At The Glass Window & Surroundings - Sights & Attractions

It’s an ocean that has left and continues to leave its mark on Eleuthera, shaping channels through cliffs. They are perfect picture taking spots on calm days, but become the entry point for large waves when the Atlantic begins to roar.

Enjoy ! Appreciate the awesomeness of the Ocean or Sea; Sand or Sky; Reflection or Shadow... Here time is a friend. Experience It!

Beaded orange tunic, Beba white slippers: Sophisticated U, Palmetto Point, 332-0099.

Model: Ladwana Carey

Photographer: Elizabeth Bryan

when the wave heights are low

Glass Window Blues...

Hidden Beach, just north of the Glass Window Bridge.

Daffodil Brazilian cut crocheted bikini top and bottom: Tri-Gems Gift Shop, Tarpum Bay, 808-0261/699-5260.

Cliff formations worldwide attract the attention of visitors with the sense of intrigue they create through their sheer size and stature, and the magnificence of the seemingly endless deep blue ocean lapping along their sides.

The Glass Window Bridge with its regal cliffs along the east coast, and the beautifully calm aquamarine shallows along its west coast, is a curious picture of immediate opposites. The mood of the ocean side adds to the mystique

of the spot which barriers the capital island of New Providence from the Alantic Ocean.

On days when the Atlantic is ‘raging’ with seas towering, as it did in spectacular fashion during March of 2018, and pressurized water is forced out of the geyser at the bridge, or through the cavernous opening under the bridge, the contrasting calmness of the western coastline is awe-inspiring.

The calm western side is often referred to as the Caribbean Sea, but geographically this is generally considered incorrect. Maps refer to it as the Bight of Eleuthera, and others as a part of the Great Bahama Bank.

More recently a campaign has been ongoing by Commodore Tellis Bethel of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to have the territorial waters of The Bahamas called the Lucayan Sea.

Governor’s Harbour and the adjoining Cupid’s Cay are rife with history of the founding of the modern democratic Bahamas. On Cupid’s Cay you’ll also find the location of the first US Consulate General established in 1789.

Cow & Bull: See page 80.

Blue Holes - There are several on the island including: 1) ‘Sapphire’ Blue hole in North Eleuthera, has a rich color, obscure location, off the main road leading to Preacher’s Cave; 2) Boiling Hole in Rock Sound which connects to an offshore hole via a series of underground caves for a distance of about 0.25miles; 3) The Ocean Hole in Rock Sound which is the largest of the Blue Holes on the island. It is connected underground to the Atlantic Ocean according to a study done.

Slave Ruins Historical sites in South Eleuthera, in Bannerman Town settlement, close to Lighthouse Point and Princess Cay.

The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve on the Banks Road in Governors’ Harbour offers an educational stroll through the natural vegetation of this island. Learn more on page 76.

GLAss Window Bridge One of Eleuthera’s most alluring attractions, The Glass WIndow Bridge is a narrow passing where nature displays its magnificence. The deep blue Atlantic, aquamarine bight (a part of the Great Bahama Bank), cliffs, sounds - each day is different. When the Atlantic is RAGING, towering water comes over the bridge Motorists are warned against crossing when this is occurring. It’s a few minutes north of The Cove or Daddy Joes. Also it’s just a short trip from Harbour Island and about 40-45 minutes north of Governor’s Harbour by car.

Old churches - There are storied Christian Churches across the island grouping. St. John’s Anglican in Harbour Island (above) for example is the oldest Anglican Church in the Bahamas - built in 1768. Below: Decked out in all white, members of the Central and South Eleuthera Regional Women’s Ministry of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church at their Conference 2018 Worship Service, held at the Savannah Sound Methodist Church on July 1st, 2018.

Trefgarne Bridge Located at the guarded bridge to the private Windermere Island, the monument reads in part: This bridge, the first in the Bahamas over the sea, was planned, surveyed and designed by the first Lord Trefgarne of Cleddau, who died 27th September, 1960. It was built for Lord Trefgarne and his Associate in the Enterprise, The Hon. Harold G. Christie C.B.E, M.H.A. by The Hon. Sir Roland Symonette M.H.A. and is a lasting tribute to Lord Trefgarne’s foresight and endeavour and to the co-operation of all concerned, including the community of Savannah Sound. October 1960.

