My Dream Vacations

While I was with a friend of mine yesterday we discussed traveling and given I have traveled extensively all over the world he asked me what was left on my list of dream vacations. It really got me thinking about where I have yet to travel and would love to see. As I sat there a few places came to mind.

Those places are a mixture of destinations where the intended purpose of travel is mixed. Some leave me relaxed on the beach and others leave me appreciating fine art in a European museum. Below are my top dream vacations that I have yet to taken in no particular order.

1. Tahiti, French Polynesia: Specifically Bora Bora and the 81 overwater bungalows at the Le Meridien. These limited number of bungalow's offer rest and relaxation as well as superb views of Mt Otemanu while providing lagoon access at your door. It is the perfect place to do nothing or everything. You can relax in the spa or enjoy the Jet Ski's, feed the sharks or sting rays, watch the polynesian fire dancers, search for black pearls, or enjoy a day of snorkeling and kayaking.
2. Las Vegas, NV: Known to most as Sin City it was originally built by the Mob but today has become one of the biggest and best known cities to gamble. While I am not much of a gambler is close proximity to the Grand Canyon and its many shows are its biggest appeal.
• Grand Canyon: Running a staggering 277 miles the Grand Canyon at its deepest is about a mile to the rim and 18 miles across in some spots. One of the best places to see the Canyon is from the Skywalk. A glass bridge that is suspended 4,000 feet above the bottom of the canyon.
• Hoover Dam: Named one of the top 10 construction achievements of the 20th Century Hoover Dam stands 725ft above the Colorado River and houses 17 generators who produce 4 billion KW of electricity annually. It is named after the 31st president and was begun in 1930 and completed in less then 5 years. Visitors today can take the Dam and Powerplant Tour.
3. Italy: Home to the not forgotten Roman Empire Italy is littered with architectural delights and the many relics and monuments of the past still stand today. It is also home to the Catholic Church's Papacy in Vatican City from where the pope rules.  There are several cities I would like to visit. My top three are
• Rome/Vatican City: Rome is the modern capital of Italy. It is full of history and is home to many ancient monuments such as the Roman coliseum, medieval churches, beautiful fountains, museums, and Renaissance palaces. It is also home to Vatican city and the Sistine Chapel.
• Pisa: Best known for its leaning tower Pisa is also 1 of 4 of the great maritime republic in the middle ages and the tower and cathedral are enough to captivate any visitor.
• Venice: Being built on water in the middle of a lagoon Venice captivates its visitors as one of the most beautiful and romantic in the world. The heart of the city is the Piazza San Marco with is magnificent church.  Its elaborate canal system and gondola's make it a spectacle to see. In old days it was the bridge between the East and West.
• Florence: This Tuscan city is one of the most important Renaissance architectural and art centers. Its Duomo and Baptistery are magnificent but crowed and the large piazza is a gather place for many.  It is also home to many Medici palaces and gardens.
4. Cambodia: With the last and most well known capital of the Khmer empire Angkor Complex in present day Cambodia it is an treasure the Cambodian people cherish and a must do on any traveler's list of places to visit.
5. Australia: With Australia's Great Barrier Reef one of the 7 Natural Wonder's of the world it should come as no surprise that it is something I have always wanted to see. 
6. Iceland: Europe's Land of Fire, Ice, and Tourists is an island nation in the North Atlantic. Iceland gets its nickname because of the many active volcanoes many buried deep underneath the icy glaciers above them.
• Blue Lagoon: Geothermal spas offer the most relaxing natural bathing  in water that reached 37-39degrees C.  Located just a short distance from Reykjavik.
• Gullfoss: the most popular waterfall in Iceland. Located on the Golden Circle the water cascades down two steps falling a total of 33m into a canyon below.
• Strokkur: Famous for its geysers. Watch the geysers erupt from the underground springs and thermal pools.
• Skaftafell Ice Cave: located in the Vatnajokull National Park this is one of the top ten ice caves in the world.
• Aurora Borealis: If you are lucky enough to come during the dark months you might get to see the dazzling lights.
• Silfra: The only place on earth where you can snorkel or scuba dive in a crack between the North American and Eurasian continents.
7. Ireland: It's a Celtic mystery: how can a country as small as Ireland be packed with so much majestic history, natural beauty, vibrant culture, and, of course, fun? Castles overlook wild, empty beaches, excited theatergoers spill out into bustling Dublin pubs.  But the real Irish secret is the people: their unique blend of warmth, humor, and irreverence will ensure your trip to the Emerald Isle is a true adventure.
8. Germany: Filled with medieval towns and urban cities Germany offers tradition and modern opportunities.
• Berlin: The capital of German and the now gone Prussian empire, Weimar Republic and the Third Reich.
• Black Forest: With thousands of miles of hiking and cycling trails this pine and fir forest has many thermal baths.
• Heidleberg Castle: A now ruin example of a Renaissance / Gothic fortress.
• Kölner Dom: One of the most breathtaking gothic marvels which took 600 years to build and was the tallest structure in 1880
• Munich's Oktoberfest: for 15 days in September and October the largest beer festival in the world take place.
• Neuschwanstein Castle: Perched high in the mountains is a fairy tale castle built by King Ludwig II to hide from public life. Today more then 1.4 million people a year visit him home.
• Berlin Wall: a WW2 built wall designed to separate the east and west sides of Berlin. Partially torn down in 1989.
9. Greece: Birthplace of the Olympics and home of Homer, Aristotle, and Sophocles is an archaeological splendor with its towering monasteries and temples. It includes idyllic landscapes along the Aegean Sea of cypress groves, vineyards and olive trees.
10. Dubai:  Sitting along the golden sand coastline of the Arabian Gulf sits a fairy tale land of high-rises and man-made islands. Once a dusty trading post Dubai is now a cosmopolitan capital of the world.
• Dubai Creek and Abra: Without the creek, Dubai would not exist. This safe inlet is how it became a trading post.
• Burj Al-Arab: Hotel built on a man made island on the shores put Dubai on the map
• Burj Dubai: The worlds tallest building dominates the Dubai skyline.
11. Thailand: Imagine white sand beaches, lush mountain jungles with crystal clear blue waters dotted with peaceful temples. Thailand is home to many sites, smells and sounds not to be missed.
12. New Zealand: Filming location of the Lord of the Rings this uncrowded, green peaceful country is best known for the Maori or indigenous people.
13. Sweden: Homeland of my ancestors and frozen wastelands, cozy cottages, virgin forest, rocky islands, reindeer herders and Viking lore – Sweden has all that plus impeccable style and to die for dining.

