First trip to the Bahamas

My first experience traveling solo after my disability, I had taken myself to Nassau, Bahamas. What in the world was I thinking. I was single young cute and disabled. Perfect prey for anyone.
That was what everyone told me, but for the fact that I had been to travel school learned what to look out for from schemers and what not. I was OK.

The nature of my disability leaves me with limited mobility needing a wheelchair to ambulate long distances. plus my fine motor coordination is nonexistent, meaning i am not able to write. and my vocals are low and distorted and sometimes unintelligible, but nevertheless i still love to travel by myself, it allows me time to relax on my own time. quiet time, meditation time. plane old me time. doing or not doing whatever i want or don't want to do. Free time!

The first flight over to the Bahamas was a shocker because I didn't realize i had to fill out customs forms before I deplaned. If my travel agent had been aware of the nature of my disability she could have warned me ahead of time to be prepared to fill out paper work on board the plane. but me being the person i am i asked my seat partner to fill it out for me and she did it with much happiness and enthusiasm to help.

at the resort the first day. i was out drinking my new favorite drink Bahama Mamma's. They were being brought to me like water out by the pool in the heat of the Bahamian sun. I was laying out in the sun most of the day having different male employees rubbing sun block on my body and bringing me food. HEY I AM SINGLE! I was in paradise. So i had to act like it a little pampering by the employees to make my stay enjoyable.

second day: Out by the pool again being offered a free ticket on a booze cruise for later in the week. never been on one why not try. dont drink that much. lol so why not. Met a nice bahamian gentlemen I will call "Benjamin". Benjamin became my partner for the next 4 days at the resort he worked for the resort. He was a nice man took me for a tour of nassau, shopping, and eating locally. We had fun! Because of my limited mobility he carried me onto the beach, which the water was like crystal. Beautiful beyond words you could stand in water up to your neck and see your toes clearly. it is amazing. truly is. Not sugggesting you or anyone do what I did by going off the resort with a stranger handicapped or not but I had all my bases covered. enquired about "benjamin" at the front desk got all his information relayed all his information to my stateside relatives, had my cell phone at the ready, informed the hotel i was leaving the property and what time to expect me back. all good advice for all single travelers! and it helps that i am a red belt in tae kwon do! so no messing with me.

third day: was a lazy day I tried to eat the whole day long passing the gym by everytime i left my room. I went and spent the day by the pool again eating and drinking all day and night. Just relaxing having a good time enjoying my new friend "BEnjamin's" company. watching the entertainment poolside and soaking up the suns powerful rays on a beach chair poolside.

fourth day: it was another lazy day this time i spent it in the hotel because it rained most of the day. they say when it rains in the bahamas wait 5 min and then it will stop.. well it kept raining and stopping the whole day. so the day was spent checking out the resorts insides. the different resturaunts and lobbies. just sitting out on the sun porch reading listening to my mp3 player just enjoying my solitude. watching a wedding out poolside between the raindrops. it was beautiful.

fifth day: booze cruise day: after eating a hearty buffet breakfast. "Benjamin" came and got me from the lobby and wheeled me to the van with the other hotel guests for the afternoon cruise to an outer island. Once we anchored out in the water the partying began the music was pumped up and the picnic food was flowing hot dogs, hamburgers. potatoe chips, baked beans, ribs, other picnic fare and all the alcohol you could consume! I am not plugging getting drunk or anything but that is what was the purpose of the cruise. After having a few drinks and laying out I went snorkling with "Benjamin". Scared never been snorkling, all those fish! ugh! "Benjamin" let me ride his back as he swam in the water. That was fun and going above and beyond.

sixth day: getting ready to leave later that evening. saying goodbye to my new friend "benjamin". having a breakfast buffet. the food was truly amazing. this whole vacation i put aside the fact that i was disabled. i felt normal whole once again for the simple fact i was doing something i enjoyed by myself far away from the hustle and bustle of the real world. complete and total relaxation for the 5 days i was in Nassau. My first shot at independence. Making new friends and being pampered for real. this was my first and has to be my favorite vacation. for the reason it was my initial exploration into my ability to venture out on my own.

Nassau Beach Hotel, Nassau Bahamas