  Nassau
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| Page Views: 1,869 Last Visit to Nassau: November, 2004 | Nassau in the Bahamas by starship - last update: Jan 28, 2007 |
Have a Great Day in Nassau!! The Bahamas are comprised of nearly 700 islands strung like pearls in an archipelago over a distance of 500 miles. In particular, Nassau is located on New Providence Island and possesses a happy mix of culture, beaches, resorts, shopp1ng, and history. Having visited Nassau 3 times by ship, I can say I always look forward to the first sight coming into view in Nassau's harbor--the Hog Island Lighthouse and the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island!! I love it as our ship glides into its berth at Prince George's Wharf and I look forward to arriving on Nassau's shore.
Regardless of the number of ships which have preceded us into harbor or the number of tourists that can be seen on the pier, I know it will be a good day in Nassau! The "stable" of ships lined up at Prince George Wharf are in themselves a treat for me and I love to see them and photograph them each and every time.
In the past we have limited ourselves to what we can see on foot or by water taxi. Visiting the Straw Market and taking the water taxi to Paradise Island to get one of the fabulous burgers at Murray's Delicatessen has been de rigor for us. However, the next time we visit I am determined to venture further afield to test the proverbial "waters" on New Providence Island and Nassau itself. |
| Postcard map of the Bahamas |
|  | Sad Plight of the Lucayans The Bahamas possess some interesting history dat1ng back to several hundred years B.C., the time period which is thought to be represented in archaelogical digs around the island. Lucayan Indians (from which Grand Lucaya Island gets its name) were the peaceful inhabitants who were farmers living mostly in thatch huts, making tools and pottery. When Christopher Columbus landed on San Salvador (Or Cat Island depending on the historian) in 1492, there were 40,000 Lucayans living on the scattered Bahama Islands. It is said that within 3 years time, Columbus enslaved the Indians shipping them to Hispanola to toil in his mines. Because of the hardships of slavery and disease brought by the Europeans, the whole tribe was decimated in 25 years' times...a tragedy in every sense of the word. |
| Pirates prepare to board a cruise ship! |
| | Blackbeard's Lair In days of old, pirates and privateers plied the waters of Caribbean and the coastal United States terrorizing, stealing and murdering many of the unfortunate sea merchants who crossed their paths. Privateers often worked both sides of the law, while pirates were indiscriminate about their prey whether on land or sea.
One of the most notorious pirates ever to sail the seas was one Edward Teach, a.k.a., "Blackbeard." So fearsome was his countenance that victims would often surrender before the first shot was fired. Teach was physically large and formidable and made himself even more so by lighting on fire the hemp woven in his beard!! Then he would stand on deck with his fiery beard brandishing swords, knives and pistols!
While calling Nassau his home, his followers declared him as a sort of magistrate over the "Privateers' Republic" where Edward Teach WAS the law. In 1718, a new Roayl Governor by the name of Woodes Rogers arrived and quickly set about eliminating all pirates but especially Blackbeard. Blackbeard was trapped off the coast of Virginia and mortally wounded by Navy. He was then decapitated and his head hung on the ship's rigging for all to see. During Blackbeard's pirating spree which spanned only 5 years, he captured at least 40 ships. His legend still lives on in the Caribbean and the southeast coast of the United States.
Other well-known pirates in the Caribbean were John Rackham, known as "CALICO JACK", Sir Henry Morgan, and 2 female pirates of much note, Anne Bonney and Mary Read. You will find name references to these famous pirates in many places: cays named for them, rum cakes, stamps with their likenesses, etc. Today Captain Jack Sparrow" of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean puts a friendly and amusing face to the pirate legend, unlike the fearsome & often vicious creatures they really were. |
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| Pros: | "Beaches, sealife, shopp1ng, and friendly people" | | Cons: | "Can be quite hot and humid, hurricanes!" | | In A Nutshell: | "It's always a good day in Nassau!!" |
starship's Nassau Travel Tips
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volopolo Thu May 1, 2008 21:19 UTC
Useful information! | LoriPori Mon Mar 24, 2008 14:04 UTC
What a great place Nassau is. It was one of our stops on our cruise also. Loved the Straw Market and Paradise Island info. | loisl Wed Dec 12, 2007 22:03 UTC
Great tips, Sylvia! So bad; there was no VT when we had been on the Bahamas, 15 years ago...Cheers, Peter | Gillybob Thu Oct 25, 2007 14:48 UTC
I'm hoping to make it to the Caribbean early next year! Gillybob greetings |
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