Bahamas, Pt VI

There came a point when we finally decided it was time to do something, and we went on a "Glass Bottom Boat Tour." It was pretty cool. We were the youngest people on this thing! No spring breakers here, folks. Just your average cruise ship vacationer from New Orleans. They were a fun bunch though. We didn't need a stupid "open bar" or rock climbing wall. I prefer fishing enthusiasts and chatty ladies!

I mean, seriously. I never get tired of goin' places with THIS GUY.

Muggin' it up for the camera.

Fishies! The stripey ones are called "Sergeant Majors"

I liked this blue guy with his fins out.

I think they called these guys "Doris" - would make sense, wouldn't it? No Nemos though!

Dun dun dun....SHARKS! Dude, I love sharks.

They're freaking majestic and awesome.

They're in at least my top 20 fave animals. I have lots of faves. The tour was just over an hour and totally worth it. We got to get out on the water and see more of the island and see fish without having to get wet (my high-maintenance-ness really liked that). :)

Bahamas, Pt V

Dang, I really do have a lot of vacation pictures to post.

I wanted to show you guys a bit more about Grand Bahama Island...so down there Conch is really popular. Like, on every menu. So of course when in the Bahamas...order conch fritters every day! They are really good. They're like hush puppies with calamari in them.


Can't let a vacation day go by...this is the fried "cracked conch." Good stuff.

And last but not least, conch salad. Made by "conch guy" (as we dubbed him), in what would be equivalent to a NY street food vendor. He just hangs out in his stand all day making conch salad. I thought it was really good but we needed beers to go with it. It's like a very lime-y ceviche. Also the tomatoes in the Bahamas were all sortof a light green and they were SO good!

"Linen 'n Things." Hey mom - they also had a little embroidery shop that you really would've liked. Go figure!

"Shenanigans"

Then there were these people. She is wearing lace socks with her hooker heels. Nothing says beachwear like a gold sequined dress.

I had to take a picture of the Bahamian money because it was so pretty.

Bahamas, Pt IV: Taste the Rainbow

Y'all, I do a lot of things "for the sake of the blog." Like make huge sacrifices and get out of my comfort zone. Like do everything I can to make sure I have one umbrella drink for every color of the rainbow while on vacation. It's ok, you don't have to thank me. The sense of inner fulfillment I get from helping others is priceless! :)

I call this, the "Daiquiri Flight"...

Red: Strawberry Daiquiri from Run Runners. It was deeelightful.

Orange: Mai Tai from the bar at Taino Beach.

I'm luvin' it!

Yellow: a "Yellow Bird" from our hotel bar on the marina. Free with our complimentary drink tickets!

It was not my fave - it was waaay sugary. Here it is with it's friend, the "Bahama Mama". I had a few of these on vacation too...red drinks are easy to find.

My first attempt at Green: Margarita from Rum Runners. It was more of a light lime color.

I didn't think the margarita counted so I ordered a "green drink", and this is what I got: a medley of sugar and alcohol and food coloring!

It was yummy.

Blue: ordered a "blue hole" - yep, it was blue! Keene got a "dolphin kiss"...awww...

I swear I didn't drink all these in one day! I was just wearing this shirt a lot.

Purple: kindof a fail. This was more of a swamp color than anything else. It was tasty but I don't think it really counts. I'm still chasin' the rainbow!

Not really even close to "purple"

White: I think this was my favorite of all, the pina colada. SO delicious! Drinks are just better in coconuts. I wish my morning coffee came in a coconut.

I told Keene he looked too much like a law student and should roll his sleeves up already.

Much more Island-style :)

So that purple drink is going to drive me crazy. Is there a known purple drink that I should order next time (oh yes, there will be a next time)? Overall I think I did pretty well though. You gotta have goals!

A Special, non-Bahamas post about THIS GUY

***HAPPY BIRTHDAY*** to my favorite person!!! Keene turns 29 today. Still in your 20's, Honey!!! I love you!

Bahamas Pt III: Delights at Pelican Bay Hotel

Good times, people, good times!!! This picture was taken from the walk along our hotel, literally about 4 steps from the main pool. This is the marina-side, isn't it gorgeous? Reminded me a little bit of the San Juans (can't help it). You could see little stripey fish in the water.

No worries about ugly railings in the Bahamas! This is where you catch the 3 min ferry ride to the beach. Our room was right around that bend.

Someone had to sneak into my picture....! A pic from the walk to our room.

Has anyone else seen that Travel Channel special on Appleton Estate rum? We have so of course we had to buy some. The pineapple juice from our hotel's continental breakfast really came in handy for this! Keepin' it classy...in the Bahamas.

There is such a thing as TOO TAN and it is THESE PEOPLE! GRODY! This picture does not even do them justice. They were flaunting their nasty tans all over the marina. You know what they need? MORE SUNBATHING.

And here we have, a "booze cruise" (taken from our balcony). To be totally honest, we were not completely hatin' on the Spring Break kids. I was happy for them. And also glad that they were corralled on a boat and floated off in the marina every night. Brilliant! They really loved singing along to Black Eyed Peas and Jay Z and the "I'm on a boat" song. Also some of the boats had rock climbing walls? That seemed like a really horrible idea but hey, not my problem!

Bahamas Pt II: "Rum Runners"

Sometimes you just want to go where everybody knows your name. Or where there are beverages served in coconuts and 2-for-$5 Kaliks. Keene and I stumbled upon a little place in Lucaya called "Rum Runners," and we didn't let a day go by without hanging out there. It was a place where Spring Breakers and Time Sharin' Retirees could co-mingle, and enjoy a tasty beverage. A place where I got a slight sunburn from sitting in the sun with my daiquiris. Also a great place to people watch as it was right there in the middle of the marketplace. I got to have my neighborhood watch even in the Bahamas!

This is how you make a coconut cup, Island-style: with a machete!

Do you like pina coladas?

Serious face!

Bar graffiti: "Seahawks NFC Champions 2005 - ?"

"Got conch?"

Lucaya Marketplace - not on a cruise ship day - delightfully quiet.

Bathroom at Rum Runners - who would flush a pad? Put it in the Garage, ladies! Jeez.

The Bahamas were freaking awesome. Part I.

Get ready for an entire week of vacation photos. Deal wit it! I took a lot of pics and dayum if they all didn't turn out great because you know what? There's sun shining there. And it's warm. And delightful. And there are tasty beverages and lots of coconuts and shellfish and delightful beaches. I feel so much better now that we've had our little break. DC welcomed us back with a weekend full of rain but 50 degree weather and what appears to be Spring so I'm happy.

Let's start with our take-off from Miami. Now, after being stuck in Miami overnight on our return trip, I can say for sure that Florida is much better from a higher altitude. That place is WEIRD and scary. Warm, weird and scary. But the beaches looked pretty from the airplane.


We got to our hotel early and were totally stoked.

Exotic plant life to greet us!

And a basket full of none other than Washington apples in the lobby! Represent.

This is our hotel, "Pelican Bay" from the marina side. We could see our room from the boat here. It was so peaceful! (except for when the booze cruise rolled by - more on that later)

The view from our room's deck. I woke up the first day and said, "HELLO BAHAMAS!!!"

After checking in, we wasted no time getting some local Bahamian beer ("Sands"). I have airplane hair/makeup here but I'm totally happy to be drinking outside without a coat on.