Did Christopher Columbus Discover America?

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That's what the history books told us, but more recently, I learned that Christopher Columbus never set foot on the mainland of North OR South America. Even though he was credited with discovering America, he only got as far as San Salvador (Watling Island) in 1492 and he claimed that island for Spain. On my trip to the Bahamas, an archipelago of around 700 islands in the Atlantic Ocean about 50 miles southeast of Florida, the tour guide gave us more information about Columbus in San Salvador AND the history of the Bahamas. Actually, the Bahamas were used by slave raiders and pirates for many years and then in 1647, England began a settlement there, he told us. The Bahamas also played an important role in the American Civil War. The Confederates used these islands as a base in their attempt to break through the Union blockade. I remember the scene in "Gone With The Wind" where this was briefly mentioned. Its how Rhett Butler became so rich, running his ships through the Union blockades. Eventually, the Bahamas became a British Colony in 1783 and then gained full independence in 1973. We could still see many signs of British influence while we were there. It was a wonderful trip. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort. The weather was very HOT when we were there, so we shopped in the early morning, took a "siesta" (nap) in the afternoon in our air-conditioned room, during the hottest part of the day, and enjoyed the night life after dinner. The pool was gorgeous and of course, my company paid for everything. It was one of the many FREE trips I earned for selling jewelry. I always took time before going on a trip to learn as much as I could about where I was going, before I got there and then learned even more by taking a guided tour when I arrived. Have you ever visited the Bahamas?