A Comedy of Errors: Bahamas Travel Gone Wrong

A Comedy of Errors in the Bahamas: A Vacation Gone Very Wrong

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Really, I’m surprised Angie had the courage to invite me back to the Bahamas, knowing my infamous track record for vacations gone wrong—where I go, cyclones, weather conditions and bad luck tend to follow—and having traveled with me a couple years back. On that particular trip, I caught some mysterious stomach bug that had me spontaneously puking off the front of our sail boat and rendered me useless for two days.

I’d say, knowing all this in advance, Angie had the events that transpired this past week coming to her.

Sure, it’s hurricane season. But the Bahamas has yet to be hit by one this fall. Instead, tropical depressions decided to accompany us to Nassau and beyond. Let’s just put it this way: I hardly had need for a shower the whole six days I was in the islands.

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

Actually, I landed Saturday a week ago in beautiful weather after an 18-hour, overnight trip that entailed three flights. It was sunny and warm, and I thought maybe—just maybe—this visit to the Bahamas would bring better luck. I often think wrong; it’s one of my greatest character flaws. The next day, gloomy clouds followed us around as we sped about the bay by jet boat.

That night, we drove a long 45-minute journey to a meal that was interesting for a lack of a more positive term, then 10 minutes into our return trip, our limo hit “a crater,” as our driver said, and blew a tire. One handy traveler had experience changing limo tires and jumped to the rescue. Only the tire tool he needed to do the trick was not in the trunk. So we sat and waited and joked about all the times in your life you can use the phrase “our limo blew a tire and so we’re stranded in the middle of nowhere on some island in the Bahamas.”

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

And then—for a fleeting moment—maybe luck was on our side. A dinky little compact car blew a tire in the exact same “crater,” skittering to a stop beside us on the side of the road, and did have the tool we needed. So Brett changed that guy’s tire, changed our tire, and finally we were ready to rumble.

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

On the third day, it was up and at ’em early for our regional carrier flight to Exuma. I took a nice little spill on the runway—for comic purposes only, of course—as my left big toe got into a fight with the concrete, spewing blood and skin and leaving an impressive hole on top. I re-stubbed this same toe no fewer than 17 times the remainder of the trip; that, for once, is not an exaggeration.

There were only eight of us on the little puddle hopper, so when we arrived in George Town to find that not a single bag had been placed in the cargo section, you can see why we were perplexed. Sure, it might be understandable if one person’s luggage was missing, but the entire passenger roster? It miffed us, I’m not going to lie. Luckily, Angie had had the foresight to recommend we pack what we needed for the day in our carry-ons, so I had all my electronics, as well as a bikini and sundress on my body. Good thing, as this is what we wore for the following 36 hours (to sleep in, to dinner, on the boat, you name it).

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

But hey! Everything was fine! We be in the Bahamas, mon! It didn’t hurt that we had the best guide known to man, Sharmain, as our chauffer/guide/Bahama mama extraordinaire. We got off the plane in George Town, stocked up on snacks at the local supermarket, then drove to the west side of the island to Barreterre to board a boat that would take us all over the Exuma cays.

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

Sure, there were spots of isolated sunshine here and there—mostly around Great Exuma—though by the end of the day we were darting in and out of threatening storm systems, stopping on Little Farmer’s Cay for a good two hours to let it get far enough ahead of us. During one such sunny patch, our captains Pat and Andrew stopped the boat in Starfish Bay. I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out what marine life populated the shallow waters.

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

Apparently, though, you should never pick up starfish and try them on as a coconut bra unless you’re 100 percent sure you’re not allergic. A red, bumpy rash started rising on my chest just moments after I jumped back on the boat. Because I am daft was suffering from serious jetlag, it took Angie explaining to me what probably happened for me to figure out why I was suddenly dying. I guess it’s a good thing then that I’ve spent more than $500 at the allergist in the past month getting medicated and such, as I had all the proper tools in my carry-on bag that one needs to combat such a reaction.

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

Amid clouds and drizzle, we arrived at Staniel Cay that afternoon and went to see the famous swimming pigs. Only, it seems the pigs didn’t get the memo that we were coming and, instead, went on vacation, as only one sow emerged from the bush and, according to Pat and Andrew, she is the finicky one who doesn’t even like to wade in the water. Naturally. We returned the next day to find a similar scene: not a single swine sunbathing on the beach.

