House Description
Address: Morgans Drive, Nicholls Town, North Andros
Beds: 4 Bedrooms
Baths: 3.0
Outside Shower: 1.0
Floor Area: 297sq.m (3200sq.ft)
Property Area: approx. 1045sq.m (11.250 sq.ft)
Type: House
Great family home or could be renovated to bed/breakfast/lodging. Has 15 beds and a very large separate living room which can be used as yoga space for retreat centre or similar activities. Situated in a quiet, European winter residents community just a 5 minute walk from beautiful secluded beaches.
Set on a spacious, manicured, well lit and fenced yard, this 2 storey home was originally constructed in 1985 and an addition was built in 1993, and fully renovated in 2007.
Surrounded by a fully fenced garden planted with tropical fruit trees, ornamental palms and beautiful lawn. There is an outside store room with electricity and water, a very large sun patio overlooking the forest.
Features include a/c units, large gourmet kitchen with center island, breakfast room, separate open dining area, family room, living room, spiral stairway, great spacious kids rooms on the second floor, plus attic storage space.
This property has recently been used as a yoga/retreat center. The bedrooms have been renovated to hold approximately 15 orthopedic beds and the tv/lounge room has been transformed into a meditation/yoga space. All household appliances are included in the sale.
There is a marina 4 miles north at Morgan's Bluff and unlimited stetches of clean white sand which edge onto the clear aquamarine sea only a 5 minute walk away.
How to get to Andros IslandAndros lies 30 miles west of Nassau (15 minutes by plane or 2½ hours by ferry) and 175 miles southeast of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (one hour by commuter plane).
There are four airports serving Andros -- San Andros, Andros Town, Mangrove Cay and Congo Town. Frequent domestic and international service is available via scheduled and charter airlines.
Sea service is provided by Bahamas Ferry Services and several mail boats to a number of settlements/towns on a weekly (or more frequent) basis.
From Nassau to Nicholls Town you can fly with Bahamas Air (www.bahamasair.com) or Western Air (www.westernairbahamas.com) to San Andros.
For more information on the Bahamas please check www.bahamas.com.
Sale Price
245,000€ (Two Hundred and Fourty Five Thousand Euros)
For further information please contact Tony or Sylvia by email: info@tonysamara.org
About Andros Island By Nicola Hepburn
With a total land mass of 2300 square miles (104 miles long and 40 miles wide), Andros is the largest of all the Bahamian islands. It is only twenty miles from New Providence at its nearest point, yet it has its own character and is viewed by some as one of the most fascinating part of The Bahamas. Andros is made up of a big jigsaw puzzle of islands with hundreds of creeks and rivers, many parts of which have not been explored. There are three large "rivers" dissecting the land mass at South, Middle and North Bights. Mangrove Cay divides the northern and southern parts of Andros at Middle Bight. Traveling on this large river is like being on the Amazon; there are miles and miles of warm tropical water snaking through an abundance of wildlife. Andros is known for its contrasting ecosystems of pine forests, mangrove swamps, blue holes or hidden lakes, long reefs, agricultural properties and miles of flats. Moreover the western side of Andros is completely undeveloped: aside from Red Bay on the northwest corner of the island, there are no other settlements on the west side of Andros. This makes it a paradise for the wild life explorer who may be fortunate enough to spot flamingoes or six foot long iguanas! The eastern shoreline of Andros has many deserted beaches and one coconut grove after another. It seems that each Androsian has his very own coconut grove!
The culture and history of Andros is just as exciting as its environment. After the Arawak Indians became extinct, its earliest immigrant settlers were Seminole Indians who crossed the Florida straits in sailing canoes. There is some debate as to when the Seminole Indians came, but their descendants were discovered in a small settlement called Red Bay. The story-telling, myths and superstition that still exists in Andros is believed to result from the Indian influence. The myth of the chickcharnie is the most popular; chickcharnies are said to be small red-eyed elves with beards who hang from pine trees and cause both good and bad things to happen. The explanation by ornithologists and archeologists, who unearthed fossils, is that the chickcharnie was transformed into a legendary creature by people who had seen giant barn owls. The bird, now extinct, was quite large and apparently had a fascinating resemblance to something human. It is also believed that blue holes have monsters living in them, and some of the blue holes are definitely considered off-limits by Androsians.
