fort pickens camping fishing, 39-45; the Abacos, 44, 141, 143, 161-165; the Acklins, 258; Andros, 189, 195, 196-197; Behr

fishing, 39-45; the Abacos, 44, 141, 143, 161-165; the Acklins, 258; Andros, 189, 195, 196-197; Behring Point, 203; Berry Islands, 262, 263-264; Bimini, 39, 43, 44, 205, 206, 208-209; blue-water, 40-42; Boat Harbour, 44; Chub Cay, 44; camps, 197, 203; Cargill Creek, 203; Conch Bar, 344; Crooked Island 258; Eleuthera, 227; the Exumas, 237, 249-251; Fernandez Bay, 275; George Town, 254, 255; Grand Bahama, 127; Great Abaco, 160; Great Guana Cay, 157, 182; guides, 44, 359-361; Harbour Island, 235; Hawk s Nest, 274; licenses, 45; Little Exuma, 245; Little Inagua, fort pickens camping 276; Long Island, 291; Marsh Harbour, 184; Nassau, 60; New Providence, fort pickens camping 55; North Caicos, 338, 339; Out Islands, 7-8; packages, 44, 162-164, 209-210, 250; Providenciales, 322; South Caicos, 345, 347; Staniel Cay, 242; Stella Maris, 293; tournaments, 44-45, 162, 185, 210, 250; Treasure Cay, 44, 185-186, Turks & Caicos, 314; Walker s Cay, 44, 158, 186

with an assortment of steaks, fresh fish and chicken dishes. You can even get an order of buffalo wings, a pizza, all-you-can-eat pasta, and, believe it or not Tex-Mex. Open from noon until 11 pm for lunch and dinner. No need to make a reservation. 649-946-1680.

der lily seem a little brighter than anywhere else. The sand varies just a little from the palest pink to the tint of fine champagne. And then there s the clothing. Bahamians love bright colors. Light colored dresses, shirts, and hats set against rich brown skin offer rare opportunities for great photography. Gaily painted cottages, bustling streets alive with color, roadside fish markets, vast mangrove swamps, tiny harbors crowded with sailboats, lighthouses, and thousands of scenic bays, inlets, and beaches offer even more vistas for shutterbugs. If that s not enough, you can always dive into the underwater world.

Language The language spoken on the islands is English at least it s called English. fort pickens camping The old language has been shaped and reshaped over more than 300 years by a potpourri of cultures, of which the British and Caribbean have had no small influence. Some say the Bahamian accent is decidedly West Indian, others say it has a sound all its own. If it s spoken quickly, it s almost impossible for an outsider to understand. The secret is to listen carefully, and don t be afraid to ask the speaker to repeat that will often bring a delighted grin to his or her face.