One experience I thoroughly enjoyed was our adventure jeep tour of Nassau. As part of the Bahamas Customer Experience Evaluation, our group used this adventure rental to explore the island. While we had already experienced the downtown area of Nasua, where cruise ships docked each day, we wanted to see what the island was like beyond the hustle and bustle of its center.
Upon arriving at BowCar’s rental center we were surprised by the intensity of the operation. One women commanded an army of employees as they pushed to get cars out on the road for tourists with a busy day ahead of them. “Hurry up! They have a ship to catch!” she barked at one of the men. As we waited for our buggy to be brought out l I thought about how different this experience was from many others in the Bahamas. While many restaurants and attractions ran on “island time,” BowCar was moving full speed ahead. My surprise indicated that I had become quickly accustomed to the relaxed pace of the Caribbean.
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| Our team posing with the Jeep |
Once we finished the paperwork we hit the road in search of adventure. Our first stop was Jaws Beach on the Western side of the island. As we raced down the open roads, engine revving, I was delighted by the reactions we got. Passing drivers waved, a fellow jeep driver honked their horn, and beachgoers snapped photos of our show on wheels. The freedom it brought us, and the excitement it brought others was tangible. Not only could we visit a secluded beach, but we were also able to explore other hard to reach parts of the island. We traveled through the gated communities and abandoned resorts of the West and were taken away by their grandeur. We stopped at a suburban grocery shop and tried unique treats. They were all moments that surprised and delighted. But, perhaps the most memorable moment with the jeep was watching the last sunrise of 2018.
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| Enjoying ice cream at Jaws Beach |
We left downtown, at 6:00 am sharp. The roads were empty as we cruised towards lookout point, the easternmost part of the island. By the time we arrived however, it was clear that Nassau was beginning to wake from its slumber. As we sat on the seawall, we were greeted by joggers and other sunrise-watchers. The friendly nature of Bahamians had been evident throughout the trip, but I lamented that there were few moments where the customer-service barrier was broken down. In this moment however, where there was only us, and the sea, the barrier was broken, and this warmth shone through once more, brighter than the rising sun. As we drove back, I struggled to keep my eyes open to take in the now blue sky. Despite how sleepy I was, I wouldn’t change a thing about our 24 hour whirlwind of a tour. Throughout our short adventure not only did I get to know the island better, but I got to know its citizens better as well.
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| Jonathan and the sunrise... credit Ethan Stoler |
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