Bimini

Our stay in Bimini is unexpectedly long due to a lingering  pressure system and continued 25 to 35 knot winds. A walk to the beach and you can see how treacherous the waters are and no one wants to be out on a boat out there - not even the local fishing boats.  We are getting plenty of exercise walking the 2 streets in Alice Town and seeing the sights.  The Dolphin House (Museum) is a 15 year work in progress, entirely constructed from surplus materials by a talented man named Ashley Saunders. It  draws its name from the large dolphin mosaics which adorn the exterior and interior walls of the structure which houses living quarters, guest quarters, shop/museum, and a boutique under development. The structure also houses Ashley's collection of books by prize winning authors. While the basic construction was concrete frame with in-fill concrete blocks, the exterior and interior walls were adorned with recycled ceramic tile, coral, and conch shells, and other found materials in an eclectic but pleasing pattern. Limerock from South Bimini was used for the low walls, planters and entrance way. One of his guests termed her quarters as a "smorgasbord for the eyes". As it turned out, Ashley was a teacher and had received a BS degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, having been provided a full scholarship by the British to prepare him to teach. He had been instrumental in bringing curriculum reform to the Island.

Saturday night, the island had a Christmas Festival with their loud Christmas Parade,  Santa, tree lighting, skits, plays and carols by the local children and church choirs. Everyone in the marina, Ken & Heather on "Faring", Howard & Lois on "ChrisPamMel", Luke & Bobbie on "Lattitudes" John from "Torzo" and the boat "Plume au Vent" went and we had a great time! Ed met a few new "island buddies".  It is a festival enjoyed by all the locals with loud music and dancing in the streets!  Great fun even if you lose your hearing for a day or so. This is not their "Junkanoo", that is held on New Years Eve only.

Ernest Hemingway lived on Bimini from 1935 to 1937, staying at the Compleat Angler Hotel. He worked on To Have and Have Not and wrote a few articles, but mostly he fished aboard his boat Pilar, trolling the deep blue offshore waters for marlin, tuna and swordfish. Hemingway was attracted to Bimini by tales of the incredible fishing available in the Gulf Stream, the legendary “river” of warm water that rushes north past the Bahamas. An Atlantic blue marlin with a mass of 500 pounds (230 kg) caught off Bimini allegedly inspired Hemingway to write The Old Man and the Sea and Islands in The Stream. On Friday, January 13th, 2006, it burned to the ground. The picture below shows what is left.

Then there are the fish.....huge tarpon, stingray, starfish and of course the cute little "aquarium" fish always swimming around the boat. Bimini is an island that we enjoy.  The 1500 islanders are always welcoming and friendly however we have yet to see where they all live. It seems in Bimini, like most of the Bahamian Islands and Cays, that everyone knows each other and love it when white folks in boats come to visit their land.  While many are poor they are very happy and are worry free.