Swimming with wild dolphins in Bimini

Flying out.

So long to Ft. Lauderdale

Less than 30 minute flight-Bimini.
North Island left, South Island right.

Bimini is part of the Bahama Islands located 53 miles due east

of Miami. Current population is about 1600. Bimini is composed

of the North and South Islands. North Bimini, where we stayed,

is 7 miles long and 700 feet wide. The northern quarter of the

island is dominated by the Bimini Bay Resort. Moving southward,

there are three settlements: Porgy Bay, Bailey Town and Alice Town

which is the largest. South Bimini is home to the landing strip and

shark research lab. Earliest inhabitants were the Lucayan people

who were taken off as slaves by the Spanish. Bimini was a favorite

rest/resupply base for pirates for many years and did not have a

permanent settlement until 1835 founded by freed slaves and white

Bahamians. Because of its proximity to the US, Bimini was frequently

used by bootleggers during Prohibition. Ernest Hemingway lived on

Bimini from 1935-37 and helped establish the island as a center for

big game fishing. His books “The Old Man and the Sea” and “Islands

in the Stream” are said to have been inspired by his experiences

while on Bimini.

Our puddle jumper from Ft. Lauderdale. Seats 10 including

the pilot.

Marinas in Alice Town on the sheltered side of North Island.

Seen from the dock, the main house for the Wild Quest

retreat. WQ has been in business since the 1990's offering

humans the chance to encounter dolphins in their natural

environment. The retreat offers healthy meals, yoga,med-

itation sessions and massage therapy. Kitchen and dining

(in bad weather)/serving rooms are on the ground floor,

yoga/meeting room first floor and guest rooms there

and on the top floor.

The dining table. Our room was in this building.

Bay side of rooms.

“Buddy”, Wild Quest's adopted stray, whose duties

ranged from greeting us at the dock at the end of the

day to devotedly ripping up plants

Curly-Tailed Lizard

(yep, name and description are the same).

Green coconuts.

Storms.

Generally, the catamaran was engine-powered

unless there was enough wind to go under sail.

Dolphins!

Getting into the water.

Swimming with dolphins.

Stills from C's vid camera.

Tropical Storm Andreas made landfall on the

panhandle of FL. The effects of the storm could

be felt in Bimini on the other side of the state.

Heading back one afternoon, we were sailing

right into the wind, 3-5 foot seas. Took us an

hour to go a mile. Not quite as rocky on the boat

seeing sky, ocean, sky, ocean but it was a long,

choppy journey.

“The Square”. Katty-corner from the entrance gate to

our compound. Gathering place for folk (generally men)

in Porgy Bay who often were enjoying adult beverages

purchased from a small store across the street. I found

the islanders uncommonly friendly and I was almost

always greeted by passerbys when I walked. I chatted

a couple of times with the guys (mainly older) hanging

out. Seemed like they were happy, mellow drinkers

as opposed to aggressive, angry ones.

A rare car-usual mode of transportation

was a golf cart.

Note the ornaments.

Bimini Bay Resort. This time of year it was a ghost town.

Evidently, the “season” is Thanksgiving to Easter. The

resort has sparked controversy-the gated community,

the new casino being built and a proposed deep water

harbor so cruise lines can anchor. Curiously, it is the

Europeans who either live or work on Bimini who voice

concern-spoiling paradise and the ecology. Islanders I

talked to saw the development in terms of employment

and economic growth.

Ocean side homes.

Across the street, bay side bungalows.

Attached to one of many marinas in Alice Town, Big John's

offers a bar overlooking the bay, dance floor and restaurant.

It was my father's death day so I went on walk-about instead

of going on the boat. I offered up a drink to The Old Marine-

one of his classic drinks-Cuba Libre. Typical of island drinks,

it came in a damn tall water-glass. $5.Thud!  

Conch shells. Conch fishing is common and conch meat
was frequent on restaurant menus.

Alice Town.

I saw many of these signs incorporating Nike's

Swoosh. I asked an a cook taking a break at 

Big John's about it. “Oh mon, this was something

from a couple of leaders ago for school children. 

It was posted in all the schools”. Hmm, I said-”looks

like it's for adults as well-a bit of social engineering”. 

She laughed-“Yep”.

Across from a liquor store. There are a lot of churches

on the island mainly on the Kings Highway or upper

road on higher ground. The three settlements and resort

are located on the lower main route or Queens Road.

Murals on wall as you enter Alice Town.

Walking up to Dolphin House.

Dolphin House. Since 1993, Ashley Saunders has

adorned outside and inside this hotel/personal

residence/museum/gift shop with recycled/salvaged

items. It's wonderful. Mr. Saunders is also Bimini's historian.

 Mr. Saunders (internet image)

Dolphin House is located on high ground. Going further up

the hill to the top and the Kings Highway, you have this

spectacular view of the beach and ocean.

Around the corner from Dolphin House is the

Methodist Church. First established in 1858

the current church dates from the 1920's as

earlier buildings were destroyed by hurricanes.

Katter on the front steps of the church. We saw few

cats on the island. Far more dogs and goats.

Only sunrise we saw because of the weather.

Final day, in front of the door of our room.