NYC High Line

The HighLine was built by the New York City Railroad between 1929 and 1934 to eliminate the dangers of street level city rail traffic.  The elevated trains carried meats, produce and dairy to warehouses and factories at the third floor level and the route became known as the "Life Line of New York".

In 1999 a group of community residents rallied to safe the decaying structure. Today the HighLine is an urban oasis along Manhattan's West Side. The elevated track is now a city park winding its way through the trendy Chelsea and Meat Packing District where apartments go for between 2 and 20 million USD. It's tracks still remain but are now part of a mixed surface of wood, concrete and stone walk ways surrounded by lush green areas filled with grass, flowers, fountains, art installations and viewing platforms allowing visitors great views down many of the cities streets. 

We started at W 34th street. The path looped along the Henry Hudson Parkway until it went up W 30th St. We followed it all the way to the end at Gansevoort Street where we had a delicious lunch in the Gansevoort Market before making the track back to W 34th street.  Its a great venue to relax and enjoy on a summer day.

Meigs Point Nature Center Canoe Trip @ Hammonasset State Park

Named after Johnathon Meigs a American Revolutionary hero and recipient of a congressional sword for the Battle of Sag Harbour, Meigs Point Nature Center offers a weekly 2-hour guided tour of the Hammonasett River. The tour is by reservation

Dan and I brought our own kayaks for the tour while my parents reserved a canoe. The cost of the tour was $5 and departed at 12:30 from the Nature Center. After a brief drive down a trail we arrived at the launch zone. We were almost immediately uninvited by mosquito's and horse flys. Dan and I unloaded the Kayaks while tour leader Mike and his helper unloaded 9 canoes and related life jackets and paddles. As they reviewed safety rules Dan and I launched the kayaks to escape the attacking insects. 

Once on the water we were thankfully left alone and the first canoe to launch was my parents. Having canoe'd before they had no problem and we made our way out the small canal towards the Hammonasset River. As the remaining tour participants joined us we crossed the channel and followed the salt marshes with our tour guide Mike pointing out the various birds and other wildlife we encountered.  We traveled roughly 1.3 miles up river to the bridge at route 1. There Mike told us a story about the history of the area before we began the paddle back to the launch spot. 

It was a beautiful day on the water. When we reached the laugh ramp we quickly got the kayaks out of the water and on the roof rack.  We moved quick as the mosquitos and horseflies were still hanging out.   We thanked Mike the tour guide for the experience and headed out. 

