Cloud Messenger

The Nassau Girl's Adventure began with our early morning private flight to Nassau. The plane was small, very small. Smaller even than the last small plane I hitchhiked a ride on. This plane is used to ferry small amounts of cargo to and from Rum Cay. Rum Cay has only 60 inhabitants; a small plane for a very small island. Since the plane is used for cargo, Laura and I sat on the floor in the back and Jeanette was the co-pilot. Yup, it was a four-seater plane with two seats. Beggers can't be choosers, and we were just glad to have found a friendly pilot with time to spare and a willingness to help out some needy boaters. The flight was short and smooth but definitely thrilling and heart pumping. We landed in short order on San Salvador and with a friendly hug and a wave said good-bye to our new friend. We had a couple hours to wait for our next flight so we wandered across the street to chat up the locals relaxing on the porch of a small food stand. Noticing the Dominos on the table we asked for a lesson in the game, surely a National Bahamian pass-time. Every corner, every store-front and most parks have crowds of men playing lively games of Dominos. Lots of slamming of tiles and strategic ploys are involved in these competitive games. Soon Laura and I were immersed in the challenge of mastering Dominos. Thankfully we had knowledgeable and patient teachers, Keith and Diamond. We even each won a game but I am sure they were going easy on us. Our flight to Nasssau was uneventful and we were soon in a taxi headed to the Fish Fry to try out the world famous daiquiris. I had a Miami Vice, a swirl of Pina Colada and Strawberry daiquiri in one glass. After our meal we headed to our hotel to drop off our stuff and then hurried to Atlantis to see the aquarium, casino and luxury marina. We spent hours roaming the grounds, meeting people, checking out the designer shops and even gambling at the casino. Laura was the big winner at the slots! Even though we had a great time and took millions of photos again of the fabulous, world-class aquarium we headed back to the hotel by 9:00pm (cruisers midnight). We arrived at the hotel and interestingly and unexpectedly that's when the real party started. As we emerged from our taxi we encountered a pack of young drunk men-children tumbling out the front doors of the hotel. They were headed to Senor Frogs they loudly told us and insisted that we come with them. Laura and I laughed and continued on but ...uh oh...Jeanette was waylaid. She engaged the pack of young rascals in drunken conversation and by the time we backtracked to retrieve her she had the entire Michigan State Rugby team stripping down to their skivvies and posing for photos in the parking lot! That woman works fast! The risque, hilarious photoshoot continued there until we were convinced to walk the mile downtown to Senor Frogs to check out the Spring Break Party. A raucous, stumbling parade ensued culminating in a take over of the dance floor by us three older woman and the slap-happy rugby players. We danced nonstop, our feet slipping on the drink soaked dance floor, surrounded by the thoroughly trashed college crowd. Eventually we danced our way right out the door and laughed all the way back to our hotel. Good times. We still woke early enough to wander the main shopping district before catching a taxi to the airport. There we said a tearful good-bye to Jeanette. Laura and I luckily had hit the right day for a flight straight back and we " don reached" (Bahamian for returned) Rum Cay before noon. It was lovely to be reunited with David and Ali. David had spent the two days blissfully bonefishing with Jason and Alan. He returned to the boat after I had arrived having left one of the dinghies on the beach for Laura and I to make our way out to the anchorage in. He came bringing spicy curry chicken as a treat from the local restaurant. He also brought stories of his buxomous new "sweetheart" Felicia, the visting chef at Ruby's restaurant! The next morning we, along with the one other boat in the anchorage "Vanilla", followed each other into the marina to hide out from an approaching high wind. The day was spent quietly, David cleaning the boat and me sleeping off my Nassau vacation. Yesterday arrangements were finalized for Morgan and Caroline to join us on the boat in San Salvador on Sunday! So exciting! Also last night, we all, "Vanilla's" crew included, trouped down to "Ruby's" restaurant to have a local meal. Lots of teasing and laughing. From the restaurant we could see the mailboat arriving. A weekly, big, local event. Most of the island was there to pick up things arriving from off island. This means there will be fresh groceries available so Laura and I will scurry down there today to get new provisions.