A place where everyone loves Ron.

[drron]

Sorry.Computer problems.Nothing but trouble since Windows 10 installed.Finally restored to a couple of weeks ago and now not so bad.

So back to Bahamasair.Boarding time was delayed by about 25 minutes.Boarded rows 10-20,then from 5-20 and of course we were in row 4.When boarding was called for Row 1 and back only 3 of us left to board.Not surprisingly rows 1-4 were nearly full.Fortunately though 4D was empty so I moved out of my middle seat.The major problem was an extended Mexican family of 7 in the 3 rows in front of us.They were extremely loud,disruptive and disobedient.The patriarch was told 3 times to turn off his phone as we taxied out to take off.On the 3rd occasion the FA confiscated his phone.But as soon as the FA was seated and buckled up he took another phone out of his pocket and started again-he was only playing a game on the phone.By the time we started rolling down the runway all 7 had a device turned on.
More annoying to me was the young boy in 3D who would continually lurch forward and then hurl himself backwards.Each time my tray table would drop.Finally I had had enough and slammed it back so hard he nearly made contact with the seat in front.The father turned around obviously to have a go at me but realised that if looks could kill he would be dead so said nothing.

Service-absolutely none.The FAs sat in their jump seats and talked to each other.On landing the 7 in front of us were still glued to their screens so we were first off.So straight through Immigration,collected our bags-first off! and through customs and in our taxi to the Hilton in 10 minutes.Fare is supposedly fixed by the Government at $27.Driver says $30.Well he was going to get a $3 tip so ended up still getting $30 only.
Arrived at the Hilton checkin to be greeted by-"Why are you so late".Hmmm.Booking was in mrsdrron's name as had got a sale price which included continental brekkie,wifi and double points.A little shocked to get an exec floor upgrade as she is only silver.But then the kicker-the Exec lounge is closed as we have dignitaries here.The exec room is obviously no different to those on lowere floors as really quite small-

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There is a separate shower behind the bathroom door.The view though was reasonable-

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You get a good view of the arriving cruise ships-this the Disney Dream.

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[patnlcc]

Agree completely about Windows 10, Ron. We gave it a shot but have now uninstalled it.

 

[drron]

Back to Nassau.I went for a walk the next morning.As Roo Flyer has said you only have to go back 3-4 streets from the waterfront to loose sight of the day trippers.Certainly lots of interesting buildings.The second picture is their Art Gallery-

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The last 2 are the entrances to Government House.Unlike Roo Flyer I was not allowed in as there was a Reception for "dignitaries".The Lovely lady from the RBDF did say I could come back in the afternoon but after a 4 hour walk in the heat I didn't feel like it.So some Government and Commercial buildings and one of the pedestrian ways up or down the hill-

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[drron]

More of my walk around Nassau-

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The last 2 are of the Royal Victoria Gardens.The buildings were the first tourist hotel in the Bahamas.Openned in 1861 and was full for the next few years due to the "American"problems.Wouldn't like to walk on the balcony of that second building-

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Then I headed for the highest part of Nassau-

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[drron]

Fort Fincastle and the water tower.Great views over the Hilton,floating hotels and a little shack on Paradise Island-

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A new development to the East and view to the west-

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[drron]

Going back to town from the fort the best way is the Queen's stairs.Built by hand by slaves.There were 66 steps now 65.A cool oasis-

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And outside the main hospital I actually caught a hummingbird.Though it was a brilliant green in colour-

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The hospital looked pretty good having openned in the 50s-

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The doctor's hospital was obviously private having one of these at the door-

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[drron]

The walk continues-

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Some things are the same the world over-

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And Atlantis from sea level-

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And then the garbage boat goes past-

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[drron]

Walking back towards the main road-

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Now you can just lie back and think of Queen Victoria.

 

[drron]

So the last of Saturday in Nassau-

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Late lunch at Senor frog's.Turned out to be cheaper and better at the Hilton-

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AS always I dress sensibly whilst travelling-

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The seagulls did enjoy the fries-

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Ended up costing $US78 with 2 drinks,fish and chips and a chicken burrito.Everywhere charges a 15% service fee.Definitely not great value and suggest you look elsewhere to eat unless you enjoy the many loud,drunken,scantily clad cruisers.

 

[drron]

That night at the Hilton we went down to the pool bar to have our complimentary drinks only to find them closing.So back to the main bar where they were setting up for a wedding reception.The house whites were reasonable-South African so mrsdrron had her SB and I a pinotage.We had a snack of lobster fritters-really nice-

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So Sunday arrives.A lazy day until we get a taxi to the Explorer~1300.It certainly was within walking distance but with crowds of people,uneven sidewalks,temperature of 30C and humidity of 95% discretion it was.
Easy through Immigration but my computer bag was put through the Xray 4 times before being cleared-but probably now germ free.So here we are-

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Lunch on the Explorer is buffet style and in these climes also a pool deck option.Here are the desserts and half the salads on sailing day at lunch-

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There was a chilli beef and basil stir fry which I had.The beef tender and tasty and for a change a nice bit of spice.I enjoyed it.
The view from our balcony-

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[drron]

Sail away-

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Senor Frog ans the straw market-

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The Hilton-

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[drron]

The pilot leaves-

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to dinner that first night.Here is the menu.Fairly typical of what we have had on SS in the past-

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We both started with the smoked duck breast,Mrsdrron had the pork dish and I the roast beef.We both finished with the coconut and lime pudding-

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We both enjoyed our meal.Mrsdrron enjoyed the pudding so much she said she could eat it for breakfast.So at breakfast we are each presented with said pudding.

 

[drron]

Sunset-

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Moonrise-

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Then an eclipse-

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And the special bonus.The Super Harvest Blood Moon-

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The next day was a seaday.Was going to spend some time on the computer but it decided to go on strike not doing anything properly or recognising wifi signals.Eventually did a restore and things then back to normal.
There are only 71 pax on this cruise.We were expecting more.Unfortunately 54 are from Captain's Choice and that will come to cause a few problems-not from the individual passengers but their tour escorts.But today a couple of lectures.Several South American staff on the Expedition team including 2 Colombians and 3 from Ecuador.Also a German geologist with a French name who lives in Belgium but lived in Ecuador for 10 years and has had many stays in Cuba-Pieere.He gave a great talk on Cuban history pre-Castro.

Tonight was the Captain's coughtail reception.After that we had dinner with the staff captain and enjoyed our lobster.

Next-arriving in Cuba.

 

[drron]

Now our entrance into Havana before sunrise.

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[drron]

Sunrise over Havana-

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[drron]

Scenes around the harbour-

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Off on our first tour around Havana.On the way to our first stop,Morro Castle-

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Now at the fort and its great views over Havana-

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[drron]

The view from Fort Morro to Havana and La Cabana-

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And more of the fort-

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Never lose a chance for some hero worship-

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[drron]

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Leaving the fort and a sight that was common-

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Some random shots from the bus window finishing with the Hotel Nacional-the former Mob headquarters.

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[drron]

More random shots-

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So we now arrive at Revolution Plaza surrounded by Government buildings-

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[drron]

were told that the vultures flying above the monument was a sign of rain.Not much later the vultures were proven right-

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You may notice that the rain has begun-

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More random shots-

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