the gazebo next to the Atlantic Ocean. A variety of activities are available, fishing, boating, sailing, swimming, diving, snorkeling. The Inn is just two miles from the 18th Century seafaring village of Hope Town and the historic Elbow Cay Lighthouse. If you’re looking for an island experience that delivers a warm leisurely “away from it all—Barefoot Elegance” atmosphere, look to the Abaco Inn. Relax. Rejuvenate. Enjoy the view. Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco, (800) 468-8799, (242) 366-0133, www.abacoinn.net.

The recently rennovated Cove is lively and bright, with island inspired decor—chic, sturdy Island rattan, French doors; plush and colorful linens with a 600-thread count—all minus everyday distractions like telephones and TV. Set on 28 lush acres of an oceanfront bit of heaven, The Cove is located just outside Gregory Town, North Eleuthera and the property— vibrantly colored with tropical limes and greens, set against pristine, clear whites—is receiving rave reviews from European, Canadian and American visitors.

“The Cove is an incredible wonderfully private setting,” says manager Kirk Aulin who along with wife Patricia and sons Kirk and Jake, oversee the day-to-day hospitality duties. “We’ve planted palm trees, hibiscus and bougainvillea around the property. Our guests can take in the beauty here or take part in island wide activities, including biking, kayaking, tennis, a fitness facility and snorkeling.

Additionally our enthusiastic staff makes The Cove a great friendly experience—right from the grounds men and housekeepers to the Chef in the kitchen, we’ve got it covered—our food’s incredible, our bar is a lovely place to see a wonderful western sunset and we are a first class resort.

Among the additions to the new and improved Cove: boat access in spring and summer with dinghy docking facilities. A reverse osmosis system was recently installed to ensure the quality of the water. www.thecoveeleuthera.com.

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Peace & Plenty Resorts Club Peace & Plenty is a beautiful 32-room resort overlooking Elizabeth Harbour in Exuma. All rooms include air conditioning, ceiling fan, mini-fridge, hair-dryer, private bath and in-room satellite television, so guests are never far from the comforts of home. Peace & Plenty Beach Inn was designed with families in mind with its larger, more spacious rooms. Children play at the shoreline and newlyweds wander the sandy beaches. The Inn offers 16 deluxe air-conditioned rooms with large balconies facing the beach—giving you a magnificent view of Elizabeth Harbour. White sand beaches provide just the right touch of Bohemian splendor. An indoor restaurant/bar, covered terrace, pier extending into the bay and a freshwater pool make this just the right atmosphere for that quiet family getaway.

Peace and Plenty Resorts, Exuma, (800) 252-2210, (242) 336-2551, www.peaceandplenty.com.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club Known for its casual atmosphere, outstanding dining and excellent beaches and snorkeling, Staniel Cay Yacht Club has five waterfront cottages for two, three two-story suites suitable for a family of four, and a large cottage www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

for up to seven people. All cottages have been recently renovated and uniquely decorated. Each has A/C, private bath(s), small refigerator and coffee maker. New pool and sundeck nestled among lush tropical foliage.

The Club also features a full-service

marina, snorkeling gear, air fills, gift shop, TV, fax, phone and internet.

Fishing, snorkeling and sightseeing trips can be arranged. Boston Whalers and kayaks are available for exploring the Exuma Cays. Recently named one of Outside Travelers “12 best value packed resorts in the Caribbean.”

Staniel Cay, Exuma Cays, (242) 3552024, www.stanielcay.com.

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WHY AN â&#x20AC;&#x153;Out Islandâ&#x20AC;??

WHY

Stella Maris Resort Club?

Consider:

There: A tourist-metropolis. . .crowded, noisy, with bumper-to-bumper traffic. A vacation machine, in which you count for little. Lost in sheer numbers.

Here: Peace, tranquility, unspoiled nature. Lots of space to lose yourself in. Oldfashioned hospitality.

The expense? Discover real vacation values: Very reasonable hotel rates. Daily FREE activities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sun & Seaâ&#x20AC;?. . .â&#x20AC;?Divingâ&#x20AC;?. . .â&#x20AC;?Fishingâ&#x20AC;?. . . â&#x20AC;?Honeymoonâ&#x20AC;? packages. Bungalow rentals for 1or more weeks.

Our Advice?

Looking for Shopping Malls?

Hot Night Clubbing? Flashy Casinos? Fast paced water sports? No, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have it.

