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| Ready to explore with big smiles! |
Our first adventure day led us off the ship and into the heart of Rawson Square just south of our dock in the capital city of Nassau, Bahamas (184 nautical miles from Miami). We were immediately met by a throng of vendors, taxi drivers, and local guides so we scurried into the streets and headed directly toward our first point of interest, the Queen's Staircase.
The staircase is hidden in a 100 ft deep path cut into the limestone. This rock chasm was created when 600 slaves carved the limestone blocks to build a pathway up to Fort Fincastle.
There are at least three different stories about why this staircase was created, each one contradicts the other is some fashion, so I will leave the fact-checking to you if you would like more information.
This area has been used as a protective hideaway in the event of a hurricane. We were approached by a guide and he immediately gathered us together and recited his informative speech explaining the history of the Queen's Staircase area. The guide knew his speech well and recited it very quickly and quietly. The one fact that I remembered was that there were 65 steps leading from the floor of the limestone quarry to the top of the steps. We gave the guide a tip and proceeded up the steps and back into the hot sun.
Fort Fincastle and Water Tower loomed directly to our right and we walked past the vendors up a few steps into the main body of the fort. Again a guide met us and gave us his prepared information. The fellow pointed out various landmark buildings as well as gave us great detail about the various plants that surrounded the fort. When his speech was finished he gladly accepted our tip, pocketed the money and proceeded to round up his next group of tourists.
From the fort, we walked back down off the hilltop and into the city. Like many of the island towns we visited, the buildings were colorfully painted with wrought iron detailing, though the construction was quite simple. Most buildings were two-story square structures of very modest detail.
Our town tour led us back into Rawson Square where we tasted rum cake, looked at the market trinkets, and then headed back to ship.
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| Tree roots cover the limestone walls around us. |
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| A local guide explains the history of The Queen's Staircase. |
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| The Queen's Staircase. |
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| Lighthouse with the huge Atlantis Resort in the background |
The staircase is hidden in a 100 ft deep path cut into the limestone. This rock chasm was created when 600 slaves carved the limestone blocks to build a pathway up to Fort Fincastle.
Fort Fincastle and Water Tower loomed directly to our right and we walked past the vendors up a few steps into the main body of the fort. Again a guide met us and gave us his prepared information. The fellow pointed out various landmark buildings as well as gave us great detail about the various plants that surrounded the fort. When his speech was finished he gladly accepted our tip, pocketed the money and proceeded to round up his next group of tourists.
From the fort, we walked back down off the hilltop and into the city. Like many of the island towns we visited, the buildings were colorfully painted with wrought iron detailing, though the construction was quite simple. Most buildings were two-story square structures of very modest detail.
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