One Wold Observatory: See Forever

Located on the top floors of the newly finish One World Trade Center the multi level observation center offers panoramic views of NYC however the experience starts many floors below ground level at the Global Welcome Center. 

After buying your tickets or checking in you pass through security and enter a large hall where a world map is displayed. There we learned interesting statistics about visitors to the observatory. Today the most represented country was Germany. After leaving the lobby and ticket area we entered an area known as Voices and Foundations. In the dimly lite queue visitors can feel and touch a simulated stone representing the bedrock on which this structure is built and hear the personal stories told by those who built the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. 

As we emerge from the winding pathways we reach a bank of modern elevators known as Sky Pods which will shoot us to the 102nd floor in less then 60 seconds while riders enjoy a simulated view of New York from its beginning to present day. This was a cool experience watching as we climbed altitude the years and growth and development of the city occurred at an accelerated rate. 

After the short elevators ride we found ourselves squished into the Forever Theatre on the skyscrapers 102nd floor where a view of city life plays out. Then the wall opens vertically giving visitors their first glimpse of the city skyline. That glimpse is very brief as the wall lowers almost immediately. 

Like cattle we are then herded into a room and directed down a flight of stairs into a high pressure sales area where employees of the observatory swarmed like bees in a final push to up charge the visitors by encouraging them to rent iPads designed to help identify key locations as they view the skyline of the city. This pressure created a significant bottleneck preventing many people from reaching the next views of the city on the 101st floor easily. 

As if that push to pay more wasn't enough the next view of the city was along a small balcony which lead to their income generating cafe. Here visitors had the option to purchase overpriced pain au chocolate or artisan sandwiches with the hope to be lucky enough to find an available table on which to eat. It was a chaotic mess with many visitors unsure what to do ending up in the cafe only to discover that they needed to turn around to take the stairs down on more level to the 100th floor, known as the Discovery Level, where the first full panoramic view of the city were available. 

The Discovery Level allows visitors a full360-degree view in all directions. It also includes the sky portal, a 14-ft wide circular disc hat provides real time views of the streets below. It also offers an interactive skyline known as City Pulse which helps guests connect with and observe landmarks around the city. 

While the view were amazing and you truly could See Forever I have to agree with my father that the experience was no where near as dramatic and awe inspiring as the observation deck of the previous World Trade Center. 

While the sky pods were very cool the smooth and quick ride left you barely realizing that you had just shot up 102 floors. It lacked the experience that the old slower elevator with 102 lighted numbers that slowly counted up. 

The Forever Theatre was also a let down as you were so close to the wall it was hard to see much other then what was right in front of you. When the wall finally opened exposing the amazing view it was so short lived you barely had a chance to figure out what direction you were looking before the walls dropped back down and you were ushered like animals into the sales slaughter. 

The discovery floor certainly had awe inspiring views but it lacked that open air feel with the wind rushing by which helped give value to how high you really were. The visitors were so cocooned behind safety glass that it was hard to really appreciate what it was really like on the other side of the glass.  It's an amazing facility and a valuable venue but that intense experience the old observatory provided wasn't the same. 

Submitting our Chinese Visa Application

Knowing that the Consulate of the People's Republic of China visa office has a very narrow window of hours we got ourselves up early and braved Monday morning NYC commute. Thankfully our departure location was a tad closer then home and we managed to arrive a few minutes after they opened at 9:00am. Traffic was as expected but it moved along fairly quickly and it wasn't long before we pulled into the pier 83 parking garage. 

After crossing the busy Henry Hudson Parkway we made our way to the visa office entrance on the Sid of the consulate. A long series of two lines had already formed along West 42nd St. One line was the visa application line. The other was for completed and approved Visa pickup. The line moved in spurts and before we knew it the security guard was checking to make sure we had the correct application before letting us inside. Next we passed through airport style security with a metal detector and baggage scanner.  They temporarily confiscated my camera but since phones and pictures were strictly forbidden I wasn't bothered. I collected my claim check and proceeded to the next line to pick up a number for the visa applications. Our number was C166. They were currently on C130 when we all set down. 

The room reminded me of the DMV where they called numbers at a series of windows and you sat on chairs lined up in rows waiting for your number to finally be called. It took roughly an hour before our turn came. Thankfully the young lady processing our visa application was very efficient. After reviewing the documentation she issued us a receipt and advised us we could pick up our passports and visa's this Friday. 

