Comparatively speaking, the conditions were much more favorable than the attempted exodus four days prior in the “flight from the cockroach.” Realistically speaking, the wind was blowing a sustained 15 knots and 3-4 foot seas rolled us around relentlessly for the next five hours making for an extremely rough ride further into the heart of the Bahamas. Halfway through the trip we came down particularly hard and one of the steel bolts on the radar arch snapped completely in half…a consequence of the constant beatings we have endured. Too scared to throw up as the arch banged against the side of the fly bridge, I grabbed the wheel to steady the boat as Duane climbed on the side to secure the detached portion with ropes before the whole arch, solar panels and all, came crashing down around us. That would sure have been a tragedy of epic proportions.
We were both more than ready to anchor in West Bay outside of New Providence as the sun hung low in the sky later in the day. Exhausted, we enjoyed a glass of wine and a beautiful sunset among 30 other boats swaying in the wind off of the beach–the sight of our next adventure.
Pulling anchor early the next morning, we were excited to enter the harbor and explore Nassau. We were also a little nervous about all the stories we have heard about crime running rampant on the docks. We had steel locks for pretty much everything that could be carried away and a security camera for added peace of mind while we ventured into town. It was protocol to radio the harbor and request permission to enter, so after doing just that, we were given clearance to proceed. As we turned passed the breakwater, seven cruise ships at dock came into view. Each was the size of a small city and we cringed imagining the throngs of people on the island who had disembarked from these vessels this morning. After filling the tank with gas, we made our way to the Nassau Harbor Marina where we had a slip for the next two days.
After getting situated, our first stop was to Potter’s Cay for lunch. Located under the bridge which led to Atlantis, the area was comprised of little shacks lined up one after the other serving a variety of local cuisine. As we walked by surveying our options, each proprietor tried to entice us into choosing their establishment by shouting out drink specials and specialty dishes as we walked passed. We settled for the shack at the end mainly because it was away from the crowds, but also so we had a view of the fishing boats and watched as they made their way in and out of the docks with their daily catch. It was a perfect choice all around as the meal of shrimp, pork and rice and beans was absolutely delicious.
After lunch and some people watching, we walked the area admiring some of the colonial architecture and took a stroll on the beach. Back toward the marina, we picked up some provisions in Fresh Market and had a drink overlooking the harbor before calling it a day. The tide was dead low upon our return and Duane had to tie a rope to the ladder in order for me to climb back aboard. If not, I would have been sleeping on the lounge chair by the pool. The price of being short I guess.
After spending the morning cleaning the interior and exterior of the boat and tackling the laundry, we walked over the bridge toward Atlantis. Located on Paradise Island, Atlantis was a premier resort with lush gardens, a spectacular water park, beach front property, an over the top aquarium, marine habitats, a renowned gold course on the ocean as well as a sprawling casino and virtually anything one can dream of to enjoy a fabulous vacation in the lap of luxury. We were enthralled by every inch of the magnificent property and after touring Marina Village decided we would treat ourselves to a night at the marina amongst the millionaires and their yachts on our trip back to the States. Grabbing a frozen drink, we worked our way around one of the 14 lagoons which were home to more than 50,000 aquatic animals. As some areas were accessible to guests only, I looked forward to returning to the water park in a few weeks and zipping down the slides on a hot day like this one.
Under the bridge we stopped into Anthony’s for Happy Hour and then grabbed dinner at Margaritaville. Sitting at the bar we had a fun night enjoying the beachy atmosphere, a live band and the beautiful weather. It was late in the evening when we rose to leave so the bartender called us a cab as it was not wise to walk around this area after dark.
Not in any rush the next morning as we were only going to anchor off Rose Island less than seven miles away, we filed the tanks with water, showered and had lunch. Captain Duane was in the engine room displeased with one of the “children” so I made myself scarce as he pleaded with the culprit to behave.
Rose Island is a private island surrounded by turquoise waters and coral reefs. A popular snorkeling area, in spite of the bull sharks which inhabit the waters, the tour boats motored in and out all day dropping people into the water. After watching for predators for almost an hour, Duane convinced me to jump in and wade around the boat with my snorkel gear. The underwater view was amazing but I was a little preoccupied with the notion of a shark barreling toward me to stay under water for any length of time. Duane didn’t help matters when he decided to grab my leg from behind and scared me half to death.
We decided to have a little booze cruise Happy Hour once the tour boats left heading back to the cruise ships and took Baby Belle to Sandy Cay. This was the epitome of what we envisioned for our Bahama experience…crystal blue waters, breathtaking sunsets and secluded beaches.
