Nassau Excursions
Nassau Walking Tour
Our Nassau Adventure started right off the pier, or Prince George Wharf (that is where the ship ports), now when departing to Nassau make sure to bring Photo-ID security is tight on these wharf’s these days. Now Nassau is reasonably safe, if you have never been to Nassau before the busy streets can be really intimidating, with many locals hustling aggressively, if you walk a few streets in the streets do empty, and as long as you have a companion you will be safe. I recommend that you do bring a few extra dollars cash with you just in case you do have to ask someone for directions. There are a lot of panhandlers that may offer services as “tour guides” just be firm with them and don’t get sucked in.
The first thing we did was pick-up a free tourist map which our distributed on the Wharf. From there we left the Wharf and turned right onto Bay St. We spent some time looking at the shops up the streets; we found them to be a little overpriced and nothing that we could not buy at home. They did of course have the usual touristy souvenirs such as ash trays, glasses, t-shirts, towels and sun-wear.
At the corner of Bay St and George St. (keeping going straight on Bay St) is the famous (or infamous) Straw Market. Now if you are going to spend some time shopping this is the place to do it. The Straw Market has some lovely items including lots of t-shirts, knock off purses, kitschy tourist items and many other things a tourist would buy in the heat of the moment. There were a lot of purses there that day; I mean a lot of purses, that I was actually sucked in a bought one. There are also a lot of copy cat straw items (hence the name) but it appeared to be locally made, there were some vendors adding little cut out decorations to the front of some of the items, if that counts.
The reality of this place those, is that these vendors are trying to make a living off of the cruise ship, so therefore they are very, very pushy. You either love it or hate it. If you are not used to aggressively bargaining or dealing with outdoor type vendors, the atmosphere of the straw market, where the vendors are extremely aggressive, will make you feel very uncomfortable. You are expected to bargain, and if you don’t like doing that, you won’t enjoy the experience.
Side Note for Beach lovers: If you keep following Bay St. west to the beaches of Western Esplanade and the seafood vendors of Arawak Cay.
We turned left up George St. to our next stop which was Christ Church. This beautiful Cathedral in simple Gothic style and square tower was started in 1837 and consecrated in 1845. The interior has a fine set of stained glass windows, an impressive organ, and a mahogany ceiling. If you check out the memorial plaques from the 1800s documenting the life histories of local residents and their death in shipwreck, of yellow fever, etc. Amazing.
Right across from the church is Pirates Museum, which if you have young kids (not as young as ours), will love it, but you will have to explain these are real pirates not disney pirates. It is a interactive museum that actually gives you factual information on Pirates of the Indies their backgrounds and lifestyles. Also if you need a break like we did by now there is good food in the cool courtyard and this is one gift shop you do not want to miss out on, we bought these boys these cute onesies… too bad they will be sleeping through the party, I actually bought like all the sizes they had available for them, they will come in handy with all our pirate adventures. The staff at the museum is outstanding, they were helpful, friendly and knowledgeable and did their best to promote the hospitality of Nassau and the Bahamas, and I am talking about all staff from the greeters to the sale assistants and especially the Managers. Here is a link to he Pirates of Nassau Website if you are interested in finding out more: http://www.pirates-of-nassau.com/museum.htm
After the pirate museum, we kept following George St to the end, and peer through the gates of the Government House (you can’t actually go in). Then turned left again, cross Market St., and made our way uphill on winding Peck Slope to Hill St. for a commanding view of the port. Follow Hill St to its end, turn right on East St. to Prison Lane, and follow the lane up to the Water Tower and Fort Fincastle. You will get some wonderful pictures and views from up there. We actually took the boys out of their carriers and got some nice family pictures. The View is gorgeous. Now you exit via, the remarkable Queen Staircase which is a large staircase carved from stone, built from slave labor. I would recommend if you do want to visit the Fort and Stair case that you do it during the day and with someone, even with my husband who is one of the most extraverted person I know, we felt a little skeptical and the place appears a little bit dodgy.
At the bottom of the Queen’s Staircase there is a small “straw market” where the vendors seemed a lot friendlier then the ones at the famous Straw Market. There was a man with a truck full of fresh coconuts and he would make you a very refreshing drink either with or without alcohol. I had without alcohol and DH had his with alcohol, I actually preferred it with alcohol I can’t explain it but it just tasted better.
