Touring the Island by lafalot

Posted on March 16 2009 at 11:23 AM

I decided to visit a few sights I hadn't found yet. One was Queen Elizabeth's stairway. I also wanted to see the US Embassy. The other was the government grounds - kind of like our congress and senate.

Where to start. How about the embassy. Well, how about NOT! I walked over there with camera in hand. I must truly be naive. I thought they would have visiting hours. Nope. I thought the guards would be civil. NOPE! One stopped me and asked what I wanted. I explained I just wanted to see the embassy. He asked if I had business there. I said no, I am a US citizen and it is US soil, so I thought I might visit. I was told in no uncertain terms that is not allowed. I asked what would happen if I had a problem and needed to see someone in the embassy. He said I would be allowed in. I said I had a problem. He said I was lying because I had already said I didn't have a problem. Little did he know I always have problems, just nothing the embassy can solve. Well, he and I began bickering like adolescent siblings. Can to! Can not! Can to! Can not! Jerk, idiot... it just degenerated into name calling. I realized things were getting rather heated and I might soon be carted away. I left saying he didn't have to be so rude. I am not sure what he said. He saw my camera and said I couldn't even take a picture. I got even though, I took a picture from the balcony of my hotel. Notice the satellite dishes. HA HA HA

Well, I looked on the map and it didn't look too far to the stairway thing, so I headed out. I had my trusty map in hand along with my camera and walking shoes. Well, I walked, and walked, and walked some more. I was beginning to think my navigation skills were lacking and I was lost. I was also in a part of town I didn't really want to find myself in. Once again, as in St. Vincent, I stood out like a marshmallow in a bucket of coal, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I came across the local museum of Nassau history. I ventured inside, thinking that this would make the trek somewhat fruitful even if I didn't make it to the staircase. I learned about the settlers of the island and the slaves gaining their freedom. I saw artifacts recovered from sunken pirate ships and trade vessels.

I then asked where this staircase was. I beginning to think it was just a figment of someone's imagination. It didn't really exist, but it looked good in the tourist brochures. I was told by a nice fellow it was just up the hill. Well, I started out but after looking at the path I was to take I decided it might be even less safe than what I had already traveled. I sheepishly turned around but was stopped by the directions providing fellow. He came running after me and said I was going the wrong way. Well, he was so intent on me going to the staircase I turned around and headed back up the hill. I tried to find another way out, one that the fellow couldn't see, but had no luck. So, I continued up the hill, walking on stones, dirt and gravel next to a one car wide street that had vehicles going both ways. Once I nearly had to jump on a stone wall to escape an oncoming taxi.

Well, in spite of my best effort to avoid climbing the entire way, I soon found myself at this staircase. It was actually rather interesting. I found out that the ocean shore actually was much further inland than it is now. The water reached the staircase and it was used to climb from the ships to the fort at the top of the hill. There is a big trench carved out of the rock. They used this carved out stone to build the fort at the top of the hill. There are still places that show where the blocks were carved. There are also areas carved into the rock sides that were used to climb down onto the boats docked in the inlet.

So, with mission accomplished I headed back down to the town. I was very relieved to find a way that was not quite so difficult to travel and reached a more civilized area quickly. I ended up in the government commons area. It was interesting that you can just walk all around the campus, onto the porches of the buildings. Note the parking spaces for the speaker of the hours and senate.

I was not really sure of my location, but I figured that I could walk until I found the ocean and then turn left. I continued in this manner and soon saw the cruise ships. I then knew my plan was working. However, I had blocks and blocks to walk. It turns out I walked over two miles to that damn staircase thing, and that meant I had to walk to back. It wasn't bad though. I browsed some stores and went to the straw market. When I finally was able to see my hotel, I was REALLY GLAD! I was tired. I made it to the hotel and the lounge. With some refreshment in hand I collapsed on the balcony - and took my picture of the embassy!

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Nassau

Posted on March 16 2009 at 11:05 AM

For a true Bahamian experience, relax. On our island, life is easy. English is spoken, and American dollars are on par with Bahamian dollars. In this section you'll find other practical, good-to-know-before-you-go information. Which leaves you plenty of time to read about our culture and the Arawak Indians, Spanish invaders, pirates, British Colonialists, West Africans and local folk who’ve all been part of our interesting history.


Learn a little about being Bahamian. And get excited about your trip – we’re looking forward to having you.The powdery white sand beaches and tropical turquoise waters in Nassau/Paradise Island are the perfect backdrop for exchanging your vows. From intimate ceremonies to elaborate affairs, your dream destination wedding and honeymoon can become a reality in Paradise. All through The Islands of The Bahamas, music is woven deeply into the fabric of daily life, so much so that one of the nicknames given to our archipelago is the Islands of Song. Musical traditions here reflect both the impact of history on the islands and a homegrown, distinctively national character.

Blues and spirituals made their way down from the American South and took on a Bahamian flavor – in breezy shoreside church choirs where "rhyming spirituals" are sung, and on homemade guitars in the hands of virtuoso performers like the legendary Joseph Spence and his contemporary Israel Forbes.

Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 260,000 (2008 census), nearly 80 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas (330,000). Lynden Pindling International Airport, the major airport for The Bahamas, is located about 10 miles (16 kilometres) west of Nassau city centre, and has daily flights to major cities in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and the Caribbean. To find the cheapest trip to Nassau contact TropicalTravel.net. The city is located on the island of New Providence, which functions much like a federal district. While there is no local government, it is governed directly as an administrative division of the national government.

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