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Road work is continuing along the Queen's Highway repairing the worst areas along James Cistern, Governor's Harbour, and Tarpum Bay. They are digging deep footers for the barriers against the sea to ensure they don't get undermined by the waves. They're trying to do the walls in one pour so there are no cold joints and extending them 5 feet towards the road. Hopefully this will hold up for a long time.
Major dredging is going on at Runaway Bay as the increase the size of the marina basin. Dolcevita is still located there and will be open until June 29. After this they will relocate to their new home on Banks Road.
Elvina's Bar in Gregory Town hosted its usual Tuesday night Jam Session. Quite a few visitors were in attendance. It's been a while since I've been there and I must say the outside deck has been nicely improved with added seating and tables.
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On a "bad" note - I usually won't report bad news, but I'm really upset about this.- we have our boat docked in Hatchet Bay - a 44' Trawler and two nights ago someone broke into it. They ransacked all of it. They stole our CD collection, several cartons of cigarettes, and then broke into our safe and stole 2 guns. They did some damage down below while trying to get into different compartments. This really disappoints me. The police were wonderful and came quickly and took evidence and fingerprints. Hopefully someone will talk and the weapons will be recovered. This is very dangerous to have these loose on the island - and they have sentimental value to my husband as they were his late father's guns.
Spent the rest of the time at Palmetto Point Homecoming. The Brilanders played every night. What a party! They sounded excellent and had the crowd dancing and singing along. Friday night Count Bernadino took the stage with his off colour jokes and fine calypso music. He is a classic and if you ever have the chance to see him, don't miss it! Pepper lit up the stage with her fire routine and "Action", from Nassau, put on a great limbo show. He set the limbo stick atop of a pair of sneakers and limbo-ed under it - then he set up four limbo sticks on 8 Kalik bottles and went under those! Saturday Ancient man "Called the Fire Engine" and performed his rake and scrape music, followed by a beer drinking contest (congrats to Lady K for winning this - yes a woman beat out the men!) and Novie (from Visage) took the stage - she was joined by Eleuthera's own Visage member - Sean. Novie had the crowd going and it was a great night! And... boy was there a crowd - it was packed from the stage all the way past the bar. On Sunday the Brilanders were back (Oh my goodness!) along with Elon Moxey - and it was another great show! The floating bar was a huge hit. They were giving away free tequila shots and the partyers were in full swing!
Gregory Town Pineapple Festival |
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Local Art work for sale at the Festival |
Dr. SeaBreeze |
Palmetto Point Homecoming |
Fans of the Floating Bar |
Are we having fun yet?! |
Arts and Crafts at Point |
The Brilanders - great music |
Larry Cleare sings for the crowd |
Brilanders band members |
Count Bernadino |
"Action" - limbos under a bar held up by a pair of sneakers! |
"Action" carries a spectator under the flaming limbo bar |
"Pepper" entertains the crowd |
Playing with fire |
Ancient Man - Call the Fire Engine |
Kalik beer drinking contest - Lady K (in pink) wins |
Novie - from Visage |
There's a brown gal in the ring - and what a crowd! |
Look at all the people! |
Standing room only! |
Elon Moxey - catch da crab |
The Brilanders with Elon |
Plenty boats in Davis Harbor |
Nice Yellow Tail snapper |
Preparations for Deep Creek Homecomiing |
Had a light rain in Tarpum Bay this morning. There's a mild breeze and the night time temperatures have been pleasantly cool. The mosquitoes are the worst I've ever seen them on the island. They are literally swarming. Bring your insect repellant.
I stopped by the Palmetto Point Homecoming site last night - they've added a deck to the 2 story bar and the floating bar is in the water. A large tarp has been erected over the floating bar to allow some shade for the patrons. Everything is ready for the opening tonight.
I have a recommendation to make for anyone traveling through Tarpum Bay - stop at Papa Georges and get a Pina Colada to go. I had one yesterday, and it was one of the best pina coladas I've ever had. A definite must for anyone doing a road trip.
Major road repair has begun on the really bad parts of Queen's Highway in James Cistern and Governor's. They're digging deep trenches and putting up proper retaining walls on the sea side to hold back the erosion and allow the water to flow properly off the road.
