and then there was nausau

After disembarkation (fancy ocean talk for getting off the ship), almost immediately, we hopped onto a horse-drawn buggy for an historical tour of Nausau. Learned many things about the Bahamas, particularly how much we didn't know about Nausau. (Another addition to my list of things to google or go to the library about.)

Our driver was a pro. As was his horse. At one point, he hopped off of the buggy and told the horse to stop so he could pick up a tire from the buggy in front of us that had fallen off. Those two were pretty entertaining. It seemed that someone on every corner knew the driver and his horse. I asked how long he had been driving carriages and he replied, "Since I was eight, mon." No wonder Nausau knew him.

Next we hopped on a ferry to Pleasure Island. Or at least that's what I remember it being called. On the ferry ride, the tour guide pointed out Mick Jagger's place, Nicholas Cage's place, and Mary Kay's place--the pink Mary Kay makeup lady, not the twin Mary Kate and Ashley. Then we cruised by the Atlantis, a resort that previously was a ClubMed. He claimed that there was a suite of rooms that rented for $25k per night with a four-night minimum, but our buggy driver said it was a seven-night minimum, so I'm not sure who I believe. The ferry guide said that Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, and many others had stayed there and we could go home and save up because it was reserved for at least the next ten years. Mon. Hilarious. Yeh Mon.

After leaving the ferry, we made our way to the beach. Luckily for us, a taxi drove up and offered to take us to the beach to save us some time. We both rode for $2 each. He was entertaining as well.

At the beach, I decided to test the waves and as usual ended up completely submersed, with the waves rolling me this way and that, and as usual, I was wearing my clothes, not a swimsuit. Every time I came up for air, Jack would point out that my hair and my face and my whole self was covered with sand. We learned later that the sand is made of crushed seashells, which somehow explains why it was stickier than usual sand. So sticky that Jack couldn't get it off of his feet. Without help from my $5 Smile Mon t-shirt. While we worked on his feet, we couldn't help but notice the Sopranos-type crew renting beach chairs and umbrellas, and selling Bahama Mamas and other tropical drinks. It was just what you would have expected.

After sufficient sunburning and splashing and rolling in waves and crushed seashells, we walked back to the taxi stop place where we ended up in another van back towards Nausau. This time though, the driver took us through the back alleys and neighborhoods. It was a completely different version of Nausau. People living in cardboard shacks. Every now and then, a brightly painted house, pink and aqua, with a sign indicating that mama's cooking was for sale inside. And that is where the locals were going to eat lunch. It made for a more complete look at Nausau.

All in all, Nausau was itself. The bright tropical colors, palm trees, colorful people-- not of color, but interesting, friendly, welcoming. Touristy locations, historical locations, and regular citizen locations. All wonderful to see. Realizing that 80% of the population works in the tourist industry and they really hustle to make a buck. And seem so happy with what they have. Lovely.