Hazel

Cartwright's Cottages in Tarpum Bay Eleuthera Bahamas has been our home for the past 6 months and Mrs. Cartwright and her family and our excellent island tip guide, Doug were most accommodating and the island has welcomed us with many frienships. We even survived Hurricane Michelle in October 2001 and were taken to a safe home away from the sea. The cottage is very sound and was only missing some few roof shingles and had a bit of water after the storm. We were back in the cottage in 3 days.<BR>We visited 3 churches whose members welcomed us warmly. We felt safe as we walked both in the early am and in the evenings around the settlement and the local children dropped by to visit us often.<BR>Much of our time was spent in Tarpum Bay without a car. At times we rented a car to explore the beautiful island.<BR>Tarpum Bay features:<BR>Fresh fish at the dock almost every day.<BR>Beach in the settlement often has nice shells<BR>Swimming in front of the cottages(big plus). <BR>Walks around the cottages have very intertsting plantlife.<BR>Some great beaches to explore include, Winding Bay Beach(Tarpum Bay), Islandia Beach,Lighthouse Beach, Ten Bay Beach, Double Bay, and Club Med Beach.<BR>We were able to cook most of our meals at the cottage and 3 nearby food stores had almost everything we needed. We also had a few good restaurants nearby, Bertha's Ribs Barbies and the Galaxy Bar were clsoe by.We hope to return in June for yet another great vacation in Eleuthera. Hazel

Robert

I must ask you, is Ten Bay Beach still as isolated as it was a decade ago when my wife and daughter visited it? We spent an entire day there, and were the only ones on the beach. No development, save one house in the distance, and beautiful palm and caribbean pine forests lining the beach, which was great for shelling. Is it still as pristine, uncrowded, and undeveloped as it was back then? We found it only because of a small, hand-made wooden sign with "Ten Bay Beach" scribbled on the wood with a small paint brush. <BR>The entrance was a long, isolated sand road about one half a lane wide getting back to the beach from the Queen's Highway, which in itself was gravel sand and coral rock. Is the small, personalized sign still there; hopefully not a neon one now! Please advise and thank you for the memories. I want to go back. Robert

Doug

Hello Robert, yes Ten Bay Beach is still isolated but there are a few more homes built along the rocky area of Ten Bay, but the beach is still calm and quiet with very few visitors. The sign is no loner visible so most travelers to the area use landmarks: the old Japanes Stlye Pagoda in the best marker for locating Ten Bay Beach, the road is a bit better now as more vehicles are discovering Ten Bay. Hazel, it was a pleasure meeting your family and sharing the knowledge of Eleuthera with them and hope you visit the island again real soon. Doug

Robert

Thanks for the info, Doug. I will return the Eleuthera from your input. Let's pray that de large hotel chains don't ruin the "best kept" secrets that are dwindling, Mon. I remember the potcakes too, that befriended us. We fed them on the porch of our rented villa. It was great fun! Robert

Doug

Hi Robert, there is talk of Club Med in Eleuthera reopening but otherwise there are no major resorts on the island at present. There are however a variety of vacation homes and villas each offering its own island charm. Feel free to email me for any upcoming events or goings on in Eleuthera....Doug

joan

Hazel, Hazel, Hazel! SIX MONTHS VACATION???? Did you have to tell me that? And here I was thinking what a fat-cat I am for sneaking in a four-DAY vacation to eleuthera! Aaaaaahhhh. I guess the grass really IS greener on the other side (or at least longer!) Seriously, though, glad you had such a great time on Eleuthera!