This Bronze Plaque at the Governor’s Harbour Admin building was laid by the Rt. Hon. Lynden Pindling, first Prime Minister of an Independent Bahamas and Hon. Philip Bethel (Eleuthera Supply) MP at the time of Independence and one of the surviving signatories of the country’s constitution of The Bahamas.

Lighthouse point It’s about 2 hours from Harbour Island or 1 hour from Governor’s Harbour, but it is well worth the journey in a vehicle capable of travelling the rugged road from Bannerman Town to this spectacular location of expansive beach areas, panoramic views, towering cliffs and unforgettable moments.

Seahorse photo Ponds - Bird life is one - Island of the School beautiful benefits the more than 200 inland ponds add to Eleuthera’s natural environment. Seahorses are another less obvious but awesomely intriguing find in some of the ponds and research has shown Sweeting’s Pond just north of Hatchet Bay to have them in abundance. There are 3 known species on the island according to researchers.

Caves - Hatchet Bay caves are especially magnificent, with still unexplored areas. Preacher’s Cave is significant because it served as shelter for the first “Eleutheran Adventurers” - shipwrecked Bermudians looking for religious freedom who turned out to be the first European settlers of the Bahama Islands. Rock Sound Caves, Ten

The Townships Visit, interact with the people, smile, say hello and appreciate what makes The Eleutheras so special. See more Page 109.

Rough Surf at Surfer’s beach is world renown for its wave action on the north coast of Eleuthera Island Shores just south of Gregory Town. Surfers use this and other north coast locations. Above: Camper experiences Eleuthera surf thanks to Bahamas Out Island Adventures.

Queen’s Baths

- natural pools (right) surrounded by breathtaking cliffs. It is found north of Gregory Town before the Glass Window bridge.

Edwin’s Turtle Lake located south of Governor’s Harbour along Queen’s Highway on the road to Palmetto Point in Central Eleuthera.

EXPLORE... OUR ISLANDS districTS

Don’t ever rush a visit - Here your time is “Free”. Use it to appreciate the beauty of the Eleuthera’s culture, and our coastal and inland natural landmarks. See sunrises and sunsets, close up features and

& TOwNSHIPS

Administrative Districts

• Harbour Island

• Spanish Wells

• North Eleuthera

CENTRAL district

• North of GHB airport

• Governor’s Harbour

• South of Governor’s Hbr

SOUTH district

• Tarpum Bay

• Rock Sound

• South of Rock Sound

Harbour island

World Famous Pink Sand Beach and much more on the “Home of The Friendly People”, like diving, fishing, horse back riding and exploring - See the Harbour Island section (Pages 112-121).

spanish wells

Boat tours / Fishing trips / Peaceful rest/ The Devil’s Backbone See the Spanish Wells section of this publication (Pages 122-125).

North Eleuthera

• Preacher’s Cave - See Map (Pages 64-67)

• ‘Sapphire’ Blue Hole - located just off the road leading to Preachers’s Cave - is small and beautiful in color. Take a dive!

• Glass Window Bridge - Just north of Gregory Town is Eleuthera’s narrowest point, just 30 ft. wide, where dramatic cliffs separate the deep Atlantic from the shallow Bight of Eleuthera.

north of ghb airport

• Expansive, amazing Hatchet Bay Caves

• Surfers Beach in Gregory Town

• Atlantic Cliffs all along the east coast

• Boat tours/Fishing charters (See Page 8, 115, 127, 137)

Governor’s harbour (GHB)

• Historic Cupids Cay (site of first U.S. Consulate General)

• Haynes Library

• Fish Fry on Friday

• Beautiful Century Old Churches

• See the Central Eleuthera section (Pages 126-129)

south of ghb

• Palmetto Point beaches (northside Unique Village beach and southside)

• Savannah Sound (protected turtles and a variety of sealife abound in the natural sound).

tarpum bay

• Winding Bay beach

• Roadside Vendors conch meals

• Boat tours/Fishing trips (See Page 137)

ROCK SOUND

• The Ocean Hole

• The Boiling Hole

• Rock Sound Caves

• Northside beach

South of rOCK SOUND

• Public Tennis Courts (Wemyss Bight)

• Cape Eleuthera Resort & Marina (Cape Eleu.)

• Slave and Church Ruins (Bannerman Town)

• Lighthouse Point & Beach (Bannerman Town)

• See Map (Pages 64-67, 131)