To Nassau

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 11 Apr 2011 22:17
From Highborne Cay, Exumas to
Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas
![]() ![]() ![]() Last night just as
we settled there was an enormous splash right next to us, a swoosh of water,
then silence, no idea what it was - but big. It seemed no sooner than Baby
Beez had settled, she had to be soothed once more after her traumatic week. Up
this morning and underway at seven, half an hour later, the most notable thing -
green water. After so long admiring every shade of
blue from off white to deep navy, here we were with four metres below us, the occasion coral bed that was easy to see, but all in
deep green. Weird. Eleven o'clock and Nassau was
in sight.
![]() The big city
vista (complete with cruise ships) looked quite strange compared to
the last few weeks - after so many flat, often uninhabited islands and
cays. We now think entering Long Island Sound will be an incredible experience
by comparison. As we approached Nassau we had to radio Harbour Control and they
asked for boat registration number and phonetic spelling of vessel name. So
pleased we only have four letters and eight words to remember, can
you imaging one of the girls we met, her call would go like this;
"Charlie, Hotel, Alpha,
November, Golf, Echo,
Sierra, space Indigo,
November, space Lima, Alpha,
Tango, Indigo, Tango,
Uniform, Delta, Echo".
A similar length would be Serenity Cottage or
Inspirational Lady, if I was Harbourmaster, half way I'd go for a cup of
tea.
![]() ![]() We
went from speed queen to tourist ferry
![]() On our left
and
![]() to on our right,
which quickly changed to.......
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Looking over to Paradise
Island, connected to Nassau by two one-way
bridges
![]() ![]() The books warn of street crime and boat
robberies - so we went into Yacht Haven Marina, the
closest to town, had lunch and went to explore
![]() ![]() The
twin faces of most big city marinas
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The usual suspects plus thousands of Long
Spined Urchins, Bear informs me after looking through the new reef book that
their numbers dropped by 90%, they were
nearly wiped out by an infection that began in Panama and spread, but they are
making a comeback. Comeback, they look alright to
me.
![]() The two bridges
connecting Paradise Island, playground to the
wealthy
![]() We stopped to watch the MailBoat
pass
![]() We had to admit the Atlantis Hotel
does look impressive
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() It took us about three quarters of an hour to walk into town,
there was a mix of colonial, modern, derelict, carefully
owned and at the end of our walk the usual cruise ship dock. Nassau
having an International airport is the start and finish point of most cruises.
We saw many pale skins and those who had been here all day - that lovely shade
of lobster. To save our tootsies we got a taxi back and headed to the Poop Deck
Bar for sundowners. Sat in the corner we had a constant stream of people
welcoming us, stopping by for a chat and generally passing the time. The crew
from the boat parked next to us - In Concert - gave us lots of tips about the
ICW and their home port/town. An Irishman who was thrilled the Queen was finally
visiting Southern Ireland but was so tipsy we heard it many times.
![]() The classic goes to our fellow corner
dweller..... Soundo. Time to stand in the first shower ashore since St
Lucia for me and St Kitts for Bear (he had warned off with stories of mosquito,
so I stayed aboard) and as Bear wants to hire a car tomorrow, bedtime. Amazing
changes in one day in just thirty five miles.
ALL IN ALL A SHOCK AFTER THE EXUMAS, SO
MANY PEOPLE AND TRAFFIC, SIRENS..... WHAT ARE THEY?
VERY DIFFERENT, GOOD TO
ACHIEVE
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