The Bahamian Potcake is a local desert that is served at local festivals and special events. It is made of fried dough and has a creamy inside filling. Not really, but it does sound appetizing doesn’t it? Actually, the Potcake is mixed breed dog that has been indigenous to the Caribbean for centuries. Specifically, the Bahamian Potcake can be found on New Providence, the capitol of the Bahamas, as well as throughout the family islands. As of 2014, it is estimated that the local Potcake population on New Providence was about 15,000 and an additional 15,000 located throughout the family islands. The Potcake is actually a designated breed. The Bahamas achieved full independence on July 10, 1973 and several years later, our friend the Potcake, was designated the Royal Bahamian Potcake.
After spending any time on Exuma, you will see these dogs on the side of roadways as you travel from one location to another. Their name originates from the Bahamian staple of Peas and Rice. When cooking up a batch of a congealed Peas and Rice mixture, the cooking pot used will ultimately be left with a thick cake on the bottom of the pot. The remains of the cooking process. This is what the older Exumians from years past would feed to the stray dogs that originally wandered on their property and ultimately came to stay. Hence the name Potcake.
The Potcake is actually a very resilient animal as it is not negatively impacted from the parasites, diseases that ordinary breeds require vaccinations to fend off. While most have become quite adept at dodging automobiles, this is still their number one cause of death. They are very intelligent and are capable of being trained to sense for narcotics, guns and also have been utilized in Arson investigations, capable of sensing accelerants. Additionally, as 7% of the Bahamian population suffers from Diabetes, Potcakes have been trained to effectively alert when negative chemical reactions are taking place in the human body, acting as a form of insulin monitoring device, where such a costly mechanism is difficult to afford or to maintain.
They are very loyal and loving animals and also act as very good security guards for their adopted owners. This why they were encouraged to stay on landowners’ various properties in the past as they really like to bark and alert when intruders were noticed. Do be cautious when encountering adult Potcakes however, some can be aggressive and some do carry diseases.

The Potcake has been the subject of stories and songs, becoming an accepted part of Exumian life and folklore. There is a growing trend to salvage these wonderful animals and many have been adopted both locally and abroad, throughout North America and other parts of the world. If you have an interested in supporting the Potcake, the Exuma Humane Society located in Bahamas Sound 18 is a great place to start. They coordinate foster homes, adoptions, neutering and veterinary care for the uncared for when necessary. The number is 1.242.557.8838 and they also have a great facebook page.
As for Ace, he relocated to Nassau, in New Providence, with his owner when she moved for an employment opportunity. And as for the gaggle my neighbor rescued, all have been adopted, three went to North America and one to England. The rest were adopted by locals including a police officer.
So next time you see a stray dog on Exuma, think about this. Now you know. By the way, if anyone refers to you while on Exuma as a Potcake, it is not necessarily a compliment.

​ A DAY AT THE BEACH


Funny thing about paradise is it does have a price. Yes, both monetarily and otherwise. As a dear old Ex-English Patriot friend of mine once told me some years back, Exuma is a place that demands a certain amount of patience. She was correct. My friend and her husband have lived on Great Exuma since the 1960s and now consider England their second home.


Running a rental property in the Caribbean can be challenging and also very rewarding. Sand Nickels has hosted people from almost every continent of the world and also has provided a back drop for honeymoons, special birthdays, anniversaries and others who simply wish to reset and retool. Exuma is the attraction, we just provide a place to call home while there.


That being said, we have a fantastic group of local professionals that keep the property in tip top shape. From groundskeepers, landscapers, house cleaners, maintenance personnel to electricians, plumbers and carpenters. Lest not forget pest control, air conditioner maintenance and generator maintenance. It is a team of local talent that serves to provide the quality that I always searched for when staying at rentals throughout the Caribbean. They are also our friends, I am proud to say. The salt air and sand while charming, can take a quick toll on a beach house and it must be constantly be maintained.


