Nassau and Goodbye!

Our last sea day yesterday began the long goodbye.  We have met a lot of very nice and very interesting people on this voyage. Of course there were lots of Englishmen and women with whom I, of course, have an affinity.  Our trivia team was with two couples, one from Scotland and one from Birmingham.  The Scotsman I could never understand but he was so smart…a professor of engineering.  He could figure out complicated thing.  Gill, from the midlands was dynamite with music!  I knew T.V tunes so at least that was something.  I hope to see Gill and Robbie again sometime.  They come to the U.S. a lot.

Vern and Sheila sat with me a long time in the late evening laughing exchanging ideas about loyalty programs.  Vern likes to analyze everything.  So many different ‘new friends’

Our last talk from the Broadway guy was about ‘70’s musicals.  Of course I enjoyed that.

We arrived in Nassau early.  Four other ships were already there.  Carnival had the Ecstasy, Sensation, and Glory.  I have been on them all.  The first two are definitely popular with the booze cruise crowd.  Small and fun but old and on Caribbean or Nassau weekend runs for the most part.  Glory was my first Carnival cruise and that was to Alaska with Karen and Katie.

Also in port was the Norwegian Sun.  We met some of their passengers in the taxi on the way back from Atlantis.  That ship is on the beginning of a Caribbean tour.  Five ships, two of them large, means a lot of people wandering around.  The ships sell lots of tours but a lot of us walk off and just hang out.  

We did go off the ship today and take a taxi, $4 each way to Atlantis.  It is quite pretty. I had never been so was glad to go this one time. Carol had been many times so knew her way around.  We saw the shops and casino with its Chihuly chandeliers.  After a short time Elva wanted to wait on a bench as she was walked out.  She does like to people watch so that works out okay.

Unlike most casinos At Atlantis there is natural light as well as these pretty fixtures.  There are also doors that lead to the outdoors, to the beaches, and to the yachts parked right there!

  

Carol  and I walked over to the old tower where we saw the ballrooms, convention center facilities, some pretty fountains and more shops in the second lobby. There is a viewing tunnel where you can see through pretty scared p windows into some of the aquarium.  She said there used to be a café where you could have a coffee or lunch and watch the fish swim in the famous sea tank.  

 

These turtles were outside in one of the pools of what is now an old resort.

Both the waterfall and I look very natural, don't we!  And not at all time worn out!

After the tunnel we came out at the beach and past the pool.  I think you could probably go out on the beach or into the pool without too much difficulty even though you were not a guest.  We did not walk on the beach as we didn’t want to leave Elva sitting for more than the half hour.

The pool as seen from the tunnel.

We took a second mini-van taxi back to the ships.  The younger people often make their way to Senor Frog’s.  They then often become pier runners as the in boat is ready to sail but they are late.  At least here is not a tender port so it is easier.

We did see one very sad case with a different result.  We entered the Festival Building to go through security, such as it was, to go back to the ship.  A young man, maybe 35, was sitting on the rough cement floor, sort of bent over, and at an awkward angle.  He was wearing a swim suit, flip flops, and a lanyard.  At first I thought he might be homeless.

After security we were walking through the long cordon of tour people waiting for their bus when we saw a very determined lady with this same young man firmly in her grasp.  Carol said she saw a man help him to his feet inside.  He was barely moving his feet in a stumbling manner as his very embarrassed wife or girlfriend or mother was propelling him toward a Carnival ship. It wasn’t even lunch time and to be so far gone.  So sad, but he was lucky she could get him moving and she was lucky he didn’t totally trip and fall.

Carol and I couldn’t get an iced tea fast enough!  Since I had packed my suitcase the day before, I had the afternoon free to read on the warmth of the balcony, although Carol and I did go to Trivia.  Gill and Robbie didn’t show up so we didn’t stay.  We are not that quick at music as is Gill.  She scored 36 on a 15 questions test the other day.  She knew every song before it barely started.  Then added the correct performer, some I had never even heard of.  To top it off she had 6 of the dates correct for the year the song made #1 on the Pop Charts!

We decided to have dinner in the buffet.  Tonight we did this because the last two nights turned into long affairs.  Here is a friendly tip: If you are having three appetizers please ask the waiter to bring them all at once so five other people do not have to sit and watch you consume them while waiting for their main courses.  Thank you!

We didn’t go to the last show, an acrobatic performance, because we had seen them before.  I took a very hot steamy shower for my cold and it helped me fall asleep faster.  A few pages of my book and I slept pretty well once I got the coughing under control.  I was awake at five and got up about a quarter to six.  

Elva and I took advantage of self-assist disembarkation since our flight was at 11.  Too early to take a ship transfer.  Elva was deciding whether to walk off the ship or take a wheelchair lift.  I am glad she decided to ride.  It was a long walk like in New York and it also got us through Passport Control quickly.  Unfortunately the port assist girl was new to the job and left us where the private cars pick up instead of by the taxis.  It was a bit of a hike to the opposite end of the terminal to cross the street and make our way to the head of the taxi line.  

