(see Website devoted to Spanish Wells)
Spanish Wells (St. George's Cay) is a mile-and-a-half-long island situated off the northern tip of Eleuthera, Bahamas.
Discovered by Christopher Columbus and later settled by the Eleutheran Adventurers and the Loyalists, the island is a fishing and farming community of 1,800 friendly people.
It from the fresh-water reserves of this island that Spanish sailors
renewed their water supply after the long Atlantic crossing, among them
the legendary explorer who sought the Fountain of Youth, Ponce de Leon.
As the "Spanish Wells Song" tells the story...
Ponce De Leon tired of searchin'
For a way to stay young
Put Spanish Wells water on his tongue
It did not move his gray hairs
Or restore his wounded pride
But we know for sure
he lived until he died
As the song suggests, the inhabitants of Spanish Wells are intensely
proud of their past, and the islanders are known for their seamanship
and fishing ability.
SPANISH WELLS is very pretty. It is one of the few areas in the Bahamas that is predominantly white. There is even speculation that a fair amount of intermarriage occurs in this small closed community.
You can rent a golf cart from Richard and Gemini Pinder (phone 242-333-5188, next to the ferry) and cruise down the narrow streets, stopping occasionally to admire the pristine beauty of the northernbeaches, some of the best beaches in the world.
There are rows of pastel-colored homes, and plenty of flowers. (Take the "Spanish wells Flowers Virtual Tour). The people of Spanish Wells are hard-working, and conservative, and very helpful to visitors. There is a very well-stocked large grocery store, the largest on the island. There is also a good amount of hand-made items items made by locals, such as broad-brimmed hats, quilts, etc.
Aunt Marge's Beach on the Northside
