Mark, Julie, Nick and I are all safely back in Timmins but of course I’ve still got more pictures to share. These are from the Goombay Festival on Sandals’ Cay Island on Friday night.

For our Thursday in the Bahamas, we were lucky enough to get to jet off to the brand new Sandals resort on Exuma island. It’s called Sandals Emerald Bay and well I don’t think wow has been said that many times in a 2 hour span in the history of the English language. We’re calling guiness to see if we broke a world record there. What a resort. All ocean front. All butler service. If you’re saving up for a dream vacation but wasn’t sure where that dream vacation would happen…Emerald Bay is the place for that dream vacation.

Wednesday I headed off with our winners Julie and Nick after breakfast. We went for a little walk off the resort to check out a casino just down the road. I lost 20 bucks but hey it was fun…and I also found a Bahamian nickel (it’s got a pineapple on it…pretty cool). Mark meanwhile kicked around the resort sipping Bahama Mamas. I joined him for a bit by the pool just lazing the day away in the sun. The day was topped off with some champagne on the dock at sunset and yet another delicious dinner at Casanova’s. I had the lasagna with Tiramisu for dessert while Mark had the lamb…which he for some reason referred to as Bambi…Julie, Nick and I had to point out to him that Bambi was a deer, not a lamb. One too many Bahama Mamas there Marko.

Julie shared some of her pictures from her dolphin adventure.

Tuesday Mark and I parted ways after the show. Mark ventured off to the offshore island, while I headed downtown to Bay Street for some shopping. I got some good deals at the Straw Market, and then browsed around the street seeing the sights. Today who knows? Could be off to the Atlantis Casino, or perhaps I’ll head over to the offshore island myself. Julie spent some time with the dolphins yesterday. Hopefully we can catch her somewhere in her adventures and get some pictures.

Yesterday Mark and I took the tour of the island. We saw all sorts of things, like Fort Charlotte which was built to help fend off potential invasion by Naploeon…although it never saw action. There was also Fort Francis, Fort Fincastle and the Queen’s Staircase (Queen Victoria that is). Today on my agenda: go shopping downtown. Julie our winner is going to fulfill one of her dreams: to swim with the dolphins.

Well arrived safe and sound in the Bahamas. The Sandal’s Royal Bahamian is absolutely gorgeous. Numerous pools, whirlpools, jacuzzis, hot tubs…plus don’t forget the palm trees. The people here are lovely…and not used to the temperatures they’ve been having lately. That deep freeze you’ve been hearing about along the eastern US is also dropping the Bahamas down the mercury a little bit but it’s still gorgeous to us Canadians. I jsut had to snap a picture of the two ladies who were selling jewellery out on the beach. They’re bundled up like I was on the night of the Olympic Torch Relay! Also you’ll see a picture here of Mark’s reaction to the fact that there are no prices on the menus at Sandals!

Oh and that chandalier…the picture really doesn’t encompass how huge and gorgeous it is in person. You need to be here. Enter that draw!!