Or, looking for warm-hearted friendliness, beautiful facilities. . . the oceans, the beaches, water sports at their best. . .in an enchanted island retreat. . .for just a small number of visitors?

Then you belong with us.

Call Us.

R E S O R T C L U B Long Island, Southern Bahamas www.StellaMarisResort.com info@StellaMarisResort.com

800-426-0466 â&#x20AC;˘ 954-359-8236 Fax 954-359-8238 242-338-2051 (0) (3), Fax 242-338-2052

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOB BOWER

dining Sun and…

Unforgettable cuisine in a romantic setting

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ucked away in a quiet neighborhood behind a 10-foot wall far from the tourist hotels and haunts of Nassau and Paradise Island, Sun and… is a restaurant that should be declared a national treasure. Opened in 1956 by a former aide to the then Lord Governor of The Bahamas, a man who cooked as a hobby and gathered the rich and famous as a practice, Sun and…is everything a dining experience should be. From the romance of the setting to the elegance of the service to the sensuous flavor of the final mouthful of Grand Marnier soufflé, it is the complete package for the sophisticated palate.

While each of the three elements—cuisine, service, setting—that together make up the kind of dining experience you talk about, remember and want to repeat, is perfected at Sun and…, the reality is that ambience and setting are worthy of devouring even on their own—and one of the reasons the new lunch openings Tuesday-Friday have gained instant popularity (try the buffalo burger, $18) among the power suit set. Housed in an historic building that dates back more than 120 years with its “newest” addition probably a half century old, Sun and…is like fine wine and classy women, better with age.

Pass through the gates of the high wall and cross over a small moat-like entry to the gated courtyard. Linen-dressed tables with soft candlelight surround a pool, framed by a massive seagrape tree that looks like artwork.

Lush, mature landscaping lends a sense of privacy. A gurgling fountain provides sound effects and the soft music in the background erases any memory of what went on before you entered the world that is Sun and…If mood is the appetizer, European cuisine is the main course, but not to be rushed. Have a drink in the intimate bar that says old money lives here and lives well. The walls are covered with dozens of photos of those who discovered Sun and…in its early days—Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Richard Bertram, a young Princess Margaret. The selection of wines, cognac, brandy and liqueurs is another subtle hint of who frequents Sun and…and what their taste is.

Taste is, in the end, what it’s really all about and it begins with chef Ronny Deryckere hand-selecting every cut of Angus beef, every delivery of greens, 102 | Volume 9 Issue 1

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dining

every ounce of fresh stone crabs flown in that morning, alligator imported from Florida or blue crab from Maine for his famed lump crab cakes either as appetizer or main course with Aoili sauce of garlic, egg yolk, oil and lemon, pineapple beet salsa and babganouj, roasted onion and eggplant in Tahini oil. The care with which it is made is another hint of the quality of cuisine you are about to experience. Even the Caesar salad, too often abused with premade dressings, is the real thing at Sun and…Conch chowder, escargots bourguignon, buttermilk fried calamari are all highly recommended to start, though there are many other selections. Main courses range from fricassee of lobster Martinique with a roasted red pepper mushroom Duxelle cognac cream and glazed with a crabmeat Mornay sauce to venison tournedos, steak tartare to braised duckling with a honey raspberry sauce. Specialties of the house include two main course for two—the chateaubriand served with a mushroom sauce as well as béarnaise and the Colorado roast rack of spring lamb.

Chef Ronny, a master who brings to the kitchen skill that borders on an art form, spent years cooking around the world before coming to The Bahamas and marrying a Bahamian woman, Esther, who has remained his lifelong partner in the business. Belgian-born, Ronny went to the Belgian Congo, Syria, and was called to the exclusive Lyford Cay Club in 1966. He later opened the former Del Prado restaurant, went on to Graycliff and bought the abandoned, neglected property and created the Sun and…experience.

A word of advice: Be sure to order a soufflé before you start your main course. It takes about 45 minutes to prepare and a lifetime to forget.

Lunch: 12pm-3pm, Tues-Fri. Dinner: 6:30pm-10pm, Tues-Sat. Closed Sundays and Mondays and for the months of August and September. Jackets not required.

For reservations, call 242-3931205 or 242-393-2644. Visit www. sun-and.com.

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restaurant guide FLORIDA

FT LAUDERDALE

DELRAY BEACH Phyllis G’s Enigma: Old Texaco stations don’t always die. Sometimes, with a bit of luck and a lot of ingenuity, they get a second life as a restaurant.

