Letter from Nassau

Nassau Beach Hotel, Nassau, Bahamas

By Robert Darnell  [Date unknown, written on Nassau Beach Hotel letterhead from Hotel's 20th anniversary 1959--1979]


We decided to go back to Nassau. Jerre and I remembered our trip there 10 years ago with Clemensons, Harveys, Novells [sp]... and stayed at the neat little Emerald Beach Hotel. Big wide uncrowded beach. Powdery white sand and azure water. We made out plans for an eight day trip. Got away from Houston on Tuesday morning. The flight was uneventful. Changed planes in Miami and then got to Nassau about 3:30.

Rented a Volkswagen and went to the Hotel. It had changed so much we didn't recognize it. Found out that the old one had burned and they had only rebuilt one wing. Their schedule was off and they didn't have a room for us so sent us to the Ambassador.

We stayed there one night but didn't like the room, so next morning moved to Nassau Beach Hotel.

Jerre and Becky spent more time on the beach than the sand crabs.

First night we ate downtown at an old native restaurant. Rum swiggles and grand food.

As usual, eating is a big problem. We eat a big breakfast at one of the hotels -- not much lunch and then try to pick a good place at night. Most of them are too high and too much food.

Took a trip around the island in our VW. Looked at beaches, condos, and caves. Saw one small native village. Talked to some boys, went in a restaurant and took some pictures. It was a nice day for driving because it rained a lot and was nice and cool.

You drive on the left side of the road here and it took 5 or 10 minutes to get used to it. Will he forget to drive on the right when he gets home?

Stopped at the rum brewery and had a free one. Took more pictures. Saw some old caves where the early ones lived. More pictures.

Ate lunch at the Cafe de la Mer. It was neat until they shut the curtains because of rain. Made it hot. Ate some conch chowder which is what we eat most of. They had hot bread and butter which made the whole thing worthwhile.

Jerre and Beck keep hitting the beach and old crabby Rob drifts down every once in a while. They are brown as nuts and he uses sun screen so he is as brown as a clear sheet.

We hit the Paradise Island Casino one night but only walked around and played the slot machines. The cheapest chips they had to Black Jack and other games was $5, so we couldn't afford it.

They also have a small Casino in the Ambassador where we stayed the first night.

This left-hand side of the road driving is interesting to say the least. Jerre is always saying "Oooooh, look out," and Becky says "Oh shut up," and Rob says, "Two heads are better than one. Whoops -- that was close!"

Then there was the morning we went down town. Jerre and Beck went shopping on Bay Street. Rob walked all over town. He went to the government house, the water tower, a fort, a church, the Queen's Staircase. Met them at Avita's for a cool one. It was coffee but they were so hot the coffee tasted cool. Jerre and Beck had been to the old Nassau Straw Market and they wanted Rob to go back and take pictures, which we did. Horse-drawn surreys, shops, natives, and long boats. What a mob.

Becky bought a visor and the little sales guy was about half as tall as she is. He would reach up and put one on her, No -- too big -- here try this one -- looks good -- or, maybe you like this one better. Here, that's a good one. I'll take it. Beck to the beach again. What a basking.

The water is unbelievably clear. You can see bottom at 20 feet like it was drinking water. We snorkeled some but Rob's snorkel was too little, so didn't do much.

Made a trip to the Botanic Gardens and some more gardens. Beautiful flora and fauna -- more pictures -- another feast. Pictures!

Nearly every morning we eat a buffet breakfast. Fruit, rolls, bacon, ham, sausage, eggs, pancakes, juice, coffee.

On the trip Jerre is reading "Random Winds," Rob's reading "Kane and Abel," Becky is reading four books.

We all went out in the bay to Para-sail. Rob and Becky para-sailed and Jerre took pictures. Becky went first and she took off like a feather and when she came back in she landed like a butterfly.

When Rob took off he took off like a rock, and they dipped him in the water for about thirty seconds. Then as he went up he was spewing seawater out of his mouth like a faucet. When he landed he came in like a hippopotamus, and they landed him in the water off the platform.

We all three took a sail boat ride -- cruised around in the coral sea and landed on a small "isle."

A convention group was having a buffet and show one night down in the garden under our balcony. We ate room service and listened the native bongo's most of the night.

Most of the people are from Germany, England, France. Met some from Miami, Canada, and Pennsylvania.

One night we went to a Polynesian restaurant and had Chinese food. The atmosphere was great. They had thunder and lightning which made Jerre say, "Ooh" -- Beck would say "Oh, shut up," And Rob would say, "Two heads are better than one" -- Whoops, that doesn't go here.

end