Today we attended church at Lucaya Presbyterian Church. For many of us this was much closer to the worship we were used to at home than some of the other church services we have been to in the Bahamas. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming, and there was a very nice time of fellowship following the service. Adding to the excitement of the day, our last two travelers arrived (they had been delayed to attend a graduation – congratulations!).
After church and a quick trip to the grocery store to replenish supplies, we met friends to visit more of the island, particularly the West end, which was some of the worst hit by Dorian. Driving around the island can feel somewhat surreal due to the mix of remaining devastation and new construction. It appears, though, that, especially once you leave the Freeport area, some of the destruction dates back to even earlier hurricanes. Many small businesses operate on a very tight budget, and simply can’t afford to recover or rebuild when a storm wipes them out. The difference in restoration of small businesses and lower class housing versus tourist areas and international businesses was saddening, if not surprising.
Several wonderful tastes of the island awaited us on our trip: fried conch, conch salad, and an ice cream shop beloved by the locals. All were wonderful. Two of our younger travelers learned a valuable lesson: just because a business has coffee in the name, that does not necessarily mean it is a coffee shop. Their expressions were priceless.
The drivers of two of our vehicles had a lot to relay about the storm, about life in the Bahamas and how Grand Bahama and Andros differ in various ways, and how recovery efforts were coming along. We so appreciated them for arranging this outing and for their patient explanations and answers to our many questions.
The wildlife cooperated today too. We saw many sea birds and fish, and even a shark. While nature watching was not the focus of today’s outing, it certainly added to the experience.
All in all, the day was a mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar, with plenty of new sites, smells, tastes, and even textures to experience, accompanied by just enough familiarity and hospitality to leave us feeling at home here.
The day nearly complete, excitement is building about camp with the kids from GBCH, which starts TOMORROW! Day one awaits…