From there is was getting time for the boys next bottle, so we decided it would be wise to head back to the ship, After the staircase, we followed Elizabeth St. down the hill. Turn left onto Shirley St., then right onto Parliament St. to view the Library (Old Jail) and the statue of Queen Victoria in Parliament Square. From there, it’s a short walk back to the wharf.
The first thing we did was pick-up a free tourist map which our distributed on the Wharf. From there we left the Wharf and turned right onto Bay St. We spent some time looking at the shops up the streets; we found them to be a little overpriced and nothing that we could not buy at home. They did of course have the usual touristy souvenirs such as ash trays, glasses, t-shirts, towels and sun-wear.
At the corner of Bay St and George St. (keeping going straight on Bay St) is the famous (or infamous) Straw Market. Now if you are going to spend some time shopping this is the place to do it. The Straw Market has some lovely items including lots of t-shirts, knock off purses, kitschy tourist items and many other things a tourist would buy in the heat of the moment. There were a lot of purses there that day; I mean a lot of purses, that I was actually sucked in a bought one. There are also a lot of copy cat straw items (hence the name) but it appeared to be locally made, there were some vendors adding little cut out decorations to the front of some of the items, if that counts.
The reality of this place those, is that these vendors are trying to make a living off of the cruise ship, so therefore they are very, very pushy. You either love it or hate it. If you are not used to aggressively bargaining or dealing with outdoor type vendors, the atmosphere of the straw market, where the vendors are extremely aggressive, will make you feel very uncomfortable. You are expected to bargain, and if you don’t like doing that, you won’t enjoy the experience.
Side Note for Beach lovers: If you keep following Bay St. west to the beaches of Western Esplanade and the seafood vendors of Arawak Cay.
We turned left up George St. to our next stop which was Christ Church. This beautiful Cathedral in simple Gothic style and square tower was started in 1837 and consecrated in 1845. The interior has a fine set of stained glass windows, an impressive organ, and a mahogany ceiling. If you check out the memorial plaques from the 1800s documenting the life histories of local residents and their death in shipwreck, of yellow fever, etc. Amazing.
Right across from the church is Pirates Museum, which if you have young kids (not as young as ours), will love it, but you will have to explain these are real pirates not disney pirates. It is a interactive museum that actually gives you factual information on Pirates of the Indies their backgrounds and lifestyles. Also if you need a break like we did by now there is good food in the cool courtyard and this is one gift shop you do not want to miss out on, we bought these boys these cute onesies… too bad they will be sleeping through the party, I actually bought like all the sizes they had available for them, they will come in handy with all our pirate adventures. The staff at the museum is outstanding, they were helpful, friendly and knowledgeable and did their best to promote the hospitality of Nassau and the Bahamas, and I am talking about all staff from the greeters to the sale assistants and especially the Managers. Here is a link to he Pirates of Nassau Website if you are interested in finding out more: http://www.pirates-of-nassau.com/museum.htm
After the pirate museum, we kept following George St to the end, and peer through the gates of the Government House (you can’t actually go in). Then turned left again, cross Market St., and made our way uphill on winding Peck Slope to Hill St. for a commanding view of the port. Follow Hill St to its end, turn right on East St. to Prison Lane, and follow the lane up to the Water Tower and Fort Fincastle. You will get some wonderful pictures and views from up there. We actually took the boys out of their carriers and got some nice family pictures. The View is gorgeous. Now you exit via, the remarkable Queen Staircase which is a large staircase carved from stone, built from slave labor. I would recommend if you do want to visit the Fort and Stair case that you do it during the day and with someone, even with my husband who is one of the most extraverted person I know, we felt a little skeptical and the place appears a little bit dodgy.
At the bottom of the Queen’s Staircase there is a small “straw market” where the vendors seemed a lot friendlier then the ones at the famous Straw Market. There was a man with a truck full of fresh coconuts and he would make you a very refreshing drink either with or without alcohol. I had without alcohol and DH had his with alcohol, I actually preferred it with alcohol I can’t explain it but it just tasted better.
From there is was getting time for the boys next bottle, so we decided it would be wise to head back to the ship, After the staircase, we followed Elizabeth St. down the hill. Turn left onto Shirley St., then right onto Parliament St. to view the Library (Old Jail) and the statue of Queen Victoria in Parliament Square. From there, it’s a short walk back to the wharf.
