Aloha to Royal Caribbean Weekend Cruise - Queen's Staircase

 

I walked from Fort Fincastle to the cruise ship via the Queen's Staircase. From Bahamas.com,

The Queen's Staircase, commonly referred to as the 66 steps, is a major landmark that is located in the Fort Fincastle Historic Complex in Nassau. It was hewn out of solid limestone rock by slaves between 1793 and 1794 and it is said that it provided a direct route from Fort Fincastle to Nassau City. These steps were later named in honour of Queen Victoria, who reigned in Britain for 64 years from 1837 to 1901.

From the top looking down ...

... and from the bottom looking up.

The staircase creates a topical paradise in the limestone hill.

Mother Nature at her best.

Here's the defense ship ...

... in front of the Enchantment of the Seas!  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 7, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll publish the winner on Sunday, November 8, at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Towel art in our cabin.

Aloha to Royal Caribbean Weekend Cruise - Fort Fincastle

 

After our Segway Tour, the shuttle took my friends back to the port ... but I asked the driver to take me to Fort Fincastle. From nassauparadiseisland.com,

Erected in 1793, Fort Fincastle was named after British captain Lord Dunmore—and his second title, Viscount Fincastle—who had it built to protect Nassau Harbour and watch for encroaching pirates. Since it was located atop Bennet’s Hill, the highest point on New Providence Island, the fort provided fantastic views of Nassau and Paradise Island as well as the eastern approaches to New Providence. Its appearance alone must have been daunting enough to all would-be marauders since its cannons were never fired! Open seven days a week, 8:00am to 4:00pm.

The fort was constructed from limestone in the surrounding hills, creating the Queen's Staircase which I'll spotlight tomorrow.

  

Fort Fincastle is shaped like a steam paddler ... thus nicknamed the ship that goes nowhere.  It reminded me of Blackness Castle near Edinburgh, Scotland (link) - it is also shaped like a ship!

Although the castle was closed, it still intrigued me!

The cannons were never fired ...

... but the castle gives an excellent view of Paradise Island ...

... home of the Atlantis resort.

I also spied the three cruise ships docked in Nassau.  Do you have a favorite castle?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts win a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 7, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 8.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Royal Caribbean Weekend Cruise - Nassau Segway Tour

On Saturday afternoon, my friends and I donned hair nets ...

... and bike helmets for the Nassau Segway Tours.  From its website (link),

Explore Nassau’s spectacular blue waters and beaches, as you and your Segway glide along the walkways lining Nassau Harbor. Your tour starts just a mile from the cruise ship port, where our complementary van drops you off at our home-base, located just behind the Cricket Club. Here you will be assigned a Segway, meet your tour guide and receive a brief orientation and personal training. You will be surprised at the ease with which young and old alike learn to master riding the Segway.

Now it’s time to experience first-hand the Segway’s amazing abilities as you and your Segway roll along scenic Nassau Harbor to Junkanoo Beach. Here you make your turn back toward the sights and sounds of the colorful collection of local restaurants and bars known the world over simply as “The Fish Fry” for a brief break and a chance to purchase refreshments. Next, your new found skills are apparent as you and your Segway have some good natured competition with the other guests on our low- activities course and enjoy a great view of historic Fort Charlotte atop the hill just above you.

I was curious about Fort Charlotte.   From the Bahamas website (link)

Built in 1788 by Lord Dunmore the fort was named after the wife of King George III, Queen Saharia Charlotte. The middle bastion, Ft. Stanley and the western portion, Ft. D'Arcy were added later.

This fort has a moat, dungeons, underground passageways and 42 cannons, which have never been fired in an act of aggression.

Our tour guide, Amine, introduced us to Goombay Punch - a carbonated pineapple drink bottled in the Bahamas by Coca Cola.  I loved it!

Amine also introduced us to the "Fish Fry" - a row of fish stalls turned into restaurants which delights locals and tourists alike. Twin Brothers was featured in the finale of Top Chef All Stars.

We tried fried conch - it was delicious!  Would you have tried the fried conch or Goombay punch?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts wins a book choice from my convention stash.   Comments are open through Saturday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 1, at SOS Aloha!

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Majestic tree at the foot of Fort Charlotte.

Aloha to Royal Caribbean Cruise Weekend - Junkanoo Beach

Junkanoo Beach is a short walk from the cruise ship piers.  It offers everything you would expect from a Bahama Beach ... white sand, Caribbean music, and coconuts galore.

I walked out onto the jetty, finding a new friend.

Across the channel is the tip of Paradise Island with a historic lighthouse and more lush beaches.

Ah, this is the life!

Three ships brought tourists to Nassau ... our ship, the Enchantment of the Seas, is sandwiched in the middle.

Who doesn't love coconuts?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 1 at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Below is a satellite image of Nassau on New Providence Island, the lower land mass.  Junkanoo is the thin white strip to the right of the white rectangle.

Aloha to Royal Caribbean Cruise Weekend - Nassau, Bahamas

 

Our ship, the Enchantment of the Seas, pulled into Nassau, Bahamas, with the help of the pilot boat.  From the Bahamas website (link),

Nassau, the capital city of The Bahamas, is located on 21-mile-long New Providence, our 11th largest island. Nassau’s main harbor is protected by Paradise Island. The harbor attracted settlers in the early days, particularly pirates. In fact, Nassau’s population consisted mainly of pirates until 1718, when The Bahamas first Royal Governor, Woodes Rogers expelled them, restored order and built Fort Nassau. The Bahamas for centuries adopted Rogers’ motto, “Expulsis Piratis, Restituta Commercia,” which means, “Pirates Expelled, Commerce Restored.” Now, 212,000 people call New Providence Island home, with a large portion of them residing in Nassau.

My friends posed in front of our ship before their shopping adventure.

Of course I took time to take a picture of a ship from the Royal Bahamas Defense Force.

My group stopped in the famous Straw Market ...

... where you can find anything made of straw!

Nassau is also home to duty free shopping, including iconic watches from Little Switzerland!

I left my friends to venture into the neighborhoods outside the shopping district ...

... including the Christ Church Cathedral.  From its website (link),

Christ Church Cathedral is the "Mother Church" of all of the Anglican churches in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. In 1670, King Charles II granted the colony (of the Bahamas) to the Lord Proprietors of Carolina. The Proprietors were instructed to "build churches and chapels in furtherance of the Christian Religion." 

The staff was preparing for a wedding but allowed me to snap a few photos.

Again from its website, 

The building is of Gothic architecture. It is made of locally quarried cut lime-stone blocks, which are held together primarily - though not entirely - by their size and the weight of gravity rather than by cement.

I noticed this beautiful mural ...

... en route to the beach.

Next stop:  Junkanoo Beach.

Do you have a favorite souvenir?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts win a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City