Summer Means "Bahamas Boating Fling" Time!

Early morning departure out the St. Lucie Inlet headed
east to Grand Bahama.

Talkin’ Tourism kicked off the summer boating season in style with last week’s broadcast from Port Lucaya, perched on the balcony overlooking Port Lucaya Marina. After a smooth crossing of the Stream we were ready to go. The show brought back great memories of the first broadcast done by Greg Wyatt and WPSL 1590 AM at Port Lucaya Marina from 1996 when the Flahama relationship began.

With Anthony "Tony Macaroni" Hanna as our special guest host, it was a lively and fun show demonstrating his own special humor and insights. Karen Pinder and Thomas Lockhart shared all the details about both Port Lucaya Marina and Grand Bahama Yacht Club. No vessel is too big or too small to take advantage of these great marinas and their amenities. 

Karen Pinder and Thomas Lockhart share with host
Gary Guertin all the details on Port Lucaya and
Grand Bahama Yacht Club.

Want details about the Ministry of Tourism’s Boating Fling Programme? Richard Treco, Bahamas Tourist Office vertical markets manager and leader of this trip, gave us an in depth look at this popular boating option. 

Moving along to other matters, Grand Bahama Tourism Office representative Donna Mackey gave us a rundown of activities and events happening this summer on the island. Lots of fun to be had by all for sure.

Shamine Johnson, manager of the Marina Operators of the Bahamas (MOB), shared with our listeners what the organization has accomplished over the last several months and what goals this private sector group is striving for over the coming months. The power of collaboration is certainly evident here!

Boats pulling into Port Lucaya Friday morning for a
Bahamian fun-filled weekend.

As always, Talkin’ Tourism seeks “Flahama connections” and we were not disappointed. Tony Macaroni, the proprietor of Tony Macaroni's Conch Experience located on Taino Beach, and Donna Mackey both shared how they are connected to the Treasure Coast. The answers will surprise you!

By the way, where did Conch Fritters originate, the Bahamas? Surprisingly, these tasty treats originated from outside of the Bahamas…but where? If you enjoy the Bahamas and especially Grand Bahama Island, you will want to listen to this show. From West End to East End, Grand Bahama and in particular Port Lucaya is a destination where you will want to spend some time this summer.

Gary Guertin, Karen Pinder, Shamine Johnson,
Donna Mackey, Anthony "Tony Macaroni" Hanna,
Richard Treco and Thomas Lockhart post-show
along the harbour of Port Lucaya.

If you missed the live version of the show, here's the audio link. We hope that you enjoy the show as much as we enjoyed producing it for all of our Talkin’ Tourism friends and fans. Check out the photos and make plans to spend a little time in Port Lucaya. You won’t be disappointed!


Show Photos (Video to come)

This Week: Bahamas Boating Flings and Grand Bahama, baby!

It’s summer time and  the boating season we all have been waiting for is finally here!  Talkin’ Tourism is getting in on the action and heading over to Grand Bahama Island on one of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Boating Flings to bring you this week’s show from Port Lucaya Marina, Grand Bahama.  

The boating flings are organized by the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida  Bahamas Tourism Office to promote boating to the Islands of the Bahamas. The primary purpose of these summer flotillas is to familiarize boaters who have never made the Gulf Stream crossing.  Only 68 nautical miles away from the Treasure Coast, Grand Bahama Island is our nearest island neighbor and this beautiful island is no stranger to Talkin’ Tourism!  Since the inception of the show in 2009, Talkin’ Tourism has broadcast three shows from Grand Bahama. Here comes number four!

Since show co-host Robin Hicks-Connors (aka History Lady) is heading to a wedding this weekend, Gary Guertin (aka Radio Man) has found a wonderful co-host, Cacique Award winner Tony “Macaroni” Hanna, who will be mixing up the show with his great sense of humor, perfect common sense and total commitment to hospitality and tourism.  And, with probably no prompting, he'll be certain to share with our listeners why his roasted conch is one of Radio Man’s favorites.

Here's the guest line-up: 

• Betty Bethel, representative of the Grand Bahama Island Ministry of Tourism Office who will fill us in on upcoming GBI summer events and activities
• Shamine Johnson, manager of the Marina Operators of the Bahamas organization
• Richard Treco, manager of vertical markets-boating and diving with the Ft. Lauderdale Bahamas Tourist Office, and 
• Karen Pinder, manager of Port Lucaya Marina.  

