The seven year apple (Casasia clusiifloria), common on dunes and beachfronts of the Bahamas, neither an apple nor does it take seven years for its fruit to mature, gets its name from those that try it: when unripe, it tastes like turpentine, so you won't try it again for another 7 years; the fruit starts out green, gradually turns yellow (here), then black, then wrinkled, as the dark brown pulp dries inside – when dark brown, the fruit is sweet and ready to eat – but beware of the many seeds
To all who visit and view, and – especially – express support and satisfaction: you are much appreciated!
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Album – Eleuthera, The Bahamas – 2016March14 – Princess Cays:
An impressive 1st stop for a ship on its sailing itinerary, its exclusive port of call and private resort!
Vivid pastels, balmy breezes, warm waters, comfort stations, free lounge chairs and hammocks on the beach (arrive early if seeking a spot with some shade), and a pleasant marketplace to shop and avail yourself of an abundance of [pre-reserved] attractive rental opportunities like water sport equipment, strategically positioned covered chaise lounges, cushioned canvas-cover cloth clamshell cabana hooded beach tents, plus brightly-painted wooden beach bungalows (air-conditioned buildings with their own shower), for passengers to loaf like in the lap of luxury. Joe and I had 5 leisure hours ashore that also afforded available activities – or rest and relaxation – helping to support the local economy …as well as Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd.!
Some of the most spectacular beaches in the Bahamas line the island of Eleuthera, one of the Bahama Out Islands, which runs a narrow 110 miles, and sits on 2 bodies of water:
On the easterly side (Atlantic-, ocean side) the Atlantic Ocean provides the lure of crashing waves; on the westerly side (Caribbean-, sea side, still the Atlantic Ocean, but facing the Caribbean, thus dubbed the Caribbean side of Eleuthera) the Exuma Sound harbors calmer waters.
Princess Cays lies at the southern tip of Eleuthera, one of the most beautiful coasts in the Bahamas, about 200 miles from Miami, Florida and 50 miles east of Nassau, making for near-perfect weather, daily highs in the 70⁰’s to 80⁰’s Fahrenheit; lows rarely fall below the mid-60⁰’s.
Early June 2002, Joe and I took my parents on vacation to Eleuthera. I would love to return to see again the light blue waters of the shallow Caribbean Sea striking such stark contrast to the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean thousands of feet in depth at the Glass Window Bridge (“narrowest place on Earth”, a man-made bridge that replaced a naturally-formed bridge of rock destroyed in a hurricane), about 2 miles east of Upper Bogue, joining Lower Bogue and Gregory Town (where Joe and I bought Pineapple Festival T-shirts!) at the narrowest point on the island, one of the few places on earth to look down and compare the phenomenal contrast of rich cobalt rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean churning away beneath one edge of the bridge, and calm see-clear-to-the-bottom turquoise-green waters of the Exuma Sound (Caribbean Sea side) below the other edge, I hope 'Next Time' under cloudless skies (it was rainy 14 years ago the morning of our family visit).
And I’d love to come back “another time” to peer out the top of one of the unique amenities of Princess Cays, its observation tower, with one of the best views in the entire Bahamas.
After we walked around in the strong sunshine and sat in the shade of the picnic shelters to eat the lunch provided for us, Joe and I went into the waves for a swim. What a wonderful start to our cruise! (Can you tell I like it here?)
Midway along these favorite photos, I captured what I consider a humdinger of a happenstance photo, drastically different from our next port of call excursion’s knock-your-socks-off panorama vistas…
Hope you enjoy our photos! Ruth and Joe
