Exuma

 

Forty has definitely shown me a warm welcome as I have been showered with love and celebrations.  I feel very lucky and blessed for all of my loved ones who have taken the time to recognize me and my forty years on this planet.  The biggest celebration happened in The Bahamas with the DePauls and the Rogers.  It was dicey leading up to the trip trying to keep everyone healthy and Covid free and get through the winter storm that blew through, but we all made it there in one piece and the trip did not disappoint.

Getting my travel binder ready!

                 

Our view flying in.  The water is so vibrantly blue and clear.  It's unbelievable.  

After we landed and went through customs, we jumped in a car to head to our resort and our friendly driver stopped off for celebratory drink supplies.  We were introduced to Goombay punch which is a local drink that we later realized doesn't have an ounce of real fruit juice but a solid 56 grams of sugar.  It was delicious with rum though :)

We stayed at the Grand Residences and had a three bedroom, three bathroom condo that fit everyone very nicely.  It was great to be able to spread out and have the amenities that a resort provides.  Perfect location for everyone.

                         

After settling in a bit, we suited up and headed over to the pool/beach to check things out.  The view at the resort's pool was incredible.  We all ordered a late lunch and cocktails, sat at the pool and relaxed for a couple of hours before heading back to the room to get ready for dinner.

Dinner did not disappoint.  The food and drinks were so good and I was even serenaded by one of the waiters who had a really nice voice.  It was a late dinner so we were all ready to head to bed by the end of the night in order to be up and ready to jump on our boat excursion the next morning.

                   

We chartered a private 1/2 day boat tour on our first full day.  I don't love being stuck on a boat but it was a blast.  We couldn't get over how pretty the water is.

First stop on our boat was this enormous sandbar.  

Time to break out the Goombay Punch.

                     

After the sandbar, we boated over to Starfish beach.  Starfish could be found easily and the boys had fun jumping in and grabbing them.  They were really pretty and fun to look at up close.

Poor Eric grabbed this big one while the rest of us posed with it for a picture and then it was thrown back into the water before he got back onto the boat to check it out.

Just a couple of guys swinging on the beach.

                  

After Starfish Beach, we went over to another area to check out the turtles.  Eric was back in the water to look more closely but got out pretty quickly as he realized that they were not afraid of him.

Shaun also got in and stayed in a little too long.  They loved him but we aren't sure how much he enjoyed this experience.

                       

After the turtles, it was time for a late lunch so we docked at the infamous, Chat n' Chill restaurant that can only be accessed by boat.  We ordered lunch, checked out the fresh conch salad, and laid in the sand for awhile before heading out and wrapping up our boat excursion.

                        

                      

All of the old conch shells after that have been used for conch salad.

I took this picture for Mairin since the boat's name is "Moana."

After we got back to the place from the boat, we all did our own thing.  Some napped at the place while others headed down for a nap at the beach.  We stayed down there until about 5:00 and caught this rainbow.  We got ready for dinner again and went down the street to a restaurant called "Coco Plum Bistro."  It was a small restaurant but everyone had a good meal and then we stayed up and played Euchre at our condo before calling it a long, but SO fun day.

The next morning, I went for a walk on the beach, did my two day Covid test that The Bahamas required and then got ready for a relaxing day on the beach.  This was much needed after our jam-packed day on the boat and it was equally as fun.  We read our books, ordered drinks from the bar, and ended up sitting around in a circle on the beach just talking until almost 6:00 at night.  It was just what everyone needed.

Dinner that night was casual as we stayed at the resort and ate at their pool restaurant.  Everyone's meals were great, we played cards and enjoyed each other's company.

On Wednesday, our friends were slated to leave after lunch for the airpot while Eric and I stayed for one more day.  It was nice to have the time just Eric and I but, in retrospect, I would have had our day alone at the start of the trip.  It was quiet after they left and all the fun memories were left hanging in the air but Eric and I enjoyed a relaxing day at the pool, discovered a private beach and celebrated National Pizza Day by the pool for dinner.

Mr. Bahamas himself made sure to sample a couple more rum cocktails before needing to leave for the airport.

           

We had an afternoon flight out of the Bahamas on Thursday so we were able to sneak in a few more hours at the beach before leaving.  I finished my book just as it was time to say goodbye.  This trip was truly one I will never forget and will always have fond memories of.