A Bahamas mancation--well, sort of: female writer embarks on a manly travel excursion.[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I DIDN'T CUT MY CIGAR, A HUGE FAUX PAS, PARTICULARLY since I'm trying out a rugged, adventurous vacation designed for men--a mancation, if you will--at the Graycliff Hotel (www.gray cliff.com) in Nassau, Bahamas. At Graycliff's Humidor hu·mi·dor n. A container designed for storing cigars or other tobacco products at a constant level of humidity. [From humid (on the model of cuspidor).] Restaurant, I've just eaten a Brazilian style, macho, meat-filled feast--followed by a cigar I made myself at the Graycliff Cigar Co. There, my Cuban-born instructor taught me how to roll tobacco leaves into a near-perfect cylinder. But he left out the part about cutting the tip, hence the loud sucking noises that assaulted my tablemates. On this holiday I intended to experience activities that appeal to the boys--to go wrestle sharks or something (I did once swim with them--and escaped unscathed--with Smart Cove Divers, also in the Bahamas). But I digress di·gress intr.v. di·gressed, di·gress·ing, di·gress·es To turn aside, especially from the main subject in writing or speaking; stray. See Synonyms at swerve. . Graycliff is a good place to vacation--roughing it or not. On a hill overlooking the cruise ships in Nassau Harbor, the 260-year-old British colonial building that was once home to a pirate today boasts a pretty pink exterior and an interior that is bold Caribbean classic with antique fiarnishings and eclectic art. Enrico Gazaroli, Graycliff's owner and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of the cigar company, is a big personality with a taste for fine dining and a cellar stocked with fine wines. Exotic floral arrangements, a gift shop, lush tropical gardens, and the warm, friendly presence of Gazaroli's wife, Anna Maria, add to the resort's allure. A true measure of my endurance was the deep-sea fishing excursion I went on during a tropical depression. Fortified fortified (fôrt  ´fīd),adj containing additives more potent than the principal ingredient. with Dramamine, I steadied my position and focused on the outline of the nearby Atlantis resort as the waves seemed to pitch the property up and down on the horizon. "Sure you want to go out further?" the captain calls as his mate hooks sardines as bait. Would men balk balk the action of a horse when it refuses to obey a command to which it usually responds. See also jibbing. at seven-foot Atlantic waves for the sake of landing "the big one" (for us thus far, it's a one-pound yellowtail)? Well, real men eat quiche quiche n. A rich unsweetened custard pie, often containing ingredients such as vegetables, cheese, or seafood. [French, from German dialectal Küche, diminutive of German Kuchen, cake , and adventurous women hurl. The next day, I am disappointed that inclement in·clem·ent adj. 1. Stormy: inclement weather. 2. Showing no clemency; unmerciful. in·clem weather cancels our America's Cup Sailing Experience--an activity that imitates the world-famous yacht race with a sail around Paradise Island. Still looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. adventure after a huge lunch of mako shark mako shark Any of certain potentially dangerous sharks (genus Isurus) in the mackerel shark family (Isuridae). Two species are generally recognized: the Atlantic I. oxyrinchus and the Indo-Pacific I. glaucus. Makos range throughout tropical and temperate seas. at Cafe Matisse, I phone my local friend, Leslie Vanderpool, for some tips. As the founder and director of the Bahamas International Film Festival, scheduled Dec. 6-13, she's attracted celebrity A-listers such as Nicholas Cage and Sean Connery to the island. Busy with the event details, she nonetheless takes a break and escorts me on a tour of where the boys are. Our first stop is the sumptuous, woodsy Ristorante Luciano, a comfortable and expansive venue that serves up hearty Tuscan cuisine with a Bahamian twist and after-dinner liqueurs Liqueurs are high-alcohol, high-sugar beverages with added flavorings usually derived from herbs, fruits, or nuts. Liqueurs are distinct from flavored liquors, fruit brandy and eau de vie which contain no sugar. Most liqueurs range between 15 and 70 percent alcohol by volume. . [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] "Want to see where the ex-pats hang?" she asks as we head for the Green Parrot, a bar and grill. Indeed, despite the great harborside views, it's a bit too boy's club for me. Not so at Aura, Atlantis resort's sparkling new club complete with sunken dance floor and VIP bottle service. On Fridays it's Ladies Night--and women enter for free. That saves me money toward a luxury bauble at the divine Escape by Vivre shop at The Cove, Atlantis' new boutique-style hotel. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On my last day, we try what Leslie considers "the best conch conch (kŏngk, kŏnch, kôngk), common name for certain marine gastropod mollusks having a heavy, spiral shell, the whorls of which overlap each other. salad in Nassau." From our wooden table under the Paradise Island Bridge, we watch George, a local, expertly chop sweet tomatoes, peppers, and onions, and toss them with even sweeter pieces of freshly-cracked conch and orange and lime juices. Paired with an ice-cold bottle of local Kalik beer, this is a true Bahamian adventure. For tourist information, contact www.baha mas.com; for Bahamas International Film Festival, www.bintl filmfest.com |
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