Bahamians like to tell the story -- whether real or apocryphal -- that American astronauts returning from orbit declared that they could recognize only two sights from space: the Great Wall of China and the waters of the Bahamas.
It wouldn't be surprising, for the sea is the prevailing feature of this country of more than 700 islands -- approximately 75% of the country lies underwater, and its shores are rimmed by some of the world's great barrier reefs. The sea is geography, attraction, livelihood, and inspiration all in one. Talk to a painter, diver, boatbuilder, fisherman, or chef, and they'll all likely agree: without the sea, the Bahamas would lose its raison d'être.
The nation's existence is based largely on tourism. Even though you can reach the Bahamas in less than an hour's flight from the Florida coast, the country's natural beauty and exotic appeal make it seem more like a far-flung outpost. The water ranges from pale aqua to deep sapphire, the spectrum changing hourly as the relentless Bahamian sun sweeps across the island sky.
As you lie on the beach, a distant boat plies the calm waters. A lonely gull swoops by overhead, surprised to see that he has company. A single set of footprints -- yours -- crosses the strand. In many ways, you realize, things have changed very little since Christopher Columbus arrived here in 1492.
Nassau, the country's capital, is a bustling town on New Providence Island with shops, nightclubs, and an enviable array of restaurants, glitzy casinos, and posh hotels. Even in Nassau, though, there are quiet byways and shady lanes where you can escape the tumult of the main tourist drags.
Shop 'til you drop or wander past colonial buildings that reveal the capital's fascinating history. Dine on delicate French cuisine in an elegant restaurant or rub shoulders with Bahamians in a down-home friendly eatery. Drop your dollars in a clangorous casino or escape to the seclusion of Paradise Island's Versailles Gardens. Boogie the night away in a rowdy club or take a nighttime stroll along now quiet Cable Beach, the daytime hubbub just a memory.