With a busy day in the Big Apple planned we made our way to the door where I claimed my camera back before leaving. It was a painless process since we were prepared. So many people were obviously not prepared and slowing down the lines.  Now it's just a wait and see. 

- - - - -

Flashing forward to Friday.  This return trip my parents decided to stay at the beach house and sent us to the city to retrieve all our visa's at the Consulate of the People's Republic of China. As we did earlier this week we braved the NYC morning commute once more.  After successfully parking at the Pier 83 Circle Line parking garage we made our way across the street to the consulate.

Immediately we noticed that the lines were significantly longer then they had been on Monday.  The pickup line was twice as long as the drop off which was the complete opposite. Thankfully the line moved along quickly and before we knew it we made it through security and got in line 9 to turn in our pickup ticket and exchange it for a number.  With a number now in hand we got in th second line. I assume this turn in your receipt and grab a number was a way for them to pull our passports instead of having us stand at the window waiting. 

On Monday we noticed a fair number of people cutting the lines delaying our turn at the window. Similarly this time a gentleman tried to cut us but annoyed enough from our previous visit I prevented him from succeeding and sent him to the back of the line. He was clearly irked that I called him out but went to the back of the line where he belonged. 

When we got to the window she already had our passports ready. After a quick swip of my credit card everything was paid and we left passports in hand. As a joke I called my parents and told them "we have a little problem. Everyone got their visa's but dad.  I immediately sensed their panic and quickly told them I was kidding" I'm not sure they found it as funny as I did. Now we just have to look forward to the trip and the exciting adventures that it will include.  
 

Destination China

Travel is a great way to reward an individual’s curiosities as it affords the traveler the luxury of experiencing wonderful new things and expanding their memories. Often even mundane activities are brought to life as if for the very first time.  With my unquenchable thirst to explore I couldn’t be more excited having booked a trip to what will be my 30th country, China!

I am looking forward to visiting some of the wonderful locations that make China a travelers dream. I am going to walk along the Great Wall built before the birth of Christ and stretching over 13,000 miles. Admire the 7,000 terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots buried with the first Emperor of China. Explore the world’s largest palace complex known as the Forbidden City which served as the home to 24 different emperors. Travel along the Huang Pu River in the City of Shanghai in one of their famous river boats. Enjoy the serenity of the Grand Canal, the longest canal in the world, in the city of Suzhou knows as the ‘Venice of the Orient’.

It’s going to be a jam packed always on the go trip with just 10 days to complete. I will also manage to log over 16,214 air miles along the way. It will be my second longest distance travel in a single trip. Second only to my trip to South Africa where I logged over 19,000 air miles.

I will update you on my plans and all the necessary todo's before I go. I already completed the VISA Application. I just need everyone else to complete theirs and then its a trip down to NYC and the Chinese Embassy.

Bahamas - The Recap

At the end of any vacation I always reflect on the experience and ask myself one question. That question is would I return. After a week on the island of Grand Bahama I would say no. That isn't to say that I had a terrible time but it wasn't an amazing experience either or a spectacular enough place that I would sacrifice exploring someplace new to return.

Let's talk about the great things about the island. At only 50 Miles from the eastern coast of the US it is a short plane ride.  Our total flying time was a little over three hours which makes it an appealing destination for a quick getaway.  Snorkeling and scuba diving here was a great experience and gave us an opportunity to explore the abundant marine life just off the beautiful sandy beaches.  We had an exceptional time at Caribbean Divers located at the Bell Channel Inn. That experience was definitely the highlight of our visit and will be remembered for years to come. 

On the flip side there are more negatives to discuss. While it is no surprise that island life dictates a slower pace then I am accustomed to living in the North East what frustrated me most was the ambivalence of workers performing their duties to take care of customers that angered me. From the moment we arrive at the airport I wasted 45 minutes signing out my rental car because the employee was busy on her personal phone talking to someone about her plans for later in the day then taking care of the customers lined up at her counter.  It is also worth mentioning that after waiting so long to get my premium rental I was presented with a Nissan March that had seen better days. We named it the "little shitbox". 

At the resort I was greeted with employees equally uninterested in servicing the needs of their arriving guests and instead we're only interested in selling me a timeshare or other services then actually checking me in for the stay I had already paid for. 

Equally disappointing was the room which at a quick glance was decent but it became clear that the housekeeping hadn't and don't do a particularly good job keeping the rooms in tip top shape. Maintenance was definitely lacking and everything from the rooms, pool, beach, and restaurants showed a lack of detail upkeep and an ambivalence of staff to make a effort to give guest a great experience. 

