Wings to the Bahamas, 1961

have you ever dreamed of deserted island beaches but not too deserted have you dreamed of flying there but not too far have you longed to pack your bag and take off to an Island in the Sun to an island just an hour or two away in time but a world away in [Music] atmosphere [Music] [Applause] coral reefs and ocean Banks a colorful introduction to the resort islands of the Bahamas the British Bahamas just 2 and 1/2 hours by jet Clipper from New York or less than 1 hour from Miami some 2,000 keys in rocks more than 700 Islands these are the Bahamas stretching almost 650 mi southeastward from the coast of Florida that dream of Island life comes true on these Bahama [Music] beaches in Nassau alone and on the rest of the main island of New Providence there are more than 50 hotels and guest houses with scores of others scattered through the out Island [Music] the capital city of Nassau of the Bahamas 120,000 people almost 50% live in Nassau or elsewhere on New Providence Island on famous Bay Street Bargains in conac or cologne cashmir and tweets pottery and silver 101 items to gladen the heart of the Shopper this photographer subject one small building serving as Regional headquarters for all these companies companies at attracted to Nassau by friendly tax [Music] laws the famous straw Market renowned throughout the world for the Excellence and variety of its straw [Music] products a STW hat just the thing for the midday Sun everyone wears a hat [Music] here but everyone well almost [Music] everyone cargo sloops from the out Islands at Nassau's colorful docks the marketplace right at the Docks where the out island people sell their exotic produce right off their boats the Bahamas are different with the way of life all their own and the Bahamas are [Music] British and the British way of life means elaborate afternoon tea here in the tropical atmosphere of this outdoor restaurant one is served at a table mounted in the branches of a tree that was old a century ago [Music] unique to the Bahamas a performance of The Flamingo flock at ardastra [Music] Gardens the birds will actually counter march on order a favorite for most camera fans a souvenir pose with the [Applause] flamingos during the Nassau stay one generally Sees at least one military drill [Music] and there's a lot going on for the Sportsman once a year the out Island regata a memorable race from an anchored start with the fast cargo sloops of the out Islands competing yachtsmen from two hemispheres flock to the Bahamas for the [Music] event in this race there's only one rule don't Collide the sea lanes are the highways of the Bahamas and the tourist can travel them on his own if he likes he can Charter a tiny saish by the [Music] hour or he can take a 72t yacht on a lazy Cruise of the islands the out Islands can be reached by air but only the seagoing man can dream that that the island on the horizon is the One Columbus saw in his first landfall in the new world it was one of the Bahamas and the official decision is for watling's island now known as San Salvador but the issue has never really been settled and this could have been the place the out Islands range in size from tiny keys to the more than 100 mile long Andros Island some are uninhabited others have all the amenities of British Colonial Life each is different and each has a charm every man must find for [Music] himself Bahama beaches are magnificent and there's a great choice too isolated stretches of sand or beaches that offer companionship and modern facilities the thatched roof is typical of Bahama [Music] beaches la one writer has described the bamian water in these words imagine the clearest swimming pool you ever saw or the most limpid Mountain stream it is ocean water at its [Music] purest [Music] getting ready for the afternoon entertainment the big Evette a goat race and the winner will be the goat which wants most to get away from its [Music] Handler [Music] on this Beach professional entertainment a local dancer does the island [Music] limbo and now a limbo competition among the spe Spectators who can get under the lowest [Music] bar the winner and her [Music] trophy more active Sports [Music] takeover a sport new to most visitors aquaplaning aquatic sports like this go on all through the year in the islands where June forgets to leave and stays for 12 [Music] months beneath the surface of these crystal clear waters another new activity some of the greatest fishing in the world is in the Bahamas an angler ties into a school of tuna a rare double header catch just one of the unusual treats in 990,000 square miles of fishing [Music] Waters those who don't like to catch fish can just stare at them here's a fish's eye view of the spectators in the glass bottom [Music] bolt it's so bright down here she forgot to take off her sunlasses [Music] one can try helmet diving without being able to swim the outfit and the guide are part of an underwater tour off Nassau the fish are just friends a sort of welcoming committee who greet each tour back above the waters the sun begins to set and peace and calm settle over the sea in the sand and the surf beats a gentle lby [Music] and as the sun sets the hours of rry approach all the pleasures of the semi-tropical islands are there for the choosing food and drink in full measure and always there's music music to frame the glory of a Bahamian Knight la [Music] h