DREAMing of Our Magical Mystery Cruise - Updated 04/23/2015 About This Page:

[pamcarey]

I truly don't understand the people in the straw market. I know they need to make a living, but does that tactic actually work? I know it doesn't for me. I usually want to buy something, but I won't because it's impossible to look without being harassed. So as I see it, they are losing lots of business!


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[lauriep]

Originally Posted by pamcarey

I truly don't understand the people in the straw market. I know they need to make a living, but does that tactic actually work? I know it doesn't for me. I usually want to buy something, but I won't because it's impossible to look without being harassed. So as I see it, they are losing lots of business!


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I'm with you, Pam! I've always thought they turn off more people than they entice.

[Lumieregirl]

The thing that gets me is I see them for a tiny moment really, but they do this day after day after month after year. You'd think they'd be tired of it themselves!
We will definitely stay onboard next time (aside from snorkeling). We won't go into town but I'm glad we saw what we saw and as you'll see coming up I did enjoy The Queen's Staircase.
I've been into town twice now and never seen "the gauntlet" but both times was around 2pm leaving the ship. I'd read that in morning they are really bad. To be fair on this outing, aside from the Straw Market, we were left alone.

I first visited Nassau in 2007 with my mother. A few years later I read of cruise travelers being robbed at the top of The Staircase. So sad as when mom and I visited it was peaceful. I was a little nervous this time but now they've got police officers stationed up there, so it was pleasant. Even moreso than I anticipated.


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[OhToodles!]

We almost did the walk in the PP guide book, but in the end just walked to the Queen's Satircase, although using the map in PP. We didn't take anything with us except my camera and our KttW cards for fear of people trying to take something from us. We were left alone though.

[jenseib]

I hate the pushy vendors too. I am much more ready to buy from someone who keeps quiet, or just asks if I need help. Follow me or push items on me and you lost a sale.

[Lumieregirl]

Originally Posted by chezp

That's probably why the same post is showing up three times - it must be giving you an error, but it is actually uploading. I did wonder what had happened.

It's so cool to see you taking the walking tour of Nassau from the book. I have to be honest, we're amongst the people who just stay on board when the ships stop there, so it's lovely to see more of the city through your photos.

Ugh. That is not at all how I'd intended the post to look - photos missing ,etc - but it's done and you get the flavor anyway.
Now that we've both "been there done that" we'll stay onboard in the future.

Originally Posted by lauriep

The walking tour looks quite nice. I'm another who stays on board on Nassau day. I love to shop, but can't stand the confrontations with the merchants. I just try to avoid eye contact (not that they care) and thus don't even see the merchandise when I go down the street. Glad the camera kept working. Looks like it was very hot for your walk!

It was hot, but my rosacea makes me look worse than I actually was

Originally Posted by NanaTink

I was a couple updates behind! Work has been crazy and the last thing I want to do in the evening is look at the computer!

I snorkeling for those exact reasons! So well put! I'm not a confident swimmer but never worry when I'm snorkeling!

We are ones that stay aboard in Nassau. We got off our first time, but were so put off by the gauntlet you have to pass through, we've never gotten off again. I understand they are trying to make a living, but if I say no, don't keep following and harassing. I find Cozumel to be somewhat the same way.

Getting off in the afternoon does save you the gauntlet, and if you skip the Straw Market, the rest of the city was fine.

Glad to meet another non-swimming snorkeling fan

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

We almost did the walk in the PP guide book, but in the end just walked to the Queen's Satircase, although using the map in PP. We didn't take anything with us except my camera and our KttW cards for fear of people trying to take something from us. We were left alone though.

Its crazy to me they do so much tourism advertising. You'd think they'd make it a safer place. It was fine to walk around for an hour in the afternoon from being on a cruise, but I can't imagine vacationing on the island itself. I would not want to be around after dark,

Originally Posted by jenseib

I hate the pushy vendors too. I am much more ready to buy from someone who keeps quiet, or just asks if I need help. Follow me or push items on me and you lost a sale.

What's sad is, people do what works. So, there must be plenty of folks who still buy from these bullies . Ridiculous.

[Lumieregirl]

My new update that's not really an update ....

Ok so it's still slow-going with the TR. Part of it is that I'm so tired when I get home from work. Part is that I feel I can't do the TR with DH at home. Either he interrupts me (his fault) or more often I get distracted (my fault). Seems silly, but that's the truth.