It wasn't just the resort staff that was rude many of the islanders we meet were equally discourteous to us while visiting. Some were more then welcoming and took obvious pride but they were few and far between. I could go on and on with the numerous examples of rude and unwelcoming behavior we witnessed but I think you get the point. 

More shocking then the poor attitudes we encountered was the abject poverty that was visible everywhere you went. We saw numerous abandoned houses and resorts like the Princess Resort and Casino but many retail businesses were also shuttered.  The once busy International Bazaar was now all but abandoned with only two shops still open. While a few businesses seemed to be thriving they added to the despair of the society like the Bahamian brewery. While employing many we saw beer bottles everywhere we went and learned that discarded smashed bottles were the culprit behind the islands forest fires. 

All of these negative factors outweigh the beautiful beaches and colorful coral reefs that surround the island. I believe it is only a matter of time before the incredible amounts of litter we saw on land polute the water that surrounds the island.  What was one truly a Grand Bahamian Island is no longer that grand. 

Bahamas - Day 8

As our last morning in the Bahamas we opted for one final breakfast at the Sea Grape. As usual we ordered the Breakfast sampler. After a satisfying meal and full stomachs we did one final walk through of the rooms to make sure we weren't leaving behind before heading down to return the beach towels and check out.

When we returned to the room we lined up our luggage by the door and all took one final shower. We all opted to wear shorts with a plan to change into pants in Atlanta. It was just too hot to wear pants. Like a jigsaw puzzle we squeezed all four of us and our luggage into the "little shitbox" one final time for the drive to Grand Bahama International Airport.

It was the. We realized there were two departure terminals. One just for US passengers and another for domestic and non-US departures. In comparison the non-US terminal looked much like the rest of the island, Tired and worn. We pulled into Hertz Return Parking and said goodbye to the car that helped us explore the island. As much of a POS as it is it had great air conditioning and was a reliable mode of transportation around the island.

As we entered the terminal I dropped the keys at the return counter and proceeded to the Delta Check-In counter. With no bags to check we only needed to complete our customs form before passing through airport security. Grace hadn't packed well and forgot to remove all her liquids. Unfortunately TSA wasn't overly kind and made a mess of her suitcase while searching for it requiring her to completely repack it.

Next we entered US Customs where our completed forms were reviewed and questions asked. My customs official asked about one of my listed purchases, a wooden fish. Given the possibility of insects hitching a ride to the main land it had to be reviewed for any signs of infestation. Knowing the trouble bugs like the Asian Long Horn beetle can cause I understood. Thankfully, Leonardo the artist who carved my purchase, had selected mahogany and it was clear of any indications of insects. Grace also got stopped and sneaked by as well. 

Having cleared security and customs we didn't have to wait long for the plane to take us home. Sadly once boarded we found ourselves waiting for a passenger from the arriving flight who had forgotten his passport and was refused entry into the Bahamas. Having over a 5 hour layover in Atlanta I was 't worried.

Atlanta was the typical zoo when we arrived. With such a long layover our flight to Hartford was t yet posted. After speaking to a Delta agent we headed for the T terminal. It was much quieter and we decided it was a good time to eat. We picked TGIF where I had the mixed grill sirloin and ribs. After dinner we settled into a row of seats and waited for our flight gate to be announced. 

As we expected it did move from Terminal T to Terminal B where we had landed on the arriving flight. We hopped on the Plane Train again and located our gate. With 3 more hours before leaving we changed from shorts into pants and explored the terminal shops.

Again our flight was delayed but this time as a result of flight staff tardiness caused by another late flight. Once on the plane for our last leg of travel Grace and I worked on our respective blogs before forgetting any details. As we got closer to home we flew past NYC and I managed to take a few pictures of the city below

Our pilot made up some of that lost time and we arrived only a few minutes late. day's father was kind enough to to pick us up. After a quick hello at his house we headed back to my place. Dan would drop Chris and I off and he and Grace would continue on. I would then drop Chris off at his house befor finally turning in. By the time this dance act was complete it was about 2 am. Beat and tired I was asleep befor my head hit the pillow.

Bahamas - Day 7 : Lucaya National Park

After an exceptional day scuba diving on Treasure Reef, the Tremendous Trio decided to take the "little shitbox" for a journey to the Lucaya National Park. And, if time permitted, a snorkel trip to Paradise Cove / Deadman's Reef. 

After the long ride to the east end of the island, we arrived at Lucaya National Park and pulled into the dusty dry parking lot. We paid the $5 per person admission and picked up a trail map. We started on the cave side of the park and first entered Ben's Cave, which was exposed when the roof of the cave collapsed. A small spiral staircase allows visitors to descend from the surface to viewing platforms just above the water line.

