Tag: Nassau

Snorkling in Nassau

Day 7, Friday, September 16, 2016

Nassau
Nassau

Last port of call on this voyage, Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. We arrived midday. Fortunately, we docked with our room on the shady side so mom was able to enjoy the balcony while I went on shore. I had to stand in the hot afternoon sun for about a half hour while the excursion leader collected tickets and brought the group to the dock where we boarded the catamaran. I was glad I had slathered on sunscreen before leaving.

Seahorse Sail and Snorkel

I went on a Seahorse Sail and Snorkel excursion, sitting on the net at the end of the boat. The sail was down on our 35-minute ride to the coral reef, but it was up on the return. Dennis and I had been on this reef before, but it was still beautiful. In addition to the Caribbean fish, I saw a stingray and what I think was a grouper or a garfish. We had one hour to explore the reef and I did not board the catamaran a second early—I was enjoying myself so much. The crew offered us a rum punch on the return trip, but it was like Kool-Aid and I did not like it. The taste didn’t stop the majority of the passengers from consuming multiple glassfuls. Why is it that people over indulge when things are free, even when not good? I guess I am either too old to let my hair down or more discriminating.

After mom cashed in her casino winnings, we packed our bags and sat on the balcony as the Harvest Supermoon rose over the water. Even in Miami the next morning, the large moon was visible.

Harvest Supermoon over Miami
Harvest Supermoon over Miami

Disembarkation in the morning was well-organized and we were soon on our bus heading home. Even though the experienced driver knew the way, we didn’t arrive in Sarasota until 3:40 PM.

Friday, December 10: Nassau, Bahamas

Thursday, December 9: Day at sea

This morning’s server did bring me a bran muffin, but not toasted. As the Rolling Stones said, “You can’t always get what you want.”

We attended the luncheon dinner theater Presumed Innocent, an improv comedy show about a murder aboard the ship. This was a lot of fun and the audience participation is what made it so.

We were able to reschedule the show we missed the night before. Contrary to the one we say in April, this Legends performance featured Steven Tyler, Katy Perry, and Elvis. This high-energy show kept the audience hopping and clapping to the music. I commend the impersonators; not only did they sound like the originals, but looked and moved like them as well.

I finished reading Nada, A historical thriller by Arthur J. Penn. I learned a lot about Fascism in Italy and Spain, something I knew very little about. This is a good read, which I recommend.

Friday, December 10: Nassau, capital and largest city of the Bahamas

We docked at noon and took off for another snorkeling adventure, the Seashore Sail and Snorkel, that promised visiting two reefs and unlimited rum punch on the return trip. Even though we only went to one reef and had inferior drinks, it was a wonderful excursion. The moment I put my face mask into the water, I was in a colorful undersea world surrounded by a school of Sergeant Majors and other tropical sea life. There were cyan-colored fish with golden-yellow spines, stained-glass looking aquatic animals, blue tangs, huge angel fish, tube worms, fan coral, brain coral, and a coral that look like giant cauldrons. At the reef, there are poisonous or toxic marine life, and we saw the stinging wasp, the Touch-Me-Not Sponge, branching coral, bearded fireworm, and black urchins.

The water was choppy, but we floated easily with the life vests. We were glad we took our personal snorkeling gear with us.  The float tubes on the snorkel prevented saltwater from getting into our mouths; those using the gear provided by the crew found it more difficult to peer into the underwater world. After an hour, I was shivering and glad to board the catamaran.

After dinner, we packed our bags and I won our tie-breaking Scrabble game.  After a week at sea, both of us look forward to returning home, eager to start writing and preparing presentations.