20091217 Nassau, Bahamas

20091217 Nassau, Bahamas We rested last night, sleeping soundly for 10 hours after our all nighter from Lucaya, Grand Bahamas. We awoke and rose slowly, muscles sore and joints aching. Our plan is to see Nassau today, leave tomorrow, weather permitting. Some fruit for breakfast, plus a couple of bottles of water in a shoulder bag join us on our journey. We are perhaps 30 blocks from the famous Nassau Straw Market, so a taxi is required. $10 poorer, we step into the busseling streets around the Cruise Ship terminal. Remember, we followed two large cruise ships into the harbor and were followed by a third cruise ship yesterday at daybreak. Those three are now gone and three more have replaced them. Perhaps 8,000 new tourists to wander through the shops and street vendors. At 8:45am, the Straw Market is just getting started, with many proprietors still setting up. We stroll straight through and catch a water taxi over to Paradise Island. The shuttle is little more than a pointed bow barge with bench seating. As we take the 10 minute ride, a “narrator” gives us the short tour of the harbor & history. Movie stars and sports celebrities own many of the waterfront homes on the private areas of the island. We ignored the crowd that marched directly to the Atlantis Hotel & Casino. Instead, we took our own path to the Bahamas Craft Centre. Here artisans sell their own work. Wood carving, straw baskets, beaded bracelets, etc. Cathy found an unusual purse for herself and a bowl for the boat to keep our fresh fruit. Stopping in to a small grocery, we refreshed our water supply and got some snacks to hold us over until lunch. Walking up the hill, we approached Atlantis Hotel and Casino. Just behind their own marina, where huge mega yachts are berthed, the pink hotel rises above all else on the island. The 10 room “bridge suite” on the 25th floor rents for $25,000 per night, 4 night minimum. We walked through the casino and instantly thought we were back in Las Vegas. The spinning roulette wheels, pinging slot machines and blackjack tables taking their toll from the visitors. The up-scale shopping mall was next, offering Rolex, Gucci, Fendi, Coach, Dooney & Bourke, jewelry stores galore, etc. This emptied into the registration area with a 5 story high vaulted ceiling painted with sea scenes. Beyond was a staircase leading down to fountains with 8 foot diameter sculptured clam shells, each containing a 1.5 foot diameter black granite “pearl” spinning in the flowing water. Impressive! Down another flight of stairs, we were in the saltwater aquarium area. Here is a scene of Atlantis’ underwater ruins with sting rays, grouper, yellow jacks, grunts, and other reef fish behind the 5 inch thick plexiglass windows. We spent quite a while here gawking at the fish just swimming by. We walked and strolled the property, stopping into shops that interested us, passing others by. It is a beautiful day, warm, but pleasant with a sea breeze. Back at ferry, we rode back to the Straw Market, but with aggressive vendors were a real turn-off. Once through and we were back on East Bay Street. We found another Greek restaurant for lunch, sharing a salad w/ gyro meat. Delicious. The town is preparing for Junkanoo, the day after Christmas celebration. Large stadium bleachers are being assembled along East Bay for the parade, which starts on 20091226 at 10 am, lasting until 2 am next morning. Take that Macy’s! A quick taxi ride back to the marina and Angel, we logged onto the internet and have found our plans once again disrupted. Bad weather coming in. We may be here for a couple more days. Good time to get to my boat repairs… Cathy & Jim