3308.

"If civilization and complexity are synonymous, this qualification is, naturally hopelessly incorrect, but it does seem as though this group of islands of all sizes from mere lumps of rock to hundred-mile-long reefs, overgrown with vegetation, have always been looked upon my man as a means of escape to a simple way of life. The step from canoes to ships and from ships to planes has been a giant stride over the centuries, but the magic remains, from whichever level in space the islands are viewed. There is no greater thrill than that of flying over these waters, so clear that one can often see everything on the sea-floor, and so radiant with colour that the variety of shades is almost unbelievable. They range from deepest purple, through every blue imaginable to jade and aquamarine, ending up with the palest yellows, where the sand bars touch the surface in long ripples forming fantastic patterns like watered silk. Tiny dark dots are coral heads, growing through the long, slow years into yet more islands, and any land mass is a potential adventure, a challenge to the most satiated imagination."

"There are no ruins or historical sites to be visited, life is a leisurely affair, and time means nothing. But once the feel of the island has taken hold of visitors they become captivated sooner or later, and leave with the intention of returning to feast their eyes once more on the colours that remain in the memory long after the island has been forsaken for the business of ordinary life."

A few great quotes from Eleuthera, the island called freedom by Everild Young.

my last few days in the bahamas were marvelously relaxing. spent all day friday down on bette's dock with bette, maurice, julie, miranda, and geoffery.. stretching out in the salty waves and snorkelling along the cliffside. said goodbye to new friends, promising to return sooner than later.. and then saturday morning after the boat taxi to eleuthra, i flew to nassau where i awaited my flight to calgary. meeting up with two of my very best friends from back home, we drank wine and reminisced.. and before i knew it.. i had woken up when my flight was supposed to be landing in the regina airport - where my entire family was awaiting me.. my alarm, which had been entirely reliable the entire trip, did not go off. in a panic i said goodbye, hailed a cab, and got myself on the next flight.. four hours later i was in my mama's arms and everything was right in the world.

and here i am, in the 3308.