When we envisioned Sand Nickels, it was with the idea that we would build a small place on a calm beach for us to retreat to when the world became a bit overwhelming. After being introduced to the local culture, we very much fell in love with Exuma. We decided to share the experience with a friend or two and eventually it became a rental property. I must confess, there are many times throughout the process I thought what exactly have I gotten myself into and perhaps a condo in Florida would have been good and finally am I drinking too much?


It is really a quite a simple concept: 1) Fly to island 2) Find land on beach 3) Build house 4) Make libation 5) Consume. Repeat number 4 and 5 if and when necessary. As most things in life, this project came with a few wrinkles. Additionally, if you plan to do this with a significant other, a true testament to your relationship.

The unpacking went a great deal quicker than we planned, as our friends on the Exuma side had already made entry into our house the day before we arrived and unboxed every item and discarded the boxes outside upon our arrival. All that remained was putting things where they belonged. It only took a day of the four days we had budgeted. 2 days to play and thus reward our traveling companions for their commitment and also great for me as I love to show off my island Exuma.

We drove to Coco Plum and then headed the opposite end of the island to feast at Santana’s. I arranged a private tour with my friend Evviee (SHOUT OUT) at Island Boy Adventures to do the Cays trip. By the way, Evvie has also since opened up Island Boy cafe in GGT and the food and place is awesome (SECOND SHOUT OUT BOY!) I had also been watching a small TD (Tropical Depression) called Irma just off the coast of North Africa. It was present when I left the states but was far off and still a TD. Having grown up in the Caribbean and Florida , I knew a little about following these curses. But this one was different, just strange.

As we placed the very last item in a drawer, the BBQ on the main deck was up and running, it was 5 pm, the sun was setting, you could hear the ocean and the Kalik was ice cold!!! It had been another beautiful day.

We have been in a bit of a holding pattern since our last trip down to check on Sand Nickels in May.  We are still waiting on our order from the states to get put together and sent down to Exuma.  Our builder has been busy though working on the driveway and other outdoor projects while waiting for the rest of our shipment of interior materials.  It's a lot of concrete!  Also looks like our neighbor's dog may have come by for a visit to check out the progress!

It's been quite a week in the Bahamas. First the FIFA Beach World Cup kicked off in Nassau. Exuma itself was buzzing with activity as well. The annual regatta is under way, an Exuma island tradition. Also the music festival Fyre began and ended all in one day. It was a debacle as festival goers posted all over social media. Hopefully some at least got to enjoy the unspoiled, pure beauty of the Exumas as it's meant to be enjoyed.

Speaking of beauty, Sand Nickels exterior paint is complete. It's the "beachy" feel we were hoping to capture.

The interior walls are done. The "slips" (air conditioning) are installed and electrical work is complete. We went back and forth on whether to use "slips", single unit air conditioning that is installed in rooms, or central air. We have stayed at several houses in the Caribbean and the slips seem to work best. They save energy and cool quickly.

We are using a lot of wood for the upstairs ceiling and balcony ceilings. When complete, they will have an washed wood look (pickling). All balconies will have lights and ceiling fans. Should be a nice place to relax and enjoy the view.

Although the balconies will be a great place to relax, we wanted to add a little more outdoor living space. So a deck was necessary.

We are now awaiting a boat to bring our tiles, fixtures, etc. for the interior. We decided on having a local carpenter custom make our kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Hopefully progress will commence shortly. We can't wait!

It's mid March and our roof and cupola are complete.  We chose a light almost white roof to compliment our exterior paint color.  We went back and forth on the exterior.  We wanted something that was a true Caribbean cottage, something fun!  I love the colors of West Indian homes and how they reflect the beauty, culture, people, and place.  We decided on a blue / green teal.  I think it will even look better as the sea air "ages" it.  A true Caribbean cottage, an accurate reflection of Exuma: bright, smart, clean, and welcoming. 

We visited the work site in February for a quick trip to put eyes on the project and meet with our builder to discuss upcoming work.  We wanted to take our own pictures of the progress, but the view was clearly the model subject. 

Progress!  Work is coming along at a good clip. 

It's a cloudy day in Exuma, but that hasn't stopped our guys from framing up the roof.