DandA

Next up was a tour of Paradise Island and Atlantis; it is beautiful and his commentary was interesting. 

Our guide was friendly, polite and knowledgeable and his vehicle was clean.  We had booked the Forts and Queen’s Staircase tour; specifically I wanted to see Fort Montagu, Fort Fincastle, Fort Charlotte and also the Queen’s Staircase.  Our guide assured us we had plenty of time to see the forts and he wanted to show us a few other things also.  First stop was a rum cake bakery where we sampled rum cake and I did purchase one cake; next was “The Cloisters” our guide told us the story behind it and how it was maintained.  Many of the parks and such are sponsored by businesses on the island who maintain them.  

Day 7-Nassau
I love sunrise and sunset at sea, so again I was up on deck to watch us sail into Nassau.  I had signed up for a tour through Cheryl’s Bahamas Taxi and Tours for a 3 hour Forts and Queen Staircase Tour.  She had told us where to meet our tour guide and the time.  Once off the ship we made our way through the port, after wandering around in circles for a few minutes, I finally asked for directions and we made it out of the port area and to our meeting place.  For those who have never been to Nassau the first challenge was finding how to get out of the port area.  I saw a closed man gate that was guarded and finally the second time around it was open and people were going thru.  The meeting spot was the water fountain; it’s to the left when you get out of the port gated area.  This spot is where several people picked up their tours.  Our guide was on time although he did have to make three loops around before he could pull over and stop long enough for us to get in.
 

Now here is a job I could love.

Here are a few parting shots leaving Nassau.  I understand that this one house belongs to Nicholas Cage, does anyone know why it fell into disrepair?

Leaving the Pirates Museum we went to the Pompeii Museum.  The Pompeii Museum tells the story of slavery in the Bahamas and throughout the world from ancient times to today.  We started walking back to the ship in search of conch fritters.  Only place that I saw was a Greek restaurant offering conch fritters.  Didn’t seem like an authentic place to try them.  Unfortunately we found our self at the port area and decided to just get lunch on the ship.  I know many dislike Nassau but I did find quite a bit of interesting things to see and do; next time I go I’ll just walk around to see what I want to see without the detours.  I will say that traffic is horrible and the few people I engaged were friendly and hospitable.  We did get the travel advisory in our cabin the night before that caused a ruckus with the tourism board; I didn’t see it as more than a heads up to use precautions and be aware of your surrounding when out in town. 

Went into the Pirates Museum, it was fun and interesting; I love the lore of the pirates.  Whether what we saw was true or not is anyone’s guess.  So much of what we know of the pirates is woven with truth, legend, lies and myth; never the less I found it interesting.  We also checked out the Anglican Church across the street from the Pirates Museum.

The Queen’s Staircase was next, the stairs were carved from the limestone by slaves to allow easy access between Fort Fincastle and Nassau.  We opted to drive around the Fort Fincastle in lieu of walking up the staircase.  This was a mistake because when we got up by the water tower our driver didn’t want to get rapped up there by the buses.

Next up was a tour of Paradise Island and Atlantis; it is beautiful and his commentary was interesting. 

Day 7-Nassau
I love sunrise and sunset at sea, so again I was up on deck to watch us sail into Nassau.  I had signed up for a tour through Cheryl’s Bahamas Taxi and Tours for a 3 hour Forts and Queen Staircase Tour.  She had told us where to meet our tour guide and the time.  Once off the ship we made our way through the port, after wandering around in circles for a few minutes, I finally asked for directions and we made it out of the port area and to our meeting place.  For those who have never been to Nassau the first challenge was finding how to get out of the port area.  I saw a closed man gate that was guarded and finally the second time around it was open and people were going thru.  The meeting spot was the water fountain; it’s to the left when you get out of the port gated area.  This spot is where several people picked up their tours.  Our guide was on time although he did have to make three loops around before he could pull over and stop long enough for us to get in.
 

Here are a few parting shots leaving Nassau.  I understand that this one house belongs to Nicholas Cage, does anyone know why it fell into disrepair?

Leaving the Pirates Museum we went to the Pompeii Museum.  The Pompeii Museum tells the story of slavery in the Bahamas and throughout the world from ancient times to today.  We started walking back to the ship in search of conch fritters.  Only place that I saw was a Greek restaurant offering conch fritters.  Didn’t seem like an authentic place to try them.  Unfortunately we found our self at the port area and decided to just get lunch on the ship.  I know many dislike Nassau but I did find quite a bit of interesting things to see and do; next time I go I’ll just walk around to see what I want to see without the detours.  I will say that traffic is horrible and the few people I engaged were friendly and hospitable.  We did get the travel advisory in our cabin the night before that caused a ruckus with the tourism board; I didn’t see it as more than a heads up to use precautions and be aware of your surrounding when out in town. 

Went into the Pirates Museum, it was fun and interesting; I love the lore of the pirates.  Whether what we saw was true or not is anyone’s guess.  So much of what we know of the pirates is woven with truth, legend, lies and myth; never the less I found it interesting.  We also checked out the Anglican Church across the street from the Pirates Museum.