On North Federal Highway in Delray Beach, an abandoned Texaco station has been transformed into an adorable, cozy, homey restaurant called Phyllis G’s Enigma where the food is home-cooked style good and everything from a crock of onion soup to the coconut grouper is served in large portions, tasty and reasonably priced (most expensive item at $20 is broiled seafood combo with salad, rice and veggies). Strong on seafood and pasta, the menu features touches of Italian and Cuban (try the flan) and rounds out the hemisphere with Bahamian conch chowder and thick American burgers. Beer and wine only but you won’t be looking for more once you sip the house specialty, Fall off the Patio Sangria.

Visa & MasterCard. Reservations not necessary. 561-243-6377. $$.

3030 Ocean: From the moment you enter and view the décor, a quiet statement of style, with candlelight, rich woods and intimate window seating, you know this is no ordinary resort restaurant. 3030 Ocean is the creation of Chef James Max Dean, a man so passionate about food he writes a newsletter to 10,000 people about it. A guest chef for companies like American Express, he treats Maine lobster, Seviche, clams, oysters, shrimp and salmon like royalty. Dean carried the passion for food and used it to develop his own style at 3030 Ocean: modern American seafood.

We call it amazing. 3030 Holiday Drive, South Ocean Blvd, AIA, Ft. Lauderdale, (954) 765-3030. $$$$.

Creolina’s: Jambalaya, gumbo, red beans and rice, crawfish etoufee—if you didn’t know you were in this historic Himarshee section of Ft. Lauderdale, you’d think you were in the heart of New Orleans. Chef and owner Mark Sulzinski’s menu is a trifecta of culinary pleasure: a

winning combination of tasty food served on heaping plates, a décor that’s different and fun, and lively staff puts even first-timers instantly at ease. While Creolina’s is best-known for its Cajun cooking and New Orleans feel and flair, it also offers a wide selection of traditional American favorites including NY strip steak and boneless breast of chicken. Prices are reasonable and preparation choices range from blackened (served with Cajun spices); Provencal (sautéed with garlic, scallions and tomatoes); Nantua (grilled and topped with a creamy crayfish sauce); piquante (spicy Creole sauce) or Au Poivre, (green and black peppercorn sauce).

The lunch and dinner menus change often and Chef Mark’s passion for his adopted Louisiana roots is apparent.

Lunch: 11am to 2:30pm, MonFri. Dinner: 5-9pm, Sun-Mon; 510pm, Tues-Thur; 5-11pm, Fri-Sat. Sandwich window: midnight to 4am Friday and Saturday. $$. 209 S.W. 2nd St., Ft. Lauderdale, (954) 524-2003.

Information in this guide is subject to change without notice. Please call ahead. www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

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restaurant guide

KEY WEST Blue Heaven: Located in The Bahamas Village district, Blue Heaven offers primarily open-air dining in the company of wild roosters, local felines, and the occasional diner swinging on the courtyard’s rope swing. The restaurant serves Caribbean-flavored cuisine praised by the likes of Charles Kuralt. You can’t go wrong with breakfast with the roosters (amazing banana pancakes); lunches like Goombay Gumbo or dinners like pork tenderloin with plantains, chutney, and curry butter.

Don’t skip Blue Heaven’s vegetarian black bean soup topped with sour cream and cheese. $$; 309 Petronia St; (305) 296-8666.

Mangoes: With both indoor dining and a courtyard overlooking Duval Street, Mangoes is perfect for peoplewatching while enjoying Floribbean cuisine. Lunch and dinner menus incorporate abundant seafood and tropical fruits in innovative pairings like the Key West Barbecue, a stunning selection of Gulf shrimp grilled with mango barbecue sauce. And don’t miss the sinful black-bottom Key lime pie with an Oreo cookie crust.

Reservations suggested. $$$; 700 Duval Street; (305) 292 4606.

Sloppy Joe’s: A Key West institution, Sloppy Joe’s is a dining and social adventure with festive local fare and atmosphere. The famed Sloppy Joe sandwich is a savory mixture of ground beef, tomatoes, onions and celery. Make sure you indulge in a Papa Doubles, a favorite drink of Ernest Hemingway; it’s a sublime mixture of Bacardi light rum, grapefruit juice, sour mix, 7UP and local fresh lime. This celebrated hot spot plays live music three times daily and is definitely worth a visit. $; 201 Duval St; (305) 294-5717.

