notfran

Ah, George. How you protest. And yet every one of your posts just serves to confirm more emphatically the sad existence of your life. <BR>

fran

It's good to know there are others who feel like I do about development on Exuma. If the people who stay at the Four Seasons are like the posters who responded to this thread, then I think, despite the addition of the FS, Exuma will be ok (that is, with the exception of George---who I think has probably never left his living room. I am skeptical of anyone who has to tell others that they would envy his lifestyle).

George

Note to Fran and NotFran: Actually, I'm really NOT as mean spirited as you might think I am, despite my posts. Of course, if Robert were a friend or acquaintance of mine and he was waxing poetically about his beloved Exuma, then my normal (but phony) reaction would probably be along the lines of, "That sounds wonderful, I wish I were there now, glad you had a great trip," blah, blah, blah! But the fact remains that as long as I CAN remain anonymous on this site, then I am NOT going to hold my tongue about how I really feel about the situation at all! And no, I would not speak like that directly to someone's face as I am not that "psychotic" as NoFran might suggest! And whenever I do stay at a resort comparable to the Four Seasons or Ritz I most certainly do NOT order the staff around or act bossy, etc., etc., and I always tip the maids daily. As a matter of fact, I'm really a very easy going and complacent person, belive it or not, and am actually APPALLED myself at the way I see many Americans behaving, especially the ones with their IDIOTIC baseball caps turned backwards on their heads!! But I still believe in my original contention: I do NOT think that the addition of the Four Seasons on Exuma will be a negative. It hasn't hurt Anguilla or Nevis and I certainly don't think it will damage Exuma in any way, shape or form!

Robert

Well, I'm glad your not mean spirited, despite your disdain for people who wear caps backwards. I hope you tip your servants well. Personally, I would hate at an experience on Great Exuma which you apparently seek. Although I have the capital to frequent the plush hotels, I only frequent them occassionally, and like many others, pray they remain scarce in the out islands. My relations with the hotel staff are always personal, and they get to know me and my family as much as we know them. I'll take the Hotel Peace & Plenty over the plush hotels, the oldest hotel on Great Exuma, a remnant sponge market bought by a kind and friendly multi-millionaire family from Cleveland. It's the center of activity of Georgetown, and its tavern is constructed of century-old wood from the slave ship Peace & Plenty,and its fireplace and timbered ceilings are remnants of an old slave market, a great meeting place for people like Jackie Onassis, Prince Phillips, Jack Nicklaus, and King Constantine of Greece. In April when the Old Island Regatta takes over Georgetown, Bahamians come from all over the out islands in their workboats, and compete for three days, the Hotel Peace & Plenty being the hub of activity between local Bahamians and "outsiders" like myself. I've noticed most of the tourists, like myself, blended in and interacted level-to-level with the islanders, and we all became friends. I learned "Best-Kept" secrets, of where to snorkel and scuba, where to find the bonefish flats, neat back roads to explore, and wonderful cays lining Exuma to traverse with my wife and child, pretending we're Robinson Crusoe and family. I learned of Jimmy Hill, about 6 miles north of Georgetown, is where the best swimming is and the largest, emptiest beach imaginable. Oh, wait a minute...I better stop giving Exuma's secrets away. Oh, well. Have fun in your plush hotel, and tip the locals well. Don't get to know them, their children's names, or the best beaches to visit with a rent a car. Yes, I do think the plush hotel with have an impact on the culture of Exuma, in a negative sense. But, for those tourists who like people in general, they will blend in with the Exumans well, and will learn the rest of the "Best Kept" secrets of Exuma, once they gain their trust and establish a mutual, non-pretentious and natural relationship with them. Robert

George

Yeah, yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah, BORE, BORE BORE!!! Your unremarkable advice really gives me one giant YAWN. And once again, I can assure you, if Jackie O were alive today she would be staying on the top floor of the new, gorgeous Four Seasons -- in the Presidential Suite, naturally!! And once again, you are definitely from the Lonely Planet/Hunter Reno School of Travel!!!

