Georgetown

Greetings from Georgetown, Exumas,  Bahamas! We've been here for 9 days, and because we're waiting on a part to be shipped on island time...we may be here several more days. This is a destination for hundreds of cruisers...especially this time of year because the annual regatta starts on Friday, Feb. 21st.  We were told by cruisers in the islands north of here that we absolutely had to be here for the Valentine's Day dance..and we made it! We're probably lucky we didn't make headlines in the States--we were all dancing like crazy, packed in like sardines on a rather rickety deck. We all survived--and had a great time!

I am going to try to upload some pictures to tell the story of our time here. First, here is our internet cafe:

I am not kidding. For $5 a day, I can use a decent connection, with special permission to upload pictures. I've also used wifi at a restaurant overlooking the water....for $2 I can use a slower connection for 85 minutes. Wifi and cell phone coverage/costs are big issues for us spoiled and impatient Americans!

But, the Bahamas are not about technology--they are about natural beauty, adventure, and relaxation:

Sunset over Elizabeth Harbor, Georgetown

Yoga on the beach M-F

Happy hour on Sand Dollar Beach-about 100 boaters dinghied over. We are all desperate for social interaction--especially when anchored in a harbor. 

The local beach bar and grill in Elizabeth Harbor--very Bahamian! Open air, no shoes required, local beer only, and terrific bbq!

Beach on the ocean side--unpopulated and gorgeous! The water has been too rough for us to swim here--but it's a lovely walk! Speaking of rough water--the few times we've dinghied over to town, we had to return to the sailboat through waves that reminded us of a 6-Flags water flume ride on steroids. One time, Barry couldn't see because of the salt water in his eyes--so he took off his glasses and put on his snorkeling mask with prescription lenses. I wish I could have taken a picture--but I was soaked to the skin and holding on for dear life!

Barry is feeding conch scraps to the sting ray! They swim right over your hand and suck the meat out of your fingers! Several beggars came to a discarded pile of conch shells to get a free lunch. 

The first couple of days that we were in Georgetown, strangers waved and smiled at me and called me Carmen. By the way people reacted to me, I figured that Carmen must be a FUN person to hang out with. I finally met her at Volleyball Beach. Do you see a resemblance?

This is Barry trying to order a part to replace one that failed on our NEW refrigeration unit. (This is the first year that I've had a freezer, albeit small, and a refrigerator instead of an ice box.) He not only experienced extremely poor customer service from Engel Refrigeration, he had a frustrating time getting the part shipped from Nassau to Georgetown. Phones not answered; incorrect emails; fax machines that don't work at the delivery company--you get the idea. But HAPPY DAY--he just walked in with the part--which means we will leave Georgetown and start the slow journey back north. We're ready for quiet anchorages and more snorkeling.