Tarpum Bay school children after school |
I found this amusing. The old Brethren Church is a pile of rubble, but the back wall still stands with a statement that is at contrast to the ruin. |
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Homecoming Entertainment Schedule
| Day | Gregory Town | Palmetto Point | Green Castle | Deep Creek |
| Thursday | 6pm - Stalls Open for sales and displays 8pm - Plaiting of the pineapple pole 9pm - Gregory Town Brass Band - DJ Music |
5:00pm
Stalls open
Music provided by DJ FAT BACK
Hosted by Guest DJ
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7pm - Group from Nassau
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8pm - Opening of nightly events 9pm - Cultural Explosion Bahamian Art Display Deep Creek Youth Dance |
| Friday | 1pm - Dr Seabreeze 2pm – Pineapple Eating Contest The Extremers 3pm - Plaiting of the Pineapple Pole Pineapple Fun Sports Pineapple Wine contest 4pm - Eleuthera Express 6pm - Gregory Town Brass Band 7pm - Gregory Town Jr Junkanoo group - Plaiting of The Pineapple Pole by the Haitian Community 8pm - Comedy Act by Jean-Claude & Duvalier & Francois - P.Fest Dancers 9 pm - Eleuthera Express - The Cultural Performing Arts group - Geno D |
9am
- Stalls Open |
11am
- Crazy Sports on
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6:30am - Walkathon from Deep Creek Public Park to Cape Eleuthera and return 8pm - Opening of nightly events 8:30pm - Bold & Beautiful Fashion Show 9:30pm - Rake & Scrape Band 10pm - May Pole Plaiting 10:30pm - Back to 60’s Fashion Show 11:15pm - Bahamian Skit 11:30pm - Sculling Contest 12midnight - Quadrille 12:30am - After party |
| Saturday | 8am - Gulfstream/Continental Airlines Cycling Classic 9am - 7pm –Bahamian Tings tent open 9am - Stalls open for sales and displays - Pineapple Fun Sports 1pm - Pineapple Cooking Contest Judging - Eleuthera Express - Pineapple Wine Contest - Pineapple Peeling Contest - Pineapple Eating Contest - Rake N Scrape - Plaiting of the Pineapple Pole 6pm - Pineapple Princess Float 7pm - Pineapple Fest Dancers - Pineapple Wine Contest - The Cultural Performing Arts group 9pm - Royal Bahamas Defense Force Dance Band in concert - Music until….. |
9am
- Stalls Open
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10am
- Community Event (TBA)
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10:30am - Party at Gully Hole, Swim-a-thon & Souse-out 2:30pm - Family Time Tug-a-war, Maypole, Conch Shell Race, Children’s Corner, Bahamian Art Display 8pm - Speech Time, Topic: Deep Creek 8:15pm - Presentation of the biography of Mr. Oral Pinder “A man of all times” 9pm - climbing of the greasy conch pole 9:30pm - Conch cracking and eating contest 9:50pm - judging of the conch cooking contest 10:15pm - Bahamian Art display 10:30pm - Set-up & Rush in “Deep Creek Style” 11:30pm - Performance by Funky D & Terez |
| Sunday | 1pm - Inspirational Moments 2pm - Triathalon (1:00 pm checkin) 400 meter swim/ 10K bike/ 5K run - Stalls Open 3pm - Down Home Food Tasting 5pm - Plaiting of the May Pole by the Hatian Community 6pm - Performance by the Gregory Town Brass Band 7:30pm - Pineapple Princess Pageant - Comedy Act by Jean-Claude & Duvalier & Francois 10pm - Live Band Performance |
1pm
- Site Opens
DJ MUSIC UNTIL…. |
11am
- Church Service
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2pm - Stalls open 7:30pm - Down home rush & set-up Deep Creek Style 8:30pm - Dynamite Daisy Prophet Lawrence Rolle in Concert |
I've listed the homecoming schedules side by side so you can plan out your weekend. I'll be heading over to Eleuthera by boat tomorrow morning, let's hope for calm seas. I am going to do a thorough sightseeing trip up and down the island to get you all the latest news and photos, so keep your eyes on this page!
More Eleuthera construction in the news.. from http://www.thenassauguardian.com/bixex/286502778124651.php
Park Hyatt Comes to Eleuthera
Paul D. Thompson, former managing director of Lyford Cay Club, has been tagged to head up "all resort operations" for yet another multi-purpose resort in Eleuthera. The latest in what has been described in some quarters as an $11 billion investment bonanza, the promoters of the Park Hyatt's "first Caribbean resort" plan to create an "exclusive resort community".
According to the press release, the Global Hyatt Corporation's Park Hyatt brand is teaming up with EIC Resorts, "a collaboration of Pennsylvania-based developers Eddie Lauth, Bob Poole and Mike Lanigan", to capitalise on The Bahamas' "new residential and long-time tourism wave with French Leave Resort, featuring the Park Hyatt hotel, and Savannah Hill, an upscale residential community".
The development will "stretch a combined 356 acres". The release states that EIC's "strategic acquisition" of contiguous land adjacent to the resort on Eleuthera will be used for development of additional "resort residences, a marina village and restaurants".
EIC Resorts have retained the services of the iconoclastic Arquitectonica whose founder Bernardo Fort-Brescia along with Cesar Molina an architect from New Mexico will "the designs of the property". A brief foray on Arquitectonica's website suggest that the resort plans on being ahead of the usual run of "multi-purpose resort/communities".
