Okay, this review is being written for the single American woman (especially of color) who could never make the cut for our favorite television modeling show because you're too much of a good thing. Do not dispair my sister there is now a place for us, a magical land called the Bahamas were bigger is better!!! I was reminded of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory; a diabetic's dream. The Bahamas is the place for the Fat, Fabulous, and over Forty Female!!! May all your dreams of romance come true!! Now on to the Blue Water.

The Blue Water is a time share establishment. It is intimate with only 35 or 36 units. Today, I saw two listings on another website for people wanting to rent these time shares for a week or two. We were able to connect with a relative who owned here and she let us use her week. The ocean-front units are the ones to secure. They have a better layout, but the garden view units were not bad. (You could be pool side after singing The Happy Birthday Song three times)

This was another chick trip to celebrate fiftieth birthdays. I recommend the Blue Water; there were three of us and we each had our own bedroom. There were only two full-sized baths; I was given the Master bedroom ; the only bedroom with an ensuite full bath. There was a balcony off of the Master bedroom as well.

The unit we were in was #18 and it was next to the sales office so there was no noise at night. There was a full-size refrigerator, double sinks, utensils, plates, a washer and dryer, a diswasher, a full kitchen, living room with a flat panel television, a dining room with a table for six and a patio with a table for five and a barbeque grill. On the second floor was the Master bedroom and a second bedroom with two twin-sized beds. There was a bathroom on the second floor that was shared by the other two women on the trip who were sisters. I had my own bathroom which was part of the Master bedroom. On the third floor was another bedroom that had two twin-sized beds. I had a king-sized bed. (There is a twin to king-sized bed coverter being sold on line. Perhaps you can bring it with you to allow you more sleeping space, should you be assigned to the twin-sized beds.)

There is a pool on the premises that is a maximum of six feet deep. It's clean. The beach is right beyond the pool. One minor negative thing is that the rinsing of sand from one's feet is difficult as the showers are built on sandy foundations. You rinse your feet and they pick up sand before you can get to the terrace floor of the pool area. Other negatives included a utility fee and high, high rates for telephone calls to America. We also bought water and ice both of which were expensive. If you want to save money, boil your own water and make your own ice. I drank the tap water at this place with no problem; I have also done this with no trouble , in several African nations. (I hope sharing this fact helps you understand my physical constituion.) OOOhhh be out of your unit by 10am or you will "be assessed a substantial late fee" I think I heard $85, There are rules to follow about how the establishment wants it's units to look upon your departure, follow them precisely! One final negative note..My friend had a cell phone taken, which was left on a table near the pool. It never did show up. Let me make it clear that we are not blaming the establishment for this loss. Her phone was not discovered missing for nearly six hours aftger she laid it down, so there is no telling who got it.

Back to the positive....There is a restaurant called "Da Sand Bar." It is managed by a delightful mother and daugther team. All the cooks are female and they make a mean fettucine. I couldn't eat it all because it was too rich. They use real cream!! This is the best part of the whole experience. They fix food to order. You tell them what you want and they go to the store and get it. (This is not an all-inclusive place so you will pay!!) One night I had a seafood platter; lobster tail, grilled shrimp on a skewer and scallops. My bill was $52.

The restaurant was making juices of apple, orange and carrot in the morning, with ham and cheese panninis on croissants fixed on a George Foreman Grill. One day for lunch we had curried chicken, peas and rice, and fried plantain. Their prices are cheaper than the name-brand places on the island. If you are in a hurry you are going to get frustrated.. It's better in the Bahamas, not faster.

The entrance to this place has a guard house and is in walking distance of the larger Cable Beach estalbishments. It's right on the number 10 busline. There did not appear to be a bus stop in front of the establishment but the bus stopped for us each time we stood in front of Blue Water to wait for it. Blue Water is also in walking distance of a grocery store, an internet cafe/daiquiri bar (Curly's) and some American fast-food joints like Domino's Pizza and Burger King, if your must revert back to placating your American palate.

Furthermore, I don't know what is wrong with me; I used to be such a lover of the shee-shee boo-boo ambiance provided by places like Atlantis and the Wyndham. Yet the intimacy of the Blue Water appealed to me more. Now this place needs some work. There are concrete pieces missing from the steps and the grounds need landscaping, plus the electrcity went out twice while we were there. However, staying here reminded me of a book I once read that was missing a front cover, with pages that had folded corners and were full of highlighting. Yet ,that which was contained within the book's pages was a delight.. And so it is with the Blue Water.

if you need it prim and proper and fast, go to the Atlantis, if you want to return to a time and place when people felt safe talking to their neighbors, or even knowing their neighbors' names, go to the Blue Water. During my stay all the guests said hi as they walked past. Some guests may start up a conversation with you that could result in you talking to someone from your hometown. While there (seven days) I bumped into five women from my home town who had booked their reservations on line. I had made the acquaintance of two of these women several years ago as they were members of my sorority.

In conclusion, I returned from this trip on 5/24/08. I have spent at least two hours today searching the internet trying to figure out how I can return. For you single full-figure women or those of you who know one, tell her she will feel as beautiful and desirable as America's Next Top Model in the Bahamas where the bigger you are the more attention you get . The Blue Water is the perfect back drop for a fun-filled week of realizing "you still got it going on" regardless of your weight and/or age!