Thing to Do
Created by F23LuckyMD4F
Tue 06/13/06 (day 1)
Tomorrow Morning is The Day!!
We're planning to leave tomorrow morning, so I've been searching all over for reviews of the islands, and things to do. We wont have cell service once we're there, so I'm totally freaking about that. If I cant get online I'll absolutely go nuts. I do plan to be taking a camera and a tape recorder. I've made a small page of things that I want to know before we get to the Bahamas based on several reviews and sites. I'm sure that I'll be up all night tonight, so the list may get longer. Here it is:
Grand Bahamas
Coat of Arms, copied from Columbus’ boat, the Santa Maria.
National Motto: “Forward, Upward, Onward Together”
National Flag
http://www.thebahamian.com/ local Bahamas online newspaperCool Stuff to Know
“What to Do” is a major magazine for Bahamas activity planning. It’s free. Pick one up!
Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3 are currently being filmed in the Bahamas
Gambling- Bahamas residents are not allowed to gamble in the Casinos, and only US dollars are acceptable.
Dancing- Calypso is very popular, as well as limbo, the electric slide, fire dancing, and the“Dollar Wine Dance”
Gas
- is expected to be between 3-4$ a gallon, but is currently somewhere around %$ a gallon so we want to avoid that! Cabs have Zoned rates for specific locations, but the meter starts at 3$ 40 cent a mile and Additional passengers over 2 are 3$ each. We should buddy up on taxis with people and split the fair, if we can.Junkanoo
It is a holiday that is celebrated in memory of a John Canoe, a slave owner who allowed his slaves to have the day off for Christmas and New Years.
Jackets are REQUIRED for some dining facilities. Hmm, *92 in a sports coat should be fun for me, bad for my fiance, lol.
Freeport, The Grand Bahamas Island
Freeport is very close to Port Lucaya. The Grand Bahamas Island is composed mostly of nature reserves, but does offer some duty-free shopping (depending on the weather)
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“The only thing I would change if I had the chance to go back would be to take cash and leave the travelers checks at home! They charge a quarter for every one you use on the island. For me that was an added expense I didn't plan on.”“Just make sure you carry plenty of cash because the only atm they have at the airport does not take visa or mastercard, and the nearest atm is located at the market place or the casino. the taxi rides were a little bit too high but its ok you can bargain with the taxi drivers.”
International Bazaar
It is stretch of shopping with duty-free shopping on clothing and other hot items. It is divided into sections that represent different parts of the world (Africa, India, Oriental, South America…)
Shopping is 10am-6pm & Food is 7am-9pm Sunday is No shopping on Sundays!!
Since wines are international and duty-free, I think we should bring a souvenir of wine to your mom. 1 liter of wine and 5 cartons of cigarettes can be taken on departure from the island duty-free.
Gift values up to 50$ may be mailed home duty-free.
Bonfire on the Beach- 5 Jolly Roger Drive, includes some free drinks and a lot of drinking. Guests and staff are equally social
Nassau
Pineapple is very popular here.
The Bahamen Culture Club is located on Bay & Nassau streets, behind the Astoria Hotel
Average night clubbing time is 10pm-? Yeah! Drinking is a sport there : D
Crime in the Bahamas? The most common approach for criminals is to offer victims a ride, either as a “personal favor” or by claiming to be a taxi, and then robbing and/or assaulting the passenger once they are in the car. Ride Only in licensed taxis, identifiable by their yellow license plates. Although most criminal incidents take place in a part of Nassau not usually frequented by tourists, crime and violence has moved into more upscale tourist and residential areas. Criminals also target restaurants and nightclubs frequented by tourists.
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I'm so excited! The weather is expected to be about *80 and should feel about *92. We're looking at a cloudy week, with mostly rain. That seems to be common weather for April-July. I keep reading that everyone is so friendly, but the casinos are horrible. People keep writing things like, "Nobody ever wins" or "I didnt see any winners" Besides, if they forbid the islanders to gamble, why do they want visitors to gamble? I hope that my fiance will allow us to take hard cash, which seems to be the best idea, but he most likely wont.
Planned Activities
Wed 06/14/06 (day 2) - Freeport
Shopping
Shopping
Shopping
Restaurant
Fri 06/16/06 (day 4) - Freeport
Thing to Do
Mon 06/19/06 (day 7) - Nassau
Thing to Do
Restaurant
Restaurant
Tue 06/20/06 (day 8) - Nassau
Restaurant
Wed 06/21/06 (day 9) - Nassau
Thing to Do
Unscheduled - Freeport
Entertainment
People are SOOOOOOOO friendly!
The Bahamians are so friendly ...
I miss the crystal clear water , the soft white sand and
the ever so enchanting Bahamians..
If you cant afford bottled water then you will have to endure the taste of the salt water.
It is a beautiful island full of attractions but need to upgrade the airport and the mobile communication system.