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!