The next exposed case is the Burial Mound Cave, so named for the skeletons of the indigenous Lucayans found on the floor of the cave. With a larger mouth this cave had wooden steeps leading down to more viewing platforms where visitors get the opportunities to view how expansive the caves are. Both caves are part of a larger network of caves of which only 6 miles have been charted. While they do not allow swimming in these caves visitors certified in scuba diving can explore a short distance beyond what is visible. 

After completing the loop of trails passing the two caves, we made our way to the other side of the Grand Bahama Highway and followed along the mangrove swamp trail, where we encountered a variety of flowers, fauna, and ground pockmarked by land crab borrows. With the help of my flash, I was able to capture one of these land crabs inside his proactive borrow. It wasn't long before we crossed over the sand dune and were treated to beautiful views of Gold Rock Beach. While we didn't wear bathing suits or bring our snorkel gear, we were tempted to take a dip. 

We left the sandy shored and followed the boardwalk across the Gold Rock Creek where we saw more fish and a few kayaker's enjoying the tranquil waters protected by the sandy beach and dunes. After watching people kayak and the nature tours pass by, we were all getting a bit hot and sweaty and decided to head back to the rental car. Once in, we cranked the air conditioning which kicked in really quickly for such a small car.

Hot, sweaty, and hungry we decided it was time for lunch. We swung by the resort to pick up Chris and head for our usual dining destination of Port Lucaya. Today, we opted to repeat the Chipotle Steak Fajitas we had enjoyed earlier on the vacation and the happy hour half price drinks at Agave. While we were finishing up, the rain started to come down and we were thankful to have done the hike earlier in the day.

 With our appetites satisfied, Dan and Grace wanted to pick up some discount fragrances before heading back to the resort to drop of Chris and pick up our snorkel gear. Once back at the resort, we changed into our bathing suits, picked up new towels, and headed out. Sadly, the weather didn't improve as we made our way back to the East End of the island. When we arrived we decided it was our last day and even with the rain we should do it.

We went to the check in counter and discovered two things that changed our mind. First it was 4:30 and we had to be out of the water by 5 since they closed at 5:30 and second because it was low tide we would have to go out past the reef to snorkel since it was too shallow on the inside. With those two negatives we decided it just wasn't worth it and jumped back in the car for the long ride back to the resort.

Along the way we decided we would stop by the International Bazaar. While the tour books raved about it being the center of the islands tourist trade our multiple trips by it appeared more run down and mostly abandoned. Since there wasn't much more to do we pulled in and took a picture underneath the huge sign before venturing in. At the entrance their was a small Asian trinket shop followed just behind it by a smoke shop. After perusing the Chinese made novelties we spoke to the locals outside the smoke shop. They indicated that there wasn't much left after them. We carried along to explored and found abandoned shops and decaying signage. As we returned passes we spoke to them again and they shared their beliefs as to what caused the downfall of the International Bazaar.

Political corruption and the resulting re-routing of the main highway around the now closed Princess Hotel, Tower and Casino drove most of the tourists away and many of the shop owners to Port Lucaya Marketplace. They further discussed their belief that the island as a whole wasn't likely to recover for a very long time and that many of the original staples like the International Bazaar would never recover.


We also talked about the fires that we had seen burning and he told us that we shouldn't believe what we have read about their intentionally being set to control the grasses. The truth he shared is that the islanders as a whole are heavy drinkers and that they little by throwing those bottles to the side of the road and that these discarded bottles are the true culprit to the smoldering forest fires. 
We thanked him for his time and conversation and wished both their businesses and the island a hopeful recovery before heading back to the resort to relax before dinner. After a couple of hours relaxing and enjoying the resort pool and hottub we got ourselves showered and ready for dinner one last time at Port Lucaya. As planned we dined at Cappuccino's Italian restaurant. For our last dinner on the island Dan and I had the chicken francese while Grace and Chris had veal Marsala. While very good we are spoiled with the many suburb Italian restaurants at home. Nevertheless we enjoyed our meal and left satisfied.

Back at the resort we settled in for the most disliked task of traveling, re-packing. While it took some effort we consolidated and packed up all our clothes and vacation purchases leaving just a change of clothes for the next day's daunting trip home. 

We all turned in early knowing we would have a long day traveling the two legs home to Hartford to the cold nearly freezing weather.

