NASSAU, BAHAMAS

Travelling along Bay Street, Nassau’s shopping centre, we will see a gallery of colourful shops and possibly also Bahamian craftsmen skilfully weaving and plaiting straw.

Travelling along Bay Street, Nassau’s shopping centre, we will see a gallery of colourful shops and possibly also Bahamian craftsmen skilfully weaving and plaiting straw. Soon we shall reach the renowned Queen’s Staircase, carved out of solid limestone by slaves. This 31 metre (102 feet) staircase has 66 steep and angled steps, and was named in honour of Queen Victoria – who enforced the Emancipation Act, which abolished slavery. If we wish we may climb the staircase, which leads to the water tower – the island’s highest observation point at 66 metres (216 feet) above sea level, affording an excellent panoramic view of all of Nassau. (Great care should be taken.)Nearby Fort Fincastle is our next venue, built in 1793 and now partially in ruins. To complete our historical look at Nassau, we visit Fort Charlotte. Built in 1789, this massive fort guarded the entrance to the harbour. Here we may view the moat, open battlements and dark dungeons.The last part of our tour will be spent at the Ardastra Gardens, comprising some 4 ½ acres of impressive tropical gardens. We will be able to stroll along paths rich with a variety of greenery and exotic flowers, and see an array of animals. The highlight of our visit will be a performance of the famous Marching Flamingos, whose military precision is amazing.Extensive walking is required to get the most out of this tour. (There is a 10-15 minute walk from the ship to the entrance of the pier, to board the tour minibuses.) Due to traffic conditions the sequence of the tour may change.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR THE 2007 CARIBBEAN SEASON