Everyone who lived on Staniel kept proclaiming, “I’ve never seen such a thing! But the pigs, they’re always here.” That’s supposed to make us feel better? That we’re such social pariahs, even hungry pigs don’t want near us? Next trip, I suppose.

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

But that’s alright, because we still got to dive! The visibility wasn’t great and the water was more than rocky, but there were LOTS of sharks (stay tuned for that recap on Wednesday). Coral and anemones, too, and I only realized the next day that perhaps I swam a bit too closely to the marine life when my arm puffed up into a grid of six welts. My coral sting still itches six days later, and I’ve gone through more than one tube of hydrocortisone.

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

The whole scenario we found ourselves in became so laughable that we began predicting what would go wrong next. “Wouldn’t it be hilarious if those allegedly docile eight-foot nurse sharks we were petting thought it would be a funny prank to leap out of the water and take off our entire arm?” “Wouldn’t it just be fitting if a hurricane touched down on Great Exuma, swiped up our waterfront cottage as if we were in Oz, and deposited us on some Lost-style island where we’d be stranded, never to be heard from again, and I had to go all Lord of the Flies on your ass and pick off your body parts one by one for sustenance?”

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

When I was in NYC a few weeks back, SVV and I were regaling friends with our travel trauma in trying to reach Borneo this summer. Ryan commented in response: “I can’t see you stressed out about anything. If that happened to a normal person on their honeymoon, they wouldn’t be able to cope.” Which only made me laugh, as I think of myself as one of the most stressed out individuals I know. Have you heard that I am both self-employed and self-employed in a dying industry? That should say it all.

But it’s true: When it comes to travel, I’m surprisingly zen. Perhaps it’s because I know with my Luna Luck that something is always bound to go wrong. Or maybe I’ve just been doing this so long that I have come to realize that a missed flight here and there or being locked in a bus station overnight in Sevilla by a cop who doesn’t speak a word of your language is hardly the end of the world. When you travel, rarely does everything go as planned, and if you acknowledge and accept that up front, you’ll be a lot better off—more calm, cool and collected when drama does strike. And trust me, friends, it will. (Particularly if you choose me as your travel companion.)

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

That was the unspoken mantra of our trip: “Don’t worry ’bout a thing ’cause every little thing…is gonna be alright.” Despite all of the above—and the fact that the sun only reared its head for a few fleeting moments here and there (though we did see a handful of honest-to-God double rainbows!)—this journey was epic, perhaps the most fun I’ve had on a trip in years. That can only be a testament to the people with whom I traveled, as well as an amazing destination like the Bahamas in which it’s hard to have a frown upon your face, torrential downpours or not.

Exumas, Bahamas | Camels & Chocolate

Have you ever had a vacation go wrong like this one?

COMMENTS
  • October 11, 2010

    Love it!!
    The pictures are amazing (my favorite is the white sand beach with the little starfish in the front – it simply looks wonderful)! And your story made me laugh so hard… 🙂
    Viele Gruesse, Kristina

  • October 11, 2010

    You just have no idea how happy this post made me (not about all of your misadventures and bad luck), but seeing the pictures of the Bahamas! It is such an underrated country!!! I mean seriously look at the water! Awesome pics, especially of the shark LOL. I hope your rash is better now? Can’t wait till Wednesday’s follow up post. XOXO

  • October 11, 2010

    PS I can’t believe you went swimming with your ring, you bad girl!!! What if you had lost it ahhhh?

  • October 11, 2010

    Hey, when you travel, it’s not about the destination, it’s ALL about the journey. And yours are Always eventful. Yet sometimes I wonder if you’re not just a little bit clumsy. 😉 But who cares when you’re visiting such awesome places.

  • October 11, 2010
    Kristin

    Andi: I always wear my ring! I never take it off. It’s wedged on there pretty tight!
    Gaelyn: Clumsy is hardly a word severe enough to describe my grace (or rather, lack of). Though for once, the toe situation was the only part where my klutziness came into play =)

  • October 11, 2010
    Katie

    Where did you get the blue and orange dress? I love it!

  • October 11, 2010
    Kristin

    Katie: I actually got it in a cheapie shop in Rio a few years ago but never wore it until that day! I always thought it too bright for any occasion, but now I think it’s the perfect beach dress!

  • October 11, 2010

    Great story Kristin!
    Now that I read your story I guess we did hit more than one proverbial pot hole in the trip. I think I was blown away by all the natural beauty I was hard to remember the mishaps. I’m a softy like that.