We did get a very nice driver and got to the airport in good time.  It was a long wait made longer because there was no delay in the security line and we had hedged our bets against any delay.  Elva and I would both rather wait longer at the airport than worry about running late and missing our flight.  The flight itself was packed and I am pretty sure most everyone on it was returning from a cruise.  As were most of the people waiting in the terminal!  The clothes tell it all!

The line at the only source of coffee in Terminal 2 at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport!

The flight was smooth, we landed early and there was a gate available which sometimes, most times, is not the case for an early arrival.  Karen met me after Elva and I parted ways once we had our bags.  She took the Marta home as is her habit.

I ended this long day freezing myself at Maddie’s last home game cheering for the Whitfield Wolfpack.  It was senior honors night for the fall sports athletes.  I was so proud to see Maddie cross the field with her Mom and Dad.  A big year for her and for me to be the Grandma!  No more trips planned, except for one.  I don’t want to miss much.  I will let you know in February when I am ready to sail to the Arctic Ocean!  Yes!  In February.  See you then!

Thanks for reading.  Please share!

More Bermuda…

….but not much.  This is the real Bermuda short.  Okay, moving on from that joke.

We were in port overnight but did not go back out after dinner.  There is not much close by except shops.  There is a pirate ship that is a bar.  It looked quite lively with its red lights shining through the portholes and the loud music blaring.  It was probably full of our crew.  They like overnight stops because they have time to go out.  I know our waitress who served us at dinner in the buffet was going to a private party at the beach.  She was excited. This is her first contract and after spending the summer sailing in Europe she wants to experience island life.  A far cry from her Russian country town.

Carol and I went for a walkabout.  We spent about an hour and a half just strolling up as far as the bridge.  In the drug store she was looking for a gift for the lady who will be giving her a ride home from the bus when they get to Canaveral.  I suggested the black rum instead of another magnet.  Too bad the ship port talk didn’t tell us that the duty free benefit expired the night before for our ship.  Not sure why.  I did let the Shore Excursion people know for future reference but of course they would rather you buy onboard so maybe they just didn’t share that info.

It isn't a doorway or gateway is someone doesn't pose in it!  These are taken looking toward the port at the entrance from the Dockyard Bridge.

There were lots of yachts in port.  Carol was telling me she has friends with boats and after the initial thrill wears off they do not go out as often.  When she goes with one friend they all spend more time cleaning the boat after a day out than they spend enjoying the cruise!

 

The Clock Tower Mall is in the old Customs Building.  It is a true landmark.  Why two clock towers. One is a clock with the correct time and the other is the dial telling what time the next 'High Water' or high tide is in!  Both clocks are kept accurate and relied on by the extensive ferry boat system, cruise ships, and those famous yachts!






 
We saw a bunch of middle schoolers gathered near the sloop that is docked here.  I spoke with a lady who was a teacher.  It was her turn to chaperone the class for a week aboard.  In 8^th grade the sail for a week learning to operate and what is involved in sailing a sloop.  I wanted to know how a sloop differs from an ordinary sailboat other than just size!

7th grade kids do a week learning to sail in regular sailboats and 6^th graders learn water safety and life guarding.  These are mandatory classes, not just field trips.  Every child, whether in public or private school, participates not just the good kids or the ones with certain grades.  I think this program is great.  If you are going to live on an island these are valuable skills.  And with a non- industrial, service based economy many will be working with or on boats for their adult careers.  Middle school is a good time to catch their imagination and have them begin to think of what they might do later on.

The children formed a circle around the captain of the sloop as their parents reluctantly walked away.  Final instructions were given.  All together, teacher, crew and children, joined hands as the circle become one of prayer for a safe week of sailing!

We also spoke with a woman who arrived this morning from New York on the NCL Dawn.  She was complaining that they were waiting to check in on Friday for more than five hours.  Turns out the Dawn was turning over new passengers in New York and guess where it needed to dock!  Yep!  Pier 88, Berth 2 where we were still firmly attached to the dock by a recalcitrant gangway!  Waiting to sail is a disheartening way to begin a trip.  But the people waiting to disembark were probably beside themselves, especially if they had planes to catch!  Five hours for them would be a lifetime of frustration and complaining.  Or it was their big chance to visit New York, or perhaps take in a matinee and they were missing out on their planned adventure. If they were not in a hurry to leave they probably enjoyed having one more lunch and a good laugh at the dumb stuck ship!   Lots of speculation would be going around for sure!

This old pink bus is now the Segway Tour office.  Practical recycling for a tiny island!

Getting a little windy back on board the Celebrity Silhouette.

Our sail away was very nice.  The ship quietly slipped sideways from the dock at Heritage Wharf.  We watched as the Captain deftly threaded his way our of the treacherous Bermuda reefs and safely took us into open waters of the the Atlantic Ocean. We went to lunch, and a talk by Alejandro on becoming a Cruise Director was our afternoon  entertainment.  Mostly we just enjoyed the beautiful sea turning bluer with every nautical mile.  Our balcony was catching the warmth of the sun.  Elva dozed for a while and I was reading before time to go back for one more trivia.  

Even the sunsets are pink in Bermuda!