Bahamas - Day 6 : Scuba Diving

At 8 am we made our way over to Caribbean Divers at Bell Channel Inn for our 9 am resort dive appointment. When we arrived we met Presley Knowles, the owner and captain, who had us all sign waivers. After signing away our lives he had us watch a short intro to scuba diving video that taught us the most important skills and hand signals.

Next we met with Presley's nephew Jerry Knowles, our instructor and guide for the day. Our first task was getting fitted for a wetsuit and weights. Once we had put on our wetsuits, he taught us the proper way to put on a weight belt by leaning forward and resting the belt on our back and then fastening the buckle.

Once suited up he introduced us to our tank and bouyancy vest. He gave a quick explanation of the primary regulator, secondary regulator, and bouyancy controls. As novice scuba divers we were not to adjust the bouyancy of our vest. 

Ready for the pool portion of our introduction he had us sit on the pool edge and put on our fins and spit in our goggles to prevent them from fogging up. Then he turned us around and helped each of us put on our tanks. Immediately I felt the significant weight that the tank and vest added. He told us that when we enter the water the tank will feel weightless and not to be concerned by th added weight on land. 

Fully geared up we entered the water to begin the in water portion of our instruction. Our first was to check the fit of our masks by putting our faces down in the water and breathing through the regulator while holding the side of the pool and kicking. My mask leaked as I expected since I have tried many and always struggle to find the perfect fit. He grabbed me a different mask which seemed to fit much better.

With a better fitting mask had had us all swim three laps in the pool while breathing through the regulator. Of course we all sank to the bottom of the pool with all the weight. It was more like crawling along the bottom of the pool the swim. 

Having successful circled the pool our next test was what to do if the primary regulator came out of our mouth. He quickly instructed us that it's very important to breath out before breathing in when reinserting the regulator. The purpose was to expel the water that had gotten into the mouth piece through the purge valve. Without purging the water you would swallow a mouthful of sea water. He had us demonstrate this process three times before we moved on to the next portion of our instruction/test.

With my leaky mask concern our next skill is one I practiced a few extra times. The key is to press firmly on the top ridge of the mask while facing forward and exhaling through your nose. The air from your nose carried enough force to expel most of the water from your mask.

An extension of the previous skill came next and was my least favorite. In fact it almost made me want to stop. We had to completely remove our mask and put it back on and expel the water from it. Never being good underwater without a mask I had to keep my eyes closed during this skill. And while the previous exercise of expelling air from our mask was ok it took 4-5 times for me to clear my mask and made me very uncomfortable. I made it through only slightly panicking once and swallowing a small amount of water having breathed it through my nose.

When we all surfaced I could tell from Dan's face he was as uncertain was I was about this new experience. We put on our poker faces and our instructor told us it was time to board the boat! We did so hesitantly. Since I was the first to board and clearly the most comfortable on a boat our instructor handed me the tanks and had me line them up along the aft rail of the boat. As we got everything we needed situated we learned that a last minute rusty diver was going to join us and was just taking a quick refresher course in the pool.

It wasn't long before she and a guest had boarded the boat along with the three of us. Our captain and our instructor secured all the tanks before casting off for the roughly 10 minute ride to Treasure Reef. With the anchor down and the dive flag proudly displayed we all made our final preparations for our first scuba dive in the open water.

With our arrival the captain reminded us to keep an eye on our air supply once in the water and validated that we knew the hand signals. He also informed us to hold the guide rope on entry and wait for our guide to instruct us before descending to the reef below. He had us all review our gauges that read a tad over 2000 psi. He told us when we reached 1000 to flash five fingers twice at him. When we reached 500psi we should be on the rope heading back to the boat.

After putting on my fins, weights, and mask the captain helped me secure my tank and vest. One final safety check of everyone yielded no reasons to delay and the rusty diver was the first to enter the water. We did the traditional hold your mask and lean back falling into the water entry. I was the second to go and hesitated slightly before letting go and falling back. I give my entry an 8 for a novice. I swam to the guide rope and waited for everyone else to enter the water.

With everyone bobbing at the surface he had us go face down and reminded us all to equalize our ears as we decended stressing the importance of taking our time. Again I was the second to decend. Once I reached the bottom and saw how beautiful the reef was all my fears and worries were gone. The mask fit great and breathing and swimming was far more easy then it had been in the pool. It didn't take long for everyone to reach the bottom along with me.

