Chub Cay to New Providence, Nassau, Bahamas

Another bouncy day of cruising in mostly three footers brings us to the island of New Providence and the Bay Street Marina in Nassau (36NM). We get our COVID retest (you must retest after 5 days in the Bahamas) and are happy with the negative results. This is the last ‘big’ city we will be in for awhile so we restock and prepare for more time at anchor. Most of the tourist area of Old Town Nassau is closed (due to COVID) but we find a few establishments and new friends to spend time with. The following day we walk over the Sidney Poitier bridge to check out the Atlantis Hotel and grounds. It is very much like stepping into a Las Vegas property…everything completely over the top. Again, it is very quiet these days but the friendly people on the property tell us that the tourism is starting to come back. The boom and bust cycle of the Bahamian islands is certainly a well known history and perhaps that is what makes the people that live here so very easy going and friendly.

Entering the west end of the main channel into the port of Nassau

The view of the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island across the channel from our marina

Nassau is where everything gets shipped to…if you look closely you will see the green four-wheeler on the bow of the innermost boat and a big screen TV going down the dock to a yacht.

Vintage photos of Nassau from the early/mid 1900’s

The municipal buildings and their statue of Queen Victoria

Larry gets a belated St. Patrick’s Day beer at Shenanigans bar…deserted Old Town in the background

So sad the straw market was closed…like many things, due to COVID

Our new friend ‘Captain ‘ Charlie (on the left) gets a private invitation into the Pirate Republic Brewery

A potent IPA…just a like a pirate, it takes no prisoners!

Just havin’ some beers with our new friends in Nassau

The view of The Atlantis and it’s shopping village from the top of the Sidney Poitier bridge

The grounds at The Atlantis

I was flabbergasted to see that The Atlantis has a Manta Ray in captivity. Her name is Hope and here she is doing a flip to hopefully get another bucket of krill from her caretaker. From what I understand, The Atlantis has a program to study the Manta Ray led by Mote Marine Laboratory. They tag, research and then release the rays (via helicopter!). I almost jumped into the tank to get a closer look…but Larry stopped me.

Hope, gliding by

Feeding paddles out and mouth open…Hope is hoping for more food

The aquarium at The Atlantis…like I mentioned…a little over the top

Really nice collection of fish…I love the Grouper, he was so inquisitive. Larry takes a photo of Hope (upper right).

Departing the port of Nassau via the east end of the main channel