Nassau

February 7, 2012 · Filed under Travel · Tagged British Colonist Hotel, Cenotaph, Christ Church Cathedral, Garden of Remembrance, House of Parliament, Jacaranda House, Nassau, Nassau Public Library, The Bahamas

For me, one of the best parts of Ian’s job is travelling with him if he has to go somewhere for work. That is the way I got to visit Trinidad, and now Nassau, (and I am always happy to bump up my country count).

We had a choice of three hotels to stay in, one on Paradise Island, one on Cable Beach, but we chose the British Colonist which is right in Nassau

 and I am very glad we did. Not only was it an amazing hotel,

with wonderful poolside furniture,

Very cool beds to lie on by the pool.

 but it was very cool to be laying on the beach and see a cruise ship come in to dock.

From the balcony

In my mind, Nassau was very smart. They dredged out the channel between Nassau and Paradise Island, and built the Price George Wharf.  This way the passengers get off the ships, and they are right in the heart of Nassau, and it is reflected in the large number of interesting shops and restaurants. And Ian and I tried to take advantage of every one.

There were a lot of alleys that ran between Woodes Rogers Walk (which runs beside the harbour) and Bay Street, the main shopping street.

Just down Bay Street,from the hotel, are the Parliament Buildings for The Bahamas.

Queen Victoria

 Nassau is the capital city of The Bahamas, which is made up of 700 islands, although only 30 are inhabited.  We took a walking tour, and we were able to go inside the House of Parliament.

 You can see where the Ministers of Parliament sit when the House is in.

Downstairs on the wall are fragments of masonry,

that represent a link in the chain of the Parliament of the British Empire and came from Westminster Hall, London in 1935.

Outside, is the Garden of Remembrance 

and the Cenotaph.

At the other end, is the Nassau Public Library.

Built in 1797,  this used to be a jail, but in 1897 became the library. Unfortunately I did not make it in, but the roof is amazing.

We were also taken inside Christ Church Cathedral.

 I stupidly didn’t get a photo of the outside, (how did that happen?) but inside was beautiful. Lovely buttresses,

 leading into carved columns.

Very pretty font.

We walked past Jacaranda House.

This was built in 1840 by the Chief Justice, Sir George Anderson, but is probably most famous for being the home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, when he was the Governor of Bahamas.

Policemen looking very smart in their uniforms,

although how they keep their jackets so white, I don’t know. This little house was in the middle of Bay Street.

This was on just one of my days in Nassau, next time I will tell you about the Nassau Botanic Garden…

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