Robert

George, you talk in such absolute terms; i.e., "I'm absolutely sure", etc. From her past visits to Georgetown, I don't believe Jackie O would book in at the Presidential Suite. She would sleep on her yatch, and stroll unmolested through downtown Georgetown, mingling with the local Bahamians and chatting with them, learning all about their values and beliefs. That's her style, wherever she visited. The Four Seasons would no doubt turn her off, and she would most likely eat at the downtown Hotel P & P as well. I hope you stay within the confines of the Four Seasons, and do not venture out. They'll have a great mealplan which you must stick around for, so you won't have time to venture out and explore Exuma. For the islanders sake, please don't mingle with them; they'll most likely brush you off. They're an independent group of people and don't act obsequious aroung tourists, they'll most likely brush you off. Incidentallly, many of them wear their baseball caps on backwards. Enjoy your boring stay at the Four Seasons, you'll have plenty of space to yourself, since most of the guests will be renting cars and scooters to see the real Exuma. By the way, who is this disgusting Reno lady, and what is Lonely Planet? You persist, in absolute terms, tying my island experiences with them; I've never heard of either so please advise what and who they are. Enjoy you're unenlightened time time on Exuma. Robert

George

Of course Jackie O would prefer to stay on her yacht, and so would I if the only place I had to choose was that third rate Peace & Plenty you seem to idolize so much!! Oh, and I can also assure you, yacht or no yacht, Jackie would definitely enjoy the ambience of the new, gorgeous Four Seasons, if only for ONE little night and especially if she chose to eschew her beloved yacht in favor of flying down in her private jet instead, which would more likely be the case anyway, so there is absolutely no doubt that her final destination would be the Four Seasons! And where did you get the impression that I wasn't interested in exploring the island? That's half the fun of visiting many of these islands whether it's the Caribbean or Hawaii. But, of course, my final decision would be based on what I saw AFTER I left the airport, i.e., how decent, appealing and nice the island looked during the drive to my beautiful, new resort! If it's as dismal looking as Anguilla, et al., then NO, I won't be venturing out to explore--no need to!! And before I close I will offer the same advice to you that you so well-intentionally offered me: Just stay completely AWAY from the Four Seasons if it disturbs you that deeply. Don't even bother visiting the property for one, little second, not even for a small PEEK, okay?!? I will leave you peacefully with all of your beloved pigs, chickens and goats!! Thanking you so much in advance!

Robert

George; you are hopelessly linear in your thinking. Labeling the Hotel Peace & Plenty in downtown Georgetown and the Beach Inn outside of town as "third rate" will undoubtedly offend many patrons to this board who have frequented Exuma, and stayed there. I guess you just don't understand; many people, like myself, have the money to stay at the Four Seasons, but many also like history, culture, and staying at places where the brick and mortar blend in naturally with the surroundings. The original contention was that the Four Seasons would have an impact on Exuma's existing cultural, and ecological environment, which I believe it will. There's no use getting off track with unreasonable arguments and treating historical places on Exuma as if they were below you. Your defensiveness and egregious assault on the people and culture of Exuma are a mark of a linear and closed mind, one not open to expansionp i.e., simplifying Exuma's fascinating history and culture into a bunch of chickens and pigs, and third rate places like the Hotel P & P. By the way, what is the despised Lonely Planet and who is the moronic Reno lady you keep comparing me to? I would appreciate your enlightening me about them, because if their appalling to you, I'm positive I will embrace both. Thank you in advance for informing me about them. Robert(Lover of Hotel Peace & Plenty).

Texash

Robert you sound like a well traveled man with a soul. George, you sound like an investor in the Four Seasons Developement Company or maybe you just like cement. There are 1000's of 4 and 5 star resorts on tropcal Islands, do we really need another? My experience is traveling to 50+ countries on business and for pleasure while enjoying some of the finest hotels. But I give Robert his due as I love what Great Exuma has been. When I first vacationed there, you could reach Georgetown only by private plane or sailboat. There were 2 small hotels with maybe 50 rooms between them, 2 bars and the bartenders were brothers who competed making the best rum drinks, when you arrived ALL the staff would come out front and introduce themselves before you went to you beach front room with no TV, no radio, and no phone or cell service. There was a radio telephone in the office if needed. The staff of the Peace and Plenty would provision our rental skiff with a picnic basket and water sports gear and we would spend the day on the reefs or exploring one of many deserted smaller cays. I am sure the thought of this terrifies George (which is OK), and Robert you were probably at the next table drinking a rum punch and eating conch chowder. When I read the thread with comments from George, Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxis lyrics came to mind...
"They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot"

RoamsAround

Texash - you are responding to a thread that is 10 years old. Robert & George are long gone!