In Andros, approximately 400 inland and ocean holes exist. The basic difference between the two are their location. Ocean holes, as the name indicates, are found in the sea, while the inland holes are completely surrounded by land and at the base are separated from the sea.
A reef runs 145 miles along the length of Andros' east coast, limiting approaches to only three breaks: Morgan's Bluff to the north, Staniard Rock Passage and South Bight. The reef is known as the Great Barrier Reef, as it is the world's third largest coral reef. There are many spectacular dives up and down the eastern seaboard, because the reef has a dramatic drop more than 6,000 feet into the Tongue of the Ocean. There are a great many tricky shoals on the western side of the island, thus almost unapproachable by boat. Andros has four airports for easy travel by air to any part of the island. The main port of entry for airplanes in the south is the Congo Town airstrip, which is 5,000 feet long and situated between High Rock and Congo Town. Congo Town itself is spread over a few miles, but the center is an area known as the "Jungle", which used to be a bushy and busy area where young men and women met.
In the centre of Andros is a very special island called Mangrove Cay . The people have virtually created for themselves a world apart from Andros. They are very proud of their heritage. You will rarely hear them say, "I am from Andros" ; instead "I am from Mangrove Cay." The intricate creek system found around the island has closed off direct communication to North and South Andros. Boats are the most common mode of transportation and it is no surprise that some of the best boat builders are from Mangrove Cay. Little Harbour is the main town there, from which the weekly mailboat or daily airplane can be taken back to Nassau. Andros' most popular summer regatta also takes place there. Nicholl's Town has the largest population on North Andros, yet it appears to be sparsely inhabited because it is spread over rich farm land where there are cabbages, tomato plants, citrus fruits and even Irish potatoes growing in abundance. It is a friendly community known for its storytellers. In fact it is here that the tale of the chickcharnies originated. The English have their fairies, the Welsh their dragons, the Irish their leprechauns and the Androsians have their troublesome wide eyed friends of the forest.
Strewn along the shallows on the eastern coast of Lowe Sound are numerous small fishing boats equipped with out board engines, which are used primarily for lobster and bone fishing. Andros is a heaven for fishermen, especially around Lowe Sound, which is sometimes called "the bonefishing capital of the world." There are several excellent places where fish can be found in abundance, especially with the aid of a world-famous guide such as Bonefish Charlie.
Morgan's Bluff, located next to Lowe Sound, is named after the celebrated pirate Sir. Henry Morgan. Here the water barges Mastic Point, Black Point, and the tanker Minnie Lily load their cargo of freshwater for the people of New Providence.
Green Cay holds the second largest breeding colony of white-crowned pigeons in the world. The pigeons, one of the hunters' prime targets, fly to Andros in search of food and water. They breed and rest in July and August, finishing in September.
Andros features some of the best sporting life in the Bahamas, from pigeon shooting to deep sea fishing to tennis. There are a few outlets for bicycle and scooter rentals, and several individuals provide car rentals.
Direct dial digital telephone systems were established in North Andros in 1979, in South Andros in 1983, and in central Andros in 1984, placing residents and visitors alike in instant communication with people in any country in the world.
For dining, the Small Hope Bay Lodge and Chick Charney Hotel serve good food, and just about every settlement has a one room local bar or nightclub with dancing and music.
The colourful and casual clothing called Androsia began in Fresh Creek. The Androsia factory, producer of bright batik and Island fabrics, is a very important employer in the settlement. The long pieces of dyed fabric are delicately hand-painted, using the ancient Indonesian method, and then hung on lines to dry. Next door is the Small Hope Bay Lodge, for the young and not so young who enjoy an adventure above and below the water. Scuba diving is the specialty, but fascinating snorkeling spots are also found in the area.
Discovered by Christopher Columbus, Andros is known as "La Isla del Espirito Santo" or the Island of the Holy Spirit. Maybe that is why there is so much mystery attached to it. Yet it is becoming the island of the future. Known as the "Big Yard", due to its vast landscape and the "Sleeping Giant", because of its low key atmosphere, Andros is a relaxed island awakening to the 21st century in its own distinctive fashion.
References: The Bahamas Rediscovered. Macmillan . London, England 1997. By Popov, Dragan and Nicolas.
Bahamas Insight Guides. APA Productions. Hong Kong 1987. Publisher: Hans Johannes Hoefer, Editor: Sara Whittier.