WEST PALM BEACH Bellagio: Featuring both indoor and outdoor dining, Bellagio offers the 106 | Volume 9 Issue 1

perfect excuse to say goodbye to that waist-conscious fruit and vegetable routine and hello to a hearty serving of chicken breast stuffed with fresh spinach and mozzarella cheese alongside homemade pasta in a delicious creamy sauce. Don’t leave without trying the Tiramisu— while enjoying the fountain of water show that’s synchronized to music and lights. Open seven days a week 11:30am-11pm. Reservations suggested. $$$; 600 South Rosemary Ave, (561) 659-6160.

and crabs, oh my and no trip to The Bahamas would be complete without sampling grouper, a local delicacy.

In addition to serving what locals call fried grouper fingers, Wahoo’s unique grilled grouper with a Creole inspired sauce is sure to tingle the taste buds. Friendly chefs are quick to make your meal complete with pastas and sauces, Bahamian peas and rice, salad beds and other choices. Lunch 11am-4:30pm and dinner from 6pm9:30pm. $$ Appetizers starting as low as $10. Casual. (242) 336-6516.

THE BAHAMAS

GRAND BAHAMA

EXUMA Pallappa Bar and Grill: Picture this. You’re sitting above a flawless crescent moon beach with sand as pure as salt and cyan-shaded waters when a friendly island waitress who knows you by name offers your choice drink before you even look at the menu. As you take your first sip of that delicious Bahama Mama your brain freezes trying to decide which sandwich you ought to share.

Try the Bahamian grouper sandwich or classic American burger and you’ll see why the bar is so popular. The main attraction at the Pallappa are the tropical drinks—Rum Runners, Rum Punch, Yellow Birds, daiquiris and margaritas (shaken not stirred of course) are the perfect solution to beating the tropical Bahamian heat while basking at the most beautiful resort in the Family Islands, Grand Isle Resort & Spa. Continental breakfast served daily and is open for lunch 11am-4:30pm. Swimwear/ Tropical casual. $$. (242) 358-5000.

Wahoo’s: Eating at Wahoo’s is a little different from eating at most restaurants. First, you’ll notice the parking lot is actually a marina and the path to palate pleasing begins as soon as you pick up a menu. Here an appetizer can be a delightful Caribbean chip and dip or an introduction to an edible Bahamian aphrodisiac, conch salad or fritters.

The menu is enough to make you smile. The catch of the day is so fresh it might still be swimming when you order it. There’s lobster, crawfish

Ferry House: Neatly tucked away on the waterfront between Port Lucaya and Our Lucaya Resort, the chic upscale eatery—described by the Miami Herald as “the best kept secret in Grand Bahama”—offers fine dining and fine imported French wine. One of the country’s top rated restaurants, it’s best known for its European flavor infused with American, Caribbean and Asian accents. Sample a taste of seared yellow fin tuna rolled in a sesame seed coating with a sweet demi-glaze and Israeli couscous and you’re floating in culinary heaven. And the crowning touch—the sinfully scrumptious chocolate cake fresh from the oven every 15 minutes. Smart casual attire, no jackets required. $$$; Reservations suggested. Lucaya, Grand Bahama.

(242) 373-1592.

Prop Club: Offering indoor and beachfront seating with breathtaking ocean views, Prop Club boasts a lively sports bar filled with flat-screen plasma TVs, music and barrels of peanuts. The the casual restaurant’s menu is a step up from the usual pub fare with such favorites as rum-soaked ribs, conch fritters, juicy burgers, fajitas, sandwiches, and salads, to go with a wide selection of specialty cocktails. After catching up on the latest sports scores and refueling with a hearty meal, diners can hit the dance floor as Prop Club turns into one of the island’s most popular nightclubs at 11pm. Open 11:30 to 1am daily.

The Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort, (242) 373-1333. www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

The Bahamas is an archipelago of seven hundred magnificent islands and keys that are uniquely inter-connected. The primary telecommunications service provider is The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (BTC). At BTC, we pride ourselves in providing state of the art technology that is responsible for linking the major Islands of The Bahamas via a fibre optic submarine cable network with a capacity of ten gigabytes and a self-healing ring topology between The Bahamas and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. BTC provides a next generation network (NGN) capabilities to large and small projects throughout the length and breadth of our beautiful islands. We offer data, voice and television capabilities to virtually any location in our Paradise, allowing the world to touch our beautiful shores through technology.

restaurant guide

NASSAU

Anthony’s Grill: Located within walking distance of the Paradise Island resorts and next door to Quiznos Subs, Anthony’s has been a staple of the Bahamian visitor diet for years. The popular eatery with its kids-friendly atmosphere is open for breakfast (from 7:30am), lunch and dinner. Starting at 11:30am and running straight through 11pm, you can order anything from the 8-page spread, including some two dozen choices of appetizers, soups and salads. Among the starter favorites: Anthony’s Super Combo—spinach dip, chicken strips, Buffalo wings, pork ribs, conch fritters, and the top choice—Anthony’s famous conch salad marinated, chopped, diced and served fresh each time. Main course choices include a hearty, hefty seafood platter, grilled Bahamian lobster tails, herb crusted red snapper, speared grilled shrimp, as well as burgers, pizza and the all-time meat favorite: sweet, tender baby back ribs. Authentic Cuban cigars can be purchased here.

No reservations or jackets needed, casual, lively and fun. $$ Full bar with tropical drinks, beer, wine and cocktails. Breakfast 7:30-11am, lunch 11:30am-4 pm, and dinner menu available from 4pm-11pm.

Café Matisse: Twice a day, the smell of fresh baked cookies, biscuits and bread infused with basil and black olives fills the air at Café Matisse.

Abundant seafood and meat dishes are the creations by authentic Italian Chef David Fiore. Chef David’s unusual starters include cold pumpkin soup with julienne salmon. Lunch and dinner menus are similar with dinner portions being a bit larger and offerings more diverse. It’s hard to choose between traditional Italian specialities like ravioli and seafood delights like grouper drizzled with a Mediterranean sauce, topped with sugar snaps and crispy potatoes.

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entries including Italian gelati, French créme brulee and various parfaits and fruit filled tarts. Located just off Nassau’s historic Parliament Square, Café Matisse offers intimate indoor and cozy outdoor courtyard dining with interior décor inspired by its namesake, artist Henri Matisse. Open Tues-Sat, lunch served noon to 3pm and dinner 6-10pm. Reservations recommended. Proper dress for dinner. $$$, (242) 356-7012.

Circa 1890: Behind a white lattice entry to a small building on Shirley Street lies perhaps the single best food find in Nassau. Located in an old converted cottage, Circa 1890 seats all of 25 persons. The décor is eclectic and quietly sophisticated.

The ambiance is so warm it’s as if someone who cares about you invited you into their home for dinner, dressing up the living room for your arrival. Deidre Turnquest, owner and chef, prepares each dish personally with superb quality; it’s as if you had your own private chef. Intimacy and quality abound. Open Thurs, Fri, Sat only 6:30pm-10pm. (242) 3565445. Fixed price of $65 per head for four courses. All major credit cards accepted.

Graycliff: The only restaurant of its kind in The Bahamas, Graycliff blends old-world charm with 5-star dining. Located in the main house of a 250-year-old Georgia style mansion, the restaurant’s menu offers the finest in traditional Bahamian meals as well as popular seafood and continental cuisines. Diners can feast on succulent Nassau grouper filet served on a bed of spinach with French Dijon mustard.

The filet mignon with seasoned butter is a choice dish for patrons seeking a more familiar meal. Indoor and outdoor dining. Open daily for lunch from 12:30pm-2pm and dinner from 7:30pm. Reservations required.

Jackets required. $$$$; West Hill St. Nassau; (242) 322-2796.

Provence: The dining experience is an instant flight of fantasy that invokes thoughts of Europe mingled with the warmth of the tropics, balmy breezes and delectable delights.

The restaurant offers several daily specials. The lunch menu is surprisingly extensive, ranging from panini, sandwiches and salads to spiny lobster and chicken bruschetta with pesto crostini, parmesan cheese and organic greens or Dungeness crab cakes. Andalusian tapas are especially popular at the sophisticated bar. For dinner start with mouth-watering appetizers like the tuna tartare and a salmon carpaccio, or perhaps the Escargots fricassee sautéed with pommodore garlic fresh herbs, garlic crostini with mozzarella cheese and aioli sauce. Portions are generous, wait staff gracious. The evening is not complete without indulging in a chocolate mousse cake, the ultimate sip of Remy, the final drop of Cappuccino. Open for lunch six days a week from 11:30am-3pm and dinner from 6-10:30pm. Open Sundays for special events. $$$$. (242) 327-0985 or www.provencerestaurant.net.