Leaving the Fort Fincastle area we made our way to a where wine was offered and a chocolate store.  Not one to pass up chocolate the wife purchased a small batch to take home.  Off we went to John Watlings Distillery; it was an interesting history filled tour of rum making in Nassau.  As our three hours was nearly up, we had our guide drop us off at the Pirates Museum.

The Queen’s Staircase was next, the stairs were carved from the limestone by slaves to allow easy access between Fort Fincastle and Nassau.  We opted to drive around the Fort Fincastle in lieu of walking up the staircase.  This was a mistake because when we got up by the water tower our driver didn’t want to get rapped up there by the buses.

Next up was Fort Montagu; as a retired Marine I was interested in seeing this fort as it’s the first amphibious landing by the newly formed Continental Marines in 1776.  Captain Samuel Nicholas led 200 Marines to take the fort; while the landing was successful the munitions that they sought had been moved to Fort Nassau and spirited away during the night.  In the park adjacent to the fort. they had a stand offering drinks, one of which was called sky juice.  A mixture of gin, coconut milk and condensed milk; according to our tour operator so named because after a few you find your self flat on your back looking up at the sky.

Next up was a tour of Paradise Island and Atlantis; it is beautiful and his commentary was interesting. 

Day 7-Nassau
I love sunrise and sunset at sea, so again I was up on deck to watch us sail into Nassau.  I had signed up for a tour through Cheryl’s Bahamas Taxi and Tours for a 3 hour Forts and Queen Staircase Tour.  She had told us where to meet our tour guide and the time.  Once off the ship we made our way through the port, after wandering around in circles for a few minutes, I finally asked for directions and we made it out of the port area and to our meeting place.  For those who have never been to Nassau the first challenge was finding how to get out of the port area.  I saw a closed man gate that was guarded and finally the second time around it was open and people were going thru.  The meeting spot was the water fountain; it’s to the left when you get out of the port gated area.  This spot is where several people picked up their tours.  Our guide was on time although he did have to make three loops around before he could pull over and stop long enough for us to get in.
 

Went into the Pirates Museum, it was fun and interesting; I love the lore of the pirates.  Whether what we saw was true or not is anyone’s guess.  So much of what we know of the pirates is woven with truth, legend, lies and myth; never the less I found it interesting.  We also checked out the Anglican Church across the street from the Pirates Museum.

Leaving the Fort Fincastle area we made our way to a where wine was offered and a chocolate store.  Not one to pass up chocolate the wife purchased a small batch to take home.  Off we went to John Watlings Distillery; it was an interesting history filled tour of rum making in Nassau.  As our three hours was nearly up, we had our guide drop us off at the Pirates Museum.

The Queen’s Staircase was next, the stairs were carved from the limestone by slaves to allow easy access between Fort Fincastle and Nassau.  We opted to drive around the Fort Fincastle in lieu of walking up the staircase.  This was a mistake because when we got up by the water tower our driver didn’t want to get rapped up there by the buses.

Next up was Fort Montagu; as a retired Marine I was interested in seeing this fort as it’s the first amphibious landing by the newly formed Continental Marines in 1776.  Captain Samuel Nicholas led 200 Marines to take the fort; while the landing was successful the munitions that they sought had been moved to Fort Nassau and spirited away during the night.  In the park adjacent to the fort. they had a stand offering drinks, one of which was called sky juice.  A mixture of gin, coconut milk and condensed milk; according to our tour operator so named because after a few you find your self flat on your back looking up at the sky.

Next up was a tour of Paradise Island and Atlantis; it is beautiful and his commentary was interesting. 

Our guide was friendly, polite and knowledgeable and his vehicle was clean.  We had booked the Forts and Queen’s Staircase tour; specifically I wanted to see Fort Montagu, Fort Fincastle, Fort Charlotte and also the Queen’s Staircase.  Our guide assured us we had plenty of time to see the forts and he wanted to show us a few other things also.  First stop was a rum cake bakery where we sampled rum cake and I did purchase one cake; next was “The Cloisters” our guide told us the story behind it and how it was maintained.  Many of the parks and such are sponsored by businesses on the island who maintain them.  

Day 7-Nassau
I love sunrise and sunset at sea, so again I was up on deck to watch us sail into Nassau.  I had signed up for a tour through Cheryl’s Bahamas Taxi and Tours for a 3 hour Forts and Queen Staircase Tour.  She had told us where to meet our tour guide and the time.  Once off the ship we made our way through the port, after wandering around in circles for a few minutes, I finally asked for directions and we made it out of the port area and to our meeting place.  For those who have never been to Nassau the first challenge was finding how to get out of the port area.  I saw a closed man gate that was guarded and finally the second time around it was open and people were going thru.  The meeting spot was the water fountain; it’s to the left when you get out of the port gated area.  This spot is where several people picked up their tours.  Our guide was on time although he did have to make three loops around before he could pull over and stop long enough for us to get in.