Originally called Guanahani by the Lucayan Indians, the island was renamed San Salvador by Christopher Columbus, which means Holy Saviour. It’s actually the exposed peak of a submerged mountain that rises 15,000 feet from the ocean’s floor
Christopher Columbus reportedly made his first landfall at Long Bay, San Salvador on October 12, 1492, during his historic voyage to the New World. A big stone cross now stands on the spot and it is one of the most photographed site on the island.
Today, thanks to its many sandy beaches, the island's prosperous main industry is tourism. About 1,000 people reside on San Salvador Island with about 300 in Cockburn Town, the seat of local government. A Club Med resort, called "Columbus Isle", is located just north of Cockburn Town.
The Club was started in 1950 by Belgian entrepreneur Gerard Blitz who opened a low-priced summer colony of tents on the island of Majorca.
In February 2015, Fosun International Ldd’s Gaillon Invest II and The Silverfern Group finalized the Chinese takeover of Club Méditerranée S.A. for €939 million ($1.07 billion).
Club Med staff are called "GOs", or Gentils Organisateurs (Gracious/Nice Organizers). Clients are "GMs", or Gentils Members (Gracious/Nice Guests/Members). The resort is known as a village. The resort manager is called the chef de village (Village Chief).
The special feature of Club Med is that the GOs and GMs play, dine, drink, and dance together every day and night. Outdoor buffet dining (usually on tables of eight, mixing GMs and GOs), daytime sport-playing, and evening shows with extensive audience participation, are part of the holiday experience.
The GO’s work is supplemented by locally recruited support staff such as cleaners and cooks, known as "GEs" or Gentils Employés.
For two weeks, we were entertained not only by the GO but by the multicolored undersea reef life. We swim in the crystal waters with schools of colorful fish, sharks, stingrays and turtles.
Between the two daily boat trips we managed to do some sailing and tennis too.
Foureye Butterflyfish
Stoplight Parotfish and Smooth Trunkfish
Nurse shark
Honeycombed Cowfish
Whitespotted Filefish
Blue Tang
Other Club Med to visit:
Club Med Turks and Caicos
Club Med Martinique