Traveling seems to find lots of impromptu adventures along the way. We’ve been enjoying the gracious hospitality of Christa’s cousin Joan and her husband Gene in Jacksonville, Florida. Naturally when they suggested taking a cruise to the Bahamas together we couldn’t resist.
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| Yippee ... Strawberry Daiquiri Time |
After returning from a whirlwind week at Disney World, one day later we are off cruising in the Caribbean aboard the Carnival Fascination ship.
Nassau and Freeport are two ports of call for disembarking off the ship.
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| Nassau Straw Market stalls along the pier |
At Nassau there is lots of bartering in the open Straw Market for souvenirs with vendors.
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| Joan and Christa off to support the local economy |
However the place is so crowded through the narrow corridors that if one lit a match it could easily become a death trap.
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| "My dread knots have been growing for 7 years," |
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| This outfit is much too big to smuggle home on the ship |
We all took a boat excursion to visit the famous casino resort hotel of Atlantis amongst tropical clear blue waters.
The Royal Towers architecture of Atlantis relives the story of the powerful lost Atlantic civilization through magnificent murals encircling the colossal lobby dome. Dominating the dazzling décor of the largest casino in the Caribbean are the brilliant glass masterworks of artist Dale Chihuly.
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| Giant shark |
A guide led us by foot on a journey through the lost city of Atlantic to view mythical artifacts and stunning marine life in large aquariums. We discovered ancient passageways, hieroglyphics, Atlantean inventions, and life in the oceans’ depths.
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| A school of string rays |
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| A conch emerging from its shell |
Witnessing a giant stingray, jellyfish, exotic fish swimming and a male conch mollusk hang off its shell has been exciting.
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| Trainer whistles for a dolphin to clap |
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| Gotta love being kissed by a dolphin |
At Freeport on Grand Bahamas Island, Christa and Joan did an excursion seeing the countryside by bus and inlet waterways by a taxi boat. They enjoyed a Dolphin Encounter experience petting dolphins in a pool and afterwards held parrots.
The Carnival cruise ship is so relaxing and filled with lots of fun activities.The accommodations and dining meals are incredible. The Didja (Did you ever try) appetizers of escargots, alligator tail fritters, frog legs, and sushi tantalize the taste buds during evening dining.
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| Hot tub dancing at dust |
It is no wonder that JR has been found spending lots of his time soaking in the hot tubs aboard the ship.
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| The last evening aboard brought the most amazing sunset ever as a surprise |
The cruise has been a terrific grand finale wrapping up eight months of road travel on the east coast this past year for us. Sharing the voyage with Joan and Gene has made the adventure even better and more fun.