ABACO Mangoes: This Florida native tries to slip slices of the sweet island fruit in almost every dish like his jumbo lump crab cake with mango salsa and chipotle lime. One of the largest restaurants in Abaco (seats 140 in an air-conditioned dining room), Mangoes’ food is a surprising mix of traditional Bahamian dishes meshed with European and Continental cooking techniques. If you walk into Mangoe’s in the afternoon and come back that same night you may not recognize the place or the dishes being served. Lunch menus include light options like grilled conch, grouper burgers and grouper fingers.

First time evening diners should start with crispy calamari with sweet and spicy calypso sauce. Thur and Sun after 9pm, Mangoes’ diners can work off their dessert on the dance floor to the sounds of local musicians in the rake ‘n scrape band. Reservations requested. Marsh Harbour, (242) 367-2366. www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR YOUR ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE A SU ARRIVO A LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS On your arrival at any U.S. airport all passengers, including those in transit to another country, must fill out a customs declaration (blue) form and, if pertinent, an immigration form (green or white). To facilitate compliance with the necessary documentation you will find some brief instructions on this matter below. Many thanks to you for your cooperation.

ATTENTION • Write your country using English • Write male or female • If you are in transit to another country: Write down TRANSIT TO...in address in the U.S. www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

A su llegada a cualquier aeropuerto de EE.UU., todos los pasajeros, incluidos aquellos que realizan tránsito con destino a otro país, deben rellenar una declaración de aduanas (impreso azul0 y, si procede, un impreso de inmigración (impreso verde o blanco). Para facilitarles conforme a la documentación necesaria, encontrarán en estas páginas unas breves instrucciones al respecto. Muchas gracias por su colaboración.

ATENCIÓN • Escriba su país en INGLËS • Escriba MALE Ö FEMALE • Si está en tránsito a otro país, escriba TRANSIT TO ..en la dirección en EE.UU. Volume 9 Issue 1 | 109

rOUTE mAP Pensacola Fort Walton Beach

Tallahassee

Jacksonville

Gainesville

Orlando Tampa

West Palm Beach Fort Lauderdale

Freeport

Treasure Cay

Grand Bahama

Marsh Harbour

Miami The Abacos

North Eleuthera

Bimini

Nassau Key West

Governor’s Harbour Eleuthera

Andros Town --Charter Service Only: ALL CUBA Charters are subject to U.S. Government approval.

Cat Island

New Bight Andros

Havana Georgetown The Exumas

Alliance Partnerships & Frequent Flyer Programs

OnePass is Continental Airlines’ award-winning frequent flyer program. When you enroll, you earn mileage every time you fly Continental Connection— mileage good for free travel rewards. To enroll in OnePass, call (800) 523-FARE or visit the web site at: www.continental.com *Valid on all Continental Connection flights operated

by Gulfstream International Airlines.

110 | Volume 9 Issue 1

As part of our longstanding Code-share partnership with Gulfstream International Airlines, you can earn miles on Continental Connection flights operated by Gulfstream International when booked with a United Airlines code and flight number. To enroll in Mileage Plus call (800) 421-4655 or visit the web site at: www.ual.com. *Valid on United & Gulfstream International Airlines Code-share flights.

Northwest Airlines WorldPerks members can earn miles and use miles for free trips on NW or CO coded Gulfstream International flights. Northwest’s WorldPerks frequent flyer program is the highest rated U.S.-based program as reviewed by InsiderFlyer Magazine. To become a WorldPerks member you can enroll online on the award-winning web site, www.nwa.com or call (800) 44-PERKS.

OnePass is Continental Airlines’ award-winning frequent flyer program. When you enroll, you earn mileage every time you fly Copa Airlines, Gulfstream coded flights—mileage good for free travel rewards. To enroll in OnePass, call (800) 523-FARE or visit the web site at: www.continental.com *Valid on Copa & Gulfstream International Airlines Code-share flights.

*Valid on Northwest Airlines, & Gulfstream International Airlines Code-share flights.

www.aircurrentsmagazine.com

H O W FA R WOULD YOU GO FOR

w w w. l o v e . c a r t i e r . c o m

BOUT I QUES CARTIER N AS SAU: 28 4 Bay Stre et Tel.: (242) 302 2 8 72 • PARADISE ISLAND : Crystal Court, Atlan t is Tel.: (242) 3 6 3 5808

284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas (242)302-2800 Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island (242)363-3956