There may be other surprise guests as well, so tune in!

As always, we will explore Treasure Coast/Bahamas connections otherwise known as the “Flahama Connection." You may want to be sipping a Bahama Mama, Goombay Smash or a Gully Wash while listening to this show!  

The fun begins Friday morning at 10:05 a.m. on your radio dial at WPSL 1590 AM or on your computer at www.wpsl.comhttp://www.wpsl.com from Port Lucaya Marina, Grand Bahama Island. Yea, Mon!

This week, LIVE from Grand Bahama!

Paul Frances, aka Crazy White Man,
Tony 'Macaroni' and Talkin' Tourism host Gary Guertin.

Listeners have come to expect the unexpected each week on Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond), so why should this week be any different? When a change of transportation plans occured, due to the dry docking of the cruise ship Discovery for annual maintenance, turning Talkin' Tourism host Gary Guertin's scheduled mid-week trip to Grand Bahama Island “upside down," alternative plans had to be made. Those plans became an opportunity to experience the Bahamas Celebration cruise ship now departing for Grand Bahama from the Port of Palm Beach! Because the ship sails every other day, this meant that Radio Man (aka Gary) would not be back to Stuart in time for the Friday morning show. Thus, the hunt for a broadcast location was on and as of this posting, Pirate Radio WILL be broadcasting from an unknown location somewhere on Grand Bahama.

While the guest line up is still in the works, one item is a certainty, Radio Man will be joined by a new special co-host. On past remotes, such notables as Malcolm Boyes (part-time resident of the British Virgin Islands), Ben Martin of Coastal Angler Magazine (remote from Green Turtle Cay), and the Treasure Coast’s own Ed Griffith, who thus far has joined Gary on the show from Marsh Harbour and Eleuthera, as well as many Treasure Coast remotes.

Well, this week, you will meet Paul “Crazy White Man” Frances. CWM, as he is known, is an on-air radio personality with COOL 96 FM in Freeport, Grand Bahama. A long time resident of Grand Bahama, and a man with quite a history, personal assistant to Count Basie among other notable achievements, will join Radio Man this week. This is one show that you do not want to miss, as Paul is not called Crazy White Man for nothing!

Gary will also talk about Lucaya, Taino and Pauchie. Who the heck are they? Two of them are green and one is grey. And no, they aren't martians, nor are they ghosts. Guess you'll just have to listen in tomorrow to solve that mystery.

Was there a Treasure Coast “connection” on this trip? Absolutely! While walking the docks at Port Lucaya Marina on Wednesday night, Gary bumped into several FLAHAMIANS from Stuart and Palm City who were on their way back to Stuart after having a blast on Green Turtle Cay. Who were they? Again, listen in tomorrow to learn that and more.

Since this week's show is from the islands, topics are sure to include diving opportunities, great hotel deals, what’s new with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, a personal review of the Bahamas Celebration, and of course, items of note from our own Treasure Coast.

So, join tomorrow at 10 a.m on WPSL 1590 AM or via your computer at http://www.wpsl.com/ as we bring you another fun filled edition of Talkin Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond).

Come to the islands mon, at least for an hour!

In search of the Barefoot Bandit? Nope, just another diplomatic mission.

Photo credit:  www.FloridaSnapshot.com

For the first time in history, Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast did not post a pre-show promo!  Sorry fans and listeners—life and a diplomatic mission got in the way of the standard routine.

It appears Radio Man and PR Queen were seen aboard the Discovery Cruise Ship making a crossing of the Gulf Stream on the way to Grand Bahama. Additional sightings were reported at the Grand Bahama Ministry of Tourism, M&K Car Rentals, Cost Right, Old Bahama Bay and the Grand Bahama Yacht Club. Sightings of the duo were also reported by two Stuart boat captains who ran into them at Pisces Restaurant, located in the Port Lucaya Marketplace, savoring a conch pizza. 

Were they trying to help track down the Barefoot Bandit?  No, that rascal had just been caught by the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Were they negotiating a new FLAHAMA relationship with the Garden of the Groves?  Who knows!?  The only confirmed fact is Radio Man and PR Queen (aka the Ambassadors to FLAHAMA) were on a diplomatic mission to continue to promote tourism between our fantastic destinations!

More details to come!