A microscopic island famous for its long pink sand beach, Harbor Island manages the feat of being both the most glamorous of the Bahamas and also one of the most authentic. Here, the stars arrive incognito and remain so, the only ones to stand out are the roosters who crow at all hours of the day! In Dunmore Town, a small village elected the first capital of the archipelago in 1648, the cottages still evoke the Victorian New England of yesteryear. On Bay Street, the wooden facades compete with a great deal of pink, mimosa yellow, anise green... With 7 churches over 4 km2, the island bears witness to a fervor and religious freedom specific to the entire archipelago. Here, as in all the "outer islands", hospitality is not a legend, so we adopt the local cool attitude and take the opportunity to meet real people. We stroll through Dunmore Town, and we stop to nibble a Johnny cake on the pontoon of Fishermen's Dock while waiting for the return of the fishermen. In the evening, warm up at Gusty's, a dance floor with your feet in the sand, before heading to the Vic Hum Club, the most trendy bar on the island with a surreal decor.
The roots plan:a conch salad at Queen Conch, a small blue wooden shop on Bay Street, facing the sea. Prepared in front of you, eaten standing up, a treat!
The charm plan:a grouper burger at Sip Sip, the island's headquarters overlooking the pink beach. At dinner, a table on the terrace at Acquapazza, near the Haunted House, to watch the sunset and try to spot dolphins.
The roots plan:the Bahama House, a bed &breakfast opposite St John's Anglican Church, the oldest in the archipelago.
The charm:Le Landing, a superb bed &breakfast set in the former home of the first black doctor on the island, with four-poster beds. www.harbourislandlanding.com.
Check with the Bahamas Tourist Office. Depending on your desires (idleness, diving, golf, nature), and your budget, we will recommend the right island or the right combination of islands. 113-115, rue du Cherche Midi, 75006 Paris. Phone. :01 45 26 62 62.