    I agree, the group was amazing and I’m super excited to have had met all you great people.

    Cheers!

  • October 11, 2010

    Those pics are adorable! And even though the trip sounds a bit rough, I’m still envious 🙂

  • October 11, 2010

    I totally forgot about my lip swelling up to the size of an inner tube! And you had a stomach bug and I smashed my foot into some coral and somehow it was STILL the best trip ever! I guess that’s a testament to how wonderful the Bahamas is.

  • October 11, 2010

    Oh, the starfish bra, you’re cracking me up.

    (I always wear my rings, too. If I didn’t, I’d be freaking out the whole time that I’d lost them.)

  • October 11, 2010

    Wait…you got a boob rash from trying to wear starfish like a bra? That is quite possibly the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard.

  • October 11, 2010

    You’re killing me! I haven’t been since college boo. Gorgeous pics!

  • October 12, 2010

    I’ve been gone for months, I have much catching up to do… I’ve missed your wonderful photos and stories 🙂

  • October 12, 2010

    that next to last shot, with the starfish, is amazing. definitely worthy of hanging on my wall. well done.

  • October 12, 2010

    In my family we call travel trauma “rich cultural experiences”. Every time something goes wrong my mom says, “Well, this should be a rich cultural experience!”

    Unfortunately, one time when she was stopped on the road in Indonesia for a funeral procession of a controversial political figure and people started to throw rocks, she though, “Oh, this will be a rich cultural experience” while everyone else apparently thought, “Run!”, because she ended up getting caught in an all out riot and our car was eventually rolled and burned to a crisp.

  • October 12, 2010

    The views you did have are breathtaking and your luck? It sounds like mine! We would get along juuuuusssttt fine!

    I usually travel with huge amounts of benedryl and occasionally even an epi pen when necessary.

  • October 12, 2010
    Kristin

    Raven: Or perhaps we SHOULDN’T travel together–can you imagine our combined luck? Though maybe the bad and the bad would cancel each other out? I didn’t have Benadryl but I had Tylenol Allergy–only it was the nighttime kind, which turned out to be a BIG mistake (huge), as I nearly passed out at this lovely Bahamian guy’s restaurant!

  • October 12, 2010

    Wow, absolutely gorgeous photos! I’m totally inspired by your posts. I love traveling and I’m so jealous of anyone that gets to do it for a living!

  • October 12, 2010

    This is a weird Q but can you email me a copy of the photo with the sea star down in front? I just really want to stare at it for motivation on my desktop only. It is so relaxing looking and Alex and I are getting out of debt so we keep featuring different peaceful locals on the comp to motivate us. Pretty please? I have a two month old – i need relaxing!

  • October 12, 2010

    Love this post! My favorite picture is the one with the sand and star fish. It’s great that you can keep a good attitude when things go wrong.

  • October 12, 2010

    This made me laugh. Remember when you were in Dubai? It seldom, seldom rain here and when you were here? It drizzled a bit! hahaha

    I love the photos and would like to swim on those waters someday!

  • October 13, 2010

    That beach looks absolutely awesome!

  • October 13, 2010
    Kendra

    I love the purple dress….where did you get it? (I love the pics, too).

  • October 13, 2010

    The picture of you holding the starfish above your head is so cute! The trip looked gorgeous, regardless of the mishaps (it is easy for me to say that since I didn’t have to go through it haha)

  • October 14, 2010

    Terrific! Things going wrong in the Bahamas must surely be better than things going right at home, if you can keep your sense of humor about them. 🙂 Great photos.

  • October 14, 2010

    That trip looked fun, even with all the mishaps.

  • October 15, 2010

    Hey Kristin your photos and review of exuma was great and comedic at the same time. While i was reading your post, I didn’t know who to trust, your pictures or your words. The pictures were by far some of the most stunning shots of the bahamas I have ever seen (psst , what kind of camera do you use), and then your words were mixed with so much mishap and tragedy, i felt bad you had so many things go wrong. But true to form you stayed upbeat, and enjoyed exuma for what it is; a serene slice of paradise.

  • October 16, 2010

    The shark photo is amazing! What kind of camera did you use?

  • October 24, 2010

    OMG i am laughing so hard. i need to travel with you – everyone thinks i am so accident prone and the worst things happen to me. i might look good, in comparison – maybe?!

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