Our guide gave each of us the "ok" hand signal and everyone replied alike. With everyone feeling good he took us towards the reef. Just before the reef he picked up a few large stones clearly looking for something. After a few attempts he came towards us with what we would learn later was a spiny star fish. It was a very cool creature and he carefully placed the underwater creature in the hands on the rusty diver who after admiring it passed it to us. 

I was like a kid in a candy shop taking pictures of the many colorful fish. We saw yellow snapper, a pair of French angel fish, Margaret fish, and others like the vivid blue tang, stripped Sargent Major and stoplight parrot fish. There were also smaller fish like the cocoa damselfish swimming in abundant schools around th reef. We continued to swim along the edge of the reef. He was being chased by a school of fish and it was then we discovered he had food with him. He handed each of us food and we took pictures with my camera of the fish swarming us for the food. One of the yellow snapper coded that I looked tasty and tried and failed to eat my finger.

After we all got a chance to feed the fish Jerry looked at his gauge and checked with each of us to make sure we had plenty of air. My gauge showed 1500psi and I gave the "ok" signal. With everyone good on air he began looking under loose rocks and brought a baby spiny star fish over for us to check out. He didn't have his spines yet and was much smaller. We continued to explore and swim around we explored the many coral that swayed back and forth with the waves. He pointed one out in particular that he indicated we should avoid as it will cause intense itchiness.


We continued on carefully looking for any more of those itchy coral. Thankfully I saw none. jerry once again was looking under rocks and found a female spiny star fish. You could tell the difference because the males were all black and the females had white parts on their top. It felt like we had only been under the water for about 30 minutes but I figured I'd check my gauges. It was then realized I was at 500psi and should be on the rope beginning my ascent to the surface. I gave him a five finger once and he replied with 10 I shook my head no and flashed the five again and the need to surface signal. He gave me the boat signal and I replied with the ok. He pointed in the direction of the boat and rounded up the others as I started swimming that direction. I handed the camera off to Dan as I swam just incase he had more time and saw something to take a picture of. 


With everyone rounded up and right behind me we made our way to the guide rope and I began my ascent remembering to go slow and breath. As I surfaced Presley guided me to the ladder and onto the boat where he helped me out of the tank. I took a seat on the edge of the boat and watched as head after head began bobbing in the water next to the boat and each climbing back on board. Grace had a huge smile on her face while Dan looked like he had fun but was still on the fence.


When Dan sat down we chatted about the experience and I remarked that in the pool I wasn't happy at all and was definitely leaning towards the no for certification but after diving in the open water and seeing the reefs and fish I was unquestionably convinced that it was something I wanted to do. Dan took a little convincing to continue on with certification but having enjoyed the experience we decided it would be a fun thing to do together.

After a short boat ride back to the Bell Channel Inn we tipped Jerry for the great experience since without him we wouldn't have had such an amazing experience. We certainly worked up an appetite and decided lunch was well earned. We returned to the resort to pick up Chris who didn't want to participate.

After picking Chris up we head to Port Lucaya. Grace wanted to stop and pick up another piece of wood craft from Leonardo. She picked a piece that wasn't yet complete but Leonardo pro,used to have it done that day and likely after lunch. We opted to try another new place and picked the After Deck "Authentic Bahamian Cuisine". Before sitting the local personality dressed in Bahamian Carnival style gear spoke to us and we took a picture. He also served as our host as. Sat us at one of their outdoor tables. While it did had several conch relate meals I selected the lamb gyro. It was delicious and definitely hit the spot. Chris and Grace got the same and Dan tried the jerk chicken which he let me try. It was also delicious.

After lunch we returned to Leonardo's booth where he was still working on Grace's mask. He asked for us to give him another hour for it to properly dry. We decided to head back to the resort and return in a few hours. When we got back to the resort we all ended up taking a nap. I woke up at 4:00 and woke Grace up and we raced back to Port Lucaya and the new piece was done. We put it in the car and explored the shoppes we had yet gone into. After about an hour we returned to th resort to a still sleepy Chris and Dan.

While at Port Lucaya we noticed the Italian restaurant we had planned to go to dinner was closed on Wednessay nights. Given that I called Pier 1 to see if they had any openings. Luckily they did and so it was decided we would return to see the shark feeding at 7:00. We arrived just in time and were seated right along the harbour channel where they feed the sharks.

Dan, Grace and I all got the Mahi Mahi and Chris got the Braised Lamb Shank. We also had numerous piña coladas and rum runners. At 7:00 and 8:00 they feed the Sharks and like the last time we only saw a few sand sharks, many of the Sargent majors and a bunch of jack fish.

After a big dinner we crashed when we returned to the resort. Another great day.