My goal had been to complete this TR before my next trip. Well ... it ain't gonna happen . I'm hosting Easter Dinner for a lot of people and my kitchen sink just flooded all over . Today is my "day off" to relax and prep food ... now will be a busy day indeed and not fun.

My new goal is to finish this silly 5-day trip TR before it's one-year anniversary in June .

And I said I wouldn't start the next one yet, but heck, I want to, and I'm excited, and I have some time before tackling the plumbing issues ... so, I'll catch ya over on the WDW TR forum and THANK YOU for following and STAY TUNED

[chezp]

Sorry to hear about the flood. Hope that's all soon sorted and we're here whenever you're ready.

[lauriep]

Ugh, sorry about the flood! What bad timing. And I just read the start of your WDW report-- sounds so great!

[NanaTink]

Oh, no! for the flood...doesn't it always happen that way? Have something big planned...
I'm doing brunch this year, which mainly means Mickey waffles!!!! And bacon...always bacon (don't tell Piglet)

I'll head over for the WDW side....

[OhToodles!]

So sorry about the flood! Hope it wasn't too serious.

[Lumieregirl]

It looked worse than it was. Thank goodness I only needed a new faucet and I ended up with a much nicer one than I had before. [emoji2]


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[Lumieregirl]

Folks, my next update takes up where the last one left off - on my copy, which I think includes some part that may be duplicated as I was having tech issues ... so please bear with me ... on with the show!

[Lumieregirl]

We visited Fort Fincastle. There was a guy there giving tours and we took him up on it. He had a rehearsed speech – and when people asked him questions, he said nothing. It was awkward. When he was done, and told us we could wander around, then he still just stood there. I prompted DH to give him some $, and that sped up his exit. Cheesy and awkward. Anyway it’s an interesting place.















At the top some nice strangers took our picture

And we got some nice views











I love how this has the ship in the background



Then we made our way to The Queens Staircase. On the way are a line of shops selling souvenirs and we said maybe we could get a little something here since they weren’t being so crazy aggressive. We grabbed a cute little fridge magnet and the lady was pleasant and even joked around a little with us.

We walked away from her past the other vendors toward the Queen’s Staircase. And just as we passed the last booth, another sales lady yelled to us “ Hey, Pretty Ladies!” Can you believe it? DH was not quite as nice this time, as he was
“over it” with the “ladies” thing.



I was impressed to see police officers at the top of the staircase; it eased the bit of worry I did have about coming here. A bit of background: the staircase was carved out of part of the island that is pure limestone by slaves in the 1790s. Can you even imagine? How awful! It’s impressive and sad. And they are steep. They were named for Queen Victoria. There are 65 steps, but it seems worse because of the steepness.





looking up …







There is a water feature next to the staircase and for a while we were alone and it was quiet and very peaceful.







We took a few photos but then waited because without other people, there’s no perspective. Finally, some strangers helped us out.







As we were walking out we noticed lights along the sides of the walkway, so I imagine this is quite pretty at night.



On the walk back we got to an intersection that didn’t seem to match our map and then we got frustrated and just started walking toward the ship. DH’s feet hurt and I was disappointed he wouldn’t get the see the library – it’s pink. J We bought more bottled waters on the way and on our way back on the pier got totally stopped … why aren’t they letting anyone across the pier ? We waited a few minutes then started trying to creep up to find out the holdup – um, hello – it is ONE family taking a photo of all of them like 20 abreast across the pier with no consideration for anyone else!

We went back to the room & DH napped while I took a video of our magical porthole. I’m forbidden to share it, as he’s snoring the in background, but it was fun to see the different characters (and not just the one’s you’d expect … there were some more obscure ones that popped up too). I ordered room service sandwich and got to thinking … we didn’t want to miss the show in Animator’s Palate, but if we weren’t going to have table mates for Enchanted Garden, I’d just as well eat at Palo. DH called when he woke and they had exactly one ressie available for the next evening, so yay!

I started to look at our options for the evening. Just after dinner we could meet Pirate Daisy or attend a Whiskey Tasting. Tough choice, and both would mean we’d likely have to skip dessert, but I love that DCL has so differing options. Hmmm … we slowly began to get dressed for Pirate Night.

Up Next: The Pirate Papparazi

[Lumieregirl]

ok some of my photos still don't exactly match up ... I'll get the hang of this eventually