Ok, fine. I admit it...I watch The Bachelor. Basically, one summer, sweating in 100+ degree heat without an air conditioner, I accepted a friend's invitation to spend the evening at her air conditioned apartment. When I got there, I discovered a Bachelor viewing party. Then, I had to keep watching to see if the runner-up from that season found love, and then see what happened to my favorite contestant from the next season. And, so on. I do love seeing the exciting destinations that the groups visit around the world. During the most recent week of Season 14, I was excited to see that Ben and the ladies on the group date went swimming with pigs in The Bahamas. This was so exciting to me because I had done the exact same thing four years earlier! The episode showed aggressive pigs and awkward silences, but what was it really like to swim with pigs in The Bahamas? Getting ThereThe Exumas are a chain of islands in The Bahamas. We were staying on Staniel Cay, one island in The Exumas, while the pigs live on Big Major Cay, an uninhabited island in The Exumas. To get to Big Major, we had to island-hop by boat, and there is a little bay where boats can pull in to see the pigs. We were staying at someone's private house, so we had a motor boat at our disposal. However, many accommodations, such as Staniel Cay Yacht Club, offer use of boats and kayaks to guests that purchase vacation packages. The ExperienceFirst of all, these pigs FOR SURE know what's up. When they see boats pull into the bay, they immediately swim over. The pigs have learned that boats mean food for them. Luckily, we had a pig veteran with us, so she knew to bring snacks for feeding the pigs. We had veggies and some lunchmeat (Don't worry! Nothing pig-based) . We initially fed them from the boat, but eventually we ventured into the water and made our way to the beach. The water around us was a clear, turquoise blue, perfect for swimming and wading. On the island, there were piglets running around, which was adorable!
Were the pigs really as aggressive as shown on TV? Actually, yes! Swimming with the pigs is not dangerous by any means, but the pigs are determined to get whatever food they can. They continually approach and bump people to ask for more snacks. One of my friends actually got bit in the butt by one of the pigs on the island! We spent part of the day on Big Major Island, feeding the pigs, swimming in the water, having some drinks, and walking the beach. Then, we motored to a sandbar and to another island to eat. Having a boat in The Exumas is amazing because it gives travelers the freedom to explore the whole region. You can sail to another resort or yacht club, park your boat at the dock, and enjoy a meal. You can go snorkeling at Thunderball Grotto, site of filming for the James Bond film Thunderball. You can explore other beaches or try new water sports. I was glad we included swimming with the pigs on our Bahamas vacation because it was unlike any other experience I have had. Without having seen it on TV or hearing about it from a friend, I never would have imagined that there was an island with swimming pigs somewhere in the world!
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AuthorMy name is Alyssa Good and I have a passion for travel, adventure, culture, and new experiences! I focus on budget friendly travel, trip planning resources, and seeking out new experiences. Archives
December 2017
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