Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
He built four churches on Cat Island, as well as a medical clinic, convent,
monastery, technical school, and other projects throughout the Bahamas, all fea-
turing his trademark medievalist architectural motif, made of quarried rock.
Undoubtedly, locals regarded him as a saintly figure. Many climbed the mon-
astery steps to ask for money 'in a state verging on destitution,' and none was
denied. Locals of all denominations attended his sermons, although apparently
he converted only five people to Catholicism.
He died in 1956 and was buried, as per his request, barefoot and without a
casket in the cave that had once been his home.
BAIN TOWN
The town lies along the shore south of the main road. There's a gas station east of town,
halfway to Port Howe.
Look for
St John the Baptist Catholic Church
, another inspired Father Jerome cre-
ation, and
House Rebecca
built of local limestone and conch shells; owners Mr and Mrs
Bain may invite you in to peek at the sitting room ceiling, made of 966 shells.
legend has it that the 65ft-wide
Mermaid Hole
is inhabited by a mermaid (see
Click
here
). The lake is 10ft deep, but four holes in its bed lead into vast underwater chambers
and passageways.
PORT HOWE AREA
the southeasternmost point of cat island,
Columbus Point
, lies 2 miles southeast of Port
Howe at the south end of Churney Bay, but you will have to hike there from Port Howe.
Cat Islanders cling to the belief - effectively debunked by recent evidence - that Columbus
anchored here on October 12, 1492.
Around 1670 a small group of English settlers arrived from Bermuda and established
themselves here, earning a living as wreckers. Then, in 1783, 60 English Loyalists arrived
here and established large nearby plantations.
The decrepit
Deveaux House
mansion was presented to Colonel Andrew Deveaux, who
saved Nassau from Spanish occupation in 1783. Note the old slave quarters.
running for eight glorious, uninterrupted miles, down the southwestern coast of cat is-
land along winding bay to the top of the island at columbus point,
Greenwood Beach
is a
wonderful expanse of pink-white sand and one of the best on the island.
The diving off the south shore is superb; visit the
wall
which begins at 50ft and drops
to 6000ft and
Tartar Bank
, covered by coral, sponges and sea fans.
Winding Bay
offers
fabulous gorgonians and black coral.
Hotel Greenwood Beach Resort offers one-/two-tank dives ($60/80), night dives ($65)
and snorkeling (half-day $25), and hires out snorkel gear for $5.
