Bahama Mama

 Our first scheduled stop was the Bahamas.  It was a warm carribean day and we hired a bahamian tour guide to take us around the island and show us the highlights.

 Our first stop was to Fort Fincastle.  Reached by climbing the Queen's Staircase, this fort was constructed in 1793 by Lord Dunmore, the royal governor. You can take an elevator ride to the top and walk on the observation floor (water tower and lighthouse) for a panoramic view of the harbor. The tower is New Providence's highest point. This fort's so-called bow is patterned like a Mississippi paddle-wheel steamer; it was built to defend Nassau against a possible invasion, though no shot was ever fired.

 Carribean colors, ya mon.

 Carved out of limestone by slave labor in the 1790s, these 65 steps are one of Nassau's most popular attractions. The stairs were later renamed for Queen Victoria to commemorate her 65 years of rule ending in 1901.

 Grafitti along the road.  Some fun facts:  a gallon of milk costs $8.00, a new car costs 85% tax to bring it onto the island plus the cost of the car, cha-ching!  Their tax system is very different then ours.

 Statue of Columbus in front of one of the government buildings...please take note that the building is PINK!!

 This is the high-end district of the island.  Bahamians like to fence everything in to denote spacial boundaries.

 Colors are bright and vibrant from houses to water, it all speaks of our artistic God!

 Everyone was chattering about Atlantis.  Gotta go see Atlantis.  So we did.  Um, I am not into gambling thank you very much!

 Such a sweet setting.  Colorful condos with their boats parked out front.

 Some weird bull mermaid thing.  In gold.  Pointy horns...very tacky.

 There were two formal nights on the ship.  Blurry shots, whaaaaa. 

 Will you look at all these glasses!  This is the kind of deal where the headwaiter greets you by name.  Then your watier comes over and places the linen napkin in you lap.  Then the wine steward shows you the wine list.  Then the associate waiter brings you a basket of fresh baked breads to choose from.  Then the bar dude shows up, my o my!  These people work on the ship for 6 months at a time.  They go home for 10 weeks and back to the boat again.

Spoiled I tell ya.  After playing all day and feasting all night you return to your cabin to a turned down bed with a chocolate on the pillow and some towel creature to bid you good-nite!  I will post more tomorrow.