The site of the new resort known as French Leave, has a storied history having first being owned in 1938 by Count Alfred de Marigny of Mauritius. He was eventually forced to sell after his acquittal in the infamous Harry Oakes murder. The buyer was the late Sir Roland "Pop" Symonette, the first Premier of The Bahamas and father of Montague MP Brent Symonette, and businessmen Bobby (deceased) and Craig.
According to the French Leave Resort website In the 1950's, French Leave was sold to an aspiring actor by the name of Craig Kelley and the first French Leave Hotel was built but it was burned to the ground in 1972 and the site remained barren until Club Med opened its Eleuthera hotel in 1976 until 1999 when it finally closed it doors. The 270-acre site is famous for its pink sand beaches
According to the release French Leave has "pre-construction single-family oceanfront home sites and villas"; the Park Hyatt will be lending its brand to "condominium hotel residences" which will include the obligatory "pool area, two restaurants and full-service spa".
At Savannah Hill, which has been "privately owned since 1950" will be established "up to 10 estate lots, cottages and invitation-only memberships". Savannah Hill's exclusivity will be continued according to the release which states that "Savannah Hill has rarely been seen even by the locals".
Savannah Hill will have its own marina on the "Atlantic side of the island" while at Cupid's Cay in Governor's Harbour, "a marina will service luxury yachts and sport fishing boats".
There are 4 homecomings the first weekend in June - creating an "Eleuthera Homecoming Bash"! This means wherever you are on the island, there's a homecoming near you! You might even want to check out the schedules and plan on attending different ones on different nights, depending on what entertainment you want to catch. Deep Creek is celebrating their Conch Fest, Green Castle is celebrating their Homecoming, Palmetto Point is celebrating their Homecoming, and Gregory Town is celebrating Pineapple Fest.
The first night, Wednesday May 31 all the festivals will be launched from a single location - at the Ecumenical Church Service in Palmetto Point. After that, it's your choice as to where you want to go on which nights. And remember, there's great food and other activities during the daytime too. Come to the beach for some drinks and friendship during the day, or put on your dance shoes for the night time!
ELEUTHERA HOMECOMING BASH
“United We Stand, Together:
We Can!”
FESTIVAL/HOMECOMING
HIGHLIGHTS 31ST MAY, 2006 – 5TH JUNE, 2006
****Wednesday
May 31st, 2006 - 7:30 p.m.****
Combined
Ecumenical Church Service - Palmetto Point
OFFICIAL
LAUNCH OF ALL FESTIVALS/HOMECOMINGS
Featuring
the newly formed All Eleuthera Gospel Choir
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CONCH
FEST - DEEP CREEK: Theme:
One Goal, One People – Uniting Our Community” Cultural Explosion
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GREEN
CASTLE HOMECOMING: Theme:
“Doing It In Style...Down In De Castle!” Green Castle Idol
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PINEAPPLE
FESTIVAL: Theme:
“Let’s Grow Together” RBDF Dance Band
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PALMETTO
POINT HOMECOMING: Theme: “Unified – 2006” For
times and info see: www.palmettopoint.org The Brilanders Band
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Here's more news on Preacher's Cave:
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/288706781119086.php
Bones Still Being Tested
By JASMIN BONIMY, Guardian Staff reporter, jasmin@nasguard.com
Bones found at Eleuthera's Preacher's Cave are still undergoing testing to confirm that they are the centuries old remains of a Lucayan Indian and Eleutheran Adventurer.
A team of Miami-Dade archaeologists discovered what is believed to be the 500-year-old skeletal remains of a Lucayan Indian lying inches away from the remains of a 350-year-old Eleutheran Adventurer just 150 meters beneath the cave's floor last March. Jeff Ransom, a Miami Dade archaeologist who was present at the Preachers Cave dig, told The Guardian yesterday, "The analysis of the human remains is still in the works."
Meanwhile the Bahamian government has said that they hope to transform the world-renowned cave into a national preservation park. Speaking at a press conference to announce the American-based archaeological team's findings, Tourism official in Eleuthera, Raymond Harrison, said the park would benefit locals as well as visitors.
"We are looking to make this a national park because we want Bahamians to come and enjoy the cave as well," said Mr Harrison. "What we have here is well beyond our imagination," he continued. "It lends itself not only to Bahamians and regular visitors but we are looking at historians, archaeologists, and university students who study here. So it is important that we look at what we have here."
Mr Harrison also revealed that the new park would entail a caretaker's house and 12 cabanas along the ridge area. He added that the government was also looking into developing nearby land, which is owned by the island's Commonage Committee.
But newly appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism John Carey has admitted that the government has not set a definite timeline to begin work on the proposed park.
Eleuthera's Preachers Cave gained its name and notoriety in 1968 after Captain William Sayles and 75 settlers left Bermuda to settle in a place where they could practice religion freely.
The group, which later came to be known as the Eleutheran Adventurers, was ship wrecked in a storm. One man was drowned and the others managed to find shelter in the cave. A religious ceremony was later held there on the anniversary of the wreck in thanksgiving for their safe passage