On unspoiled Andros Island in the Bahamas, one little resort has been tranquilly cruising far ahead of the wave of environmentally friendly theory and practice and has created a model for the future of low-impact Caribbean tourism - all without a single guest having to bathe in a bucket.
Story and Photography by Bob Friel
| "I hate the term 'Eco-Resort.'" This statement blows me away, coming as it does from Mike Hartman, who owns Tiamo Resort, one of the world's most successful ... uh ... something-or-other-kind of hotels that's exactly what I've always considered an eco-resort. "In many people's minds," he says, "'eco-resort' implies sleeping on a cot, bathing in a bucket, reading by flashlight and eating twigs and berries." We, however, are lounging on cozy wicker couches set beneath ceiling fans, sipping icy cocktails in the bar of Tiamo's main lodge. And about 50 yards down the sugary white-sand beach, tucked just behind a screen of sea grapes, is my roomy bungalow equipped with an Olympic-sized bed, steaming hot shower and full-zap electricity. Mike, 38, has a puckish smile and often jumps behind the bar to invent new drinks for guests and serves as funk-master DJ at staff celebrations. But he's also very thoughtful and deliberate, especially when his Hoosier twang gets going about anything eco. His particular experience of creating and running Tiamo has made him much in demand as a speaker and consultant on sustainable tourism, a topic that is suddenly getting a lot more attention as the entire world focuses on pressing environmental issues. | ||
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The spot they finally found was tucked inside South Bight, one of the tidal "creeks" that slice through the 2,300-square-mile island. A tiny settlement called North Quarter was just a few crumbling ruins surrounded by miles of uninhabited coppice and sun-baked limestone, inaccessible except by boat or seaplane. It stood behind a stunning stretch of beach that was forgotten by everyone except a few locals who came to dive conch and go ashore for the occasional picnic. Navigating the Byzantine backwaters of Bahamian land ownership, Mike and Petagay discovered a small plot of privately owned land along that beach. They'd found their beautiful place. | ||
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