Paradise found in the Bahamas: Part of my 6 month solo road trip

Day 17:

I’m flying from Fort Lauderdale Florida to Nassau, Bahamas on Jet Blue.  My plan is to stay at the Sunrise Beach Villas in Paradise Island for the night, sail for a week on a tall ship then come back to the same hotel for a couple of days to soak up the sun before flying back to the crowded beaches of Fort Lauderdale.

This sailing adventure seals the 6 month solo road trip. It grounds me and gives me hope of new beginnings. Arriving after a day of travel is tiring but looking forward to relaxing on the white sandy beach. I take a taxi from the Airport to the hotel and arrive in the early afternoon.

I love the unassuming feel of the hotel. The villas are painted a soft yellow with white trim.

View from my bedroom

Lush, colorful vegetation adorn the property and there are inviting pools to relax in. A small restaurant/bar overlooks the grounds and the pool closest to the front entrance. The row house villas are two stories. The more expensive units are beach front. I choose the least expensive which is still about $250/night.

The upstairs bedroom in the villa

My unit faces another row house villa  with a courtyard in between.  Each entrance to the units have a white picket fence and patio with tables and chairs. French doors lead into the small dining/living/kitchenette with half bathroom. A narrow spiral staircase leads to the bedroom with a king size bed, closet, bureau, flat screen TV, full bathroom and a balcony overlooking the courtyard. It’s nicely appointed with an island feel.

Cabbage Beach, Paradise Island – gigantic hotels in the distance along with Atlantis.

After settling in I change into my bathing suit and walk to the beach. It’s late afternoon and the shadows from trees shade a portion of the beach. It’s breezy and it’s cooler in the low 70’s. Not the best conditions for sunbathing. I survey the beach. I can see the enormous hotels to the left with Atlantis looming in the distance. To the right, the hotels blend into the landscape and I walk towards the quiet side away from the crowds. Peace.