Elvinas Famous Bar on Eleuthera

Elvina's Bar and Restaurant on Eleuthera is one of those unique travel destinations you never forget. As with any number of the more popular bars I've been to throughout the Bahamas, the unique ones have some common characteristics; one of the prominent being who of the rich and famous has patronized the place and who has entertained there. Elvina's fits this M.O. to a Tee.

Every Tuesday and Friday night, Elvinas has "open mike" night. The stage is typically occupied by a variety of local musicians, many that are quite good, and some who are infamous to the locals and the "sometime locals" of Eleuthera. I don't have any names to drop, no offense to those that perform there -- I'm horrible with names. But I can remember when I've had a good time and I've been to enough live concerts to have some say about whether the music was good... maybe.

I do know every time I visit Eleuthera, I check to see if Lenny Kravitz is on the island, and if so, if he's gigging at Elvinas. I can only imagine what an experience it was for those who were lucky enough to be at Elvinas when Mr. K. decided to drop in for an impromtu jam session. Just had to be special -- especially if you like his music.

To put it another way, I'd have to turn the plane around enroute to Eleuthera if I couldn't find Lenny's "5" disk on my Nano. Something about those tunes match the ambiance of the island... just sounds like "island". Fave tunes? "Thinking of You" and "If You Can't Say No". And don't forget "Eleutheria" from his "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" CD.

I've spent several or so evenings in Elvinas and thoroughly enjoyed myself. One of the best attributes of "famous Bahamas' bars" is the people that visit them; they come from all over the world, and many of them have been to a number of the other Bahama islands. You can spend mucho hours with these folks talking island travel. And then you mix in the semi-famous locals and you have a very spicy crew very capable and ready to P-A-R-T-Y.

Okay, so I never got to see Lenny Kravitz, at least not yet.

I dropped in on Elvina's in Gregory Town one afternoon as I was headed towards Palmetto Point after having stayed in Lower Bogue and Current Settlement for so many days. The place was empty with exception to Elvina and "Chicken Ed" being there. Elvina was doing chores around the bar while Ed was dutifully sleeping off last night's entertainment on the stage. What a perfect composition! A year later, I had the opportunity of showing Elvina and Ed the virtual reality photo and they thoroughly enjoyed it.

Yo, Lenny! Missed seeing you.

pj

P.S. Check out my other blog entry on Lenny Kravitz -- if you're so inclined.

Current Cut Eleuthera

Just finished creating a few new pages for Current Cut, a popular dive spot just south of Current Settlement. Just past the actual "Cut" is Current Island. Here's a satellite shot of Current Cut. What I enjoyed most about developing these new pages was processing the panoramic photo of Current Cut.

I truly enjoyed visiting the "Cut" and Current Settlement last year, so much so, I am making a point to stay there for several days this next visit. It's so sedate and peaceful. You feel like you've reached the end of the world -- and I didn't want to go back. The Cut was something to see.

This next time around, I'm going to see about visiting Current Island. I've read elsewhere on the net there's some missionary work being done there and I'm curious to see what's going on.

I've also read elsewhere that Current Settlement recently opened their refurbished library -- now mondernized with a high speed Internet connection. From the looks of the article, they did a really nice job and are proud of the results. I look forward to seeing it.

If you visit the area, make it a point to get to the southwest tip of Current Settlement -- just keep driving the only road back there. Study the satellite shot mentioned above and you will see exactly what I'm talking about.

As you get close to the end, you will come upon a large size concrete boat slip, presumably there for safe harbor for boats during a hurricane. You can drive around it and park within a few hundred feet of the point. The point itself has a park like atmosphere and a perfect spot for a picnic lunch! There is some very nice beachfront if you hike north along the western shoreline. Make sure you bring some tennis shoes to navigate some of the rock along the way.

And the large square concrete tower at the back end of the concrete harbor? I'm told that's an old paint testing station. They'd take samples of paint and rotate them past an opening towards the top. Look around and you'll get the idea of how it worked.

Don't miss seeing Current Cut if you visit Eleuthera. You're guaranteed to see some delicious scenery.

pj

Eleuthera Photos - For Everyone!

Eleuthera is for everyone who loves the raw beauty of turquoise/blue water rocking back and forth between a sweeping white/pink sand beach and a shock blue sky spattered with sugar white cotton clouds sailing by. And I have the photos of Eleuthera to prove it. I just need to find a little more time to post more of them.

In the mean time, I will take this opportunity to recognize some of the photographers whose photos of the Bahamas I've come to appreciate and respect over the years.

Cookie Kinkaed is one my favorites for commercial photography in the Bahamas. Wonderful compositions.

And then there's Bahama Louie. This kid (more like young man now) has an excellent eye for the creatures and surroundings of Eleuthera. I'm not remembering his story too well, but I seem to recall he once posted a message that talked about his losing some of his earlier photo work on an old website of his. Love your work, Louie! Just wish you'd post more or your photos.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my friend Derek Catalano from Nassau. Derek has an interesting gallery of photos and art work that has a distinctive Bahamian style about it. Derek also hosts a blog about the Bahamas called Native Stew.

I'll be back sooner rather than later with some more updates. Until then, hope you enjoy surfing these sites.

pj