Honeymoon in the Bahamas (part 2 of 3)
Tuesday May 15th
Key West, FL
We woke up to the ship actually in the process of docking. It was going to take about an hour for them to fully be done, they were not going to let anyone off until 8 or a little after. So we made sure to have a good breakfast! Buffet style baby!!!
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We made our way to the unloading station. They scan your key card and move you along!
Hello Key West!!
Of the 3 ports we were visiting this was the only one we were able to find the most information on online. So we had an idea of what we wanted to do and see and about where everything was. There was a local place there. Not associated with the cruise lines. That did parasailing!!!
Para West! We found there booth, no really its like an old ice cream hut with one guy in it totally awesome! Got signed up and was given a time and where to go to load up on the boat we had about an hour in a half wait until it was time to load up.
Right next to parasailing booth was a bicycle rental. It was going to be the easiest, cheapest, and fastest way around the island. We got our bikes and locks and went to go head around!
But wait..... did you know that Florida is an hour ahead in time from Oklahoma!!!! We forgot up to this point....
So glad we didn't get to far and remembered because we had about 15 min to get to the spot for our parasailing trip!! Thankfully it only took us 5 minutes to get there!
We were there about 5 min when the boat pulled in, unloaded everyone. There was a mother and daughter (she was about 12) and us that loaded up.
They drive out about 10 min. They asked who wanted to go fist. The mother had gone before but this was the little girls first time. She wanted us to go first. Right on!! We got all strapped in. Its like a swing with a 5 point harness. They had us sit all the way down in the back with our legs out in front. Asked if we were okay with getting wet. And took off!! The rope we were tide on was about 300 feet long and we were about 150 feet up in the air. We could see our ship and most of Key west up there. After what felt like 15 - 20 minutes, they pulled us back in. Dipped us in the water a few times too.
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They even took a short video of us too!
After we got back we jumped on our bicycles and went around the town to see what we could see. Got a map and were on our way.
We headed over to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park to go swim in the ocean for a moment. Now for Galveston being my first steps in the ocean. This was some clear water now, and totally different too. It was like it had more salt. Trying to dive with no gear was a challenge for sure. But i got to see a few fish so totally worth it!
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After the swim we needed to find something the eat. Jumped back on our bikes an made our way back to the pier where we seen some places earlier that looked really good.
On our way we had to stop at a few places to look around.
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We got back to the pier. Dropped our bikes off at the rental and found a place to eat It was now after the lunch rush so we didn't have to wait to be seated!
It was soo good!!!
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After lunch we stayed near the pier. There where lots of shops and a museum with huge statutes all around it. Even had a key lime pie!!
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Even had some key limb pie!!
Now a little interesting info on Key West! THEY HAVE ROSTERS EVERYWERE!!! No joke.
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Now because Amber never like to be late (sort story I can fell you in later with) The ship was set to take off at a certain time and I didn't want to be left. Poor Shawn is wanted to go take a look at some other places and I'm over here freaking out about being left.... granted it not a bad place to be left, just didn't want it happening!! So because he gets me (love that man) we boarded back on the ship. And we set sail out about almost 2 hours latter!! I know that was plenty of time to go see something else, but its not fun when you are looking at your watch every 5 minutes!
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So long Key West!!
After the long day we camped out in our room, ordered some room service turned in for the night!!
Wednesday May 16th
Freeport Bahamas
Now Freeport really is a port. They have a few little shops but that's about it. What you have to do is get on a bus/van and go into the island. They can drop you off at the shopping district or at the beach. We chose the beach.
We loaded up with about 8 other people. Do not pay attention when they drive you will sike yourself out. Brakes are a thing of the past and the horn is used for everything else!! Oh and stop signs are just warnings. Other than that... it was like a fun carnival ride!!
When they drooped everyone off they said the free beach was that way and when your ready to go back to the ship you must have your ticket so don't loose it.
Everyone else went right and we saw this light house to the left! We had to go through this venue are to get to it. Over by some hotel rooms. We couldn't get all the way up to it but very close.
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The light house is just a up the beach from the ocean. We walked down there and had this whole section all to ourselves it was awesome!! And the water had this teal blue look it. Even clearer than Key West!
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After about an hour we wanted to go check out the little stores that were up where we were dropped off at.
Port Lucaya (Lu-sha)
This was a little market place. We did a little shopping, walking around and got something to eat.
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Ran across this gentlemen!! Asked if we cold take his photo, he said only if we take it with him!
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We wanted to go swim a little more before it was time to head back to the ship. The doors that we went through last time were closed but not locked. Made our way back to the section we were at before.
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Remember that storm we went through a few days ago, the same one that was on Galveston too. Welp... itssss here!!
We hurried and packed, grabbed everything, ran to a gazebo that was between the building and the beach. We tucked everything away that couldn't get wet. We were going to have to go through the lobby of this building and there was sign outside that said flipflops and swim wear were prohibited in the main lobby.... They way Shawn said it we are trying to get to through the other side. What are they going to do kick us out, that were we are going. Just kept walking and no one would say anything. He was right we made right through.
Its still poring down rain and we still have to go across a section of road and into a little building to give them our ticket. We got over there, gave the ticket and got loaded up. There was a couple that got on next to us that were complaining about how crowded the beach was and how dirty everything was. As we drove off we looked back behind the police department and saw the free beach..... it was as this point that we realized not only did we get onto a private resort... but we did it twice!!
We get back to the ship and change into something dryer!! Went back out to the port for a little while as the rain had stopped for a moment just to check out some of the little shops there. When it stated to rain again. Back onto the ship we go... and stayed!!!
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After a fun and.... interesting... day. We were wiped out.
They were playing "Farris Bueller's Day Off" on the Dive in theater so we decided to find a spot and watch it, because for some reason I had never seen this before.
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Good end to a good day!
Thursday May 17th
As the storm was still going. We waited a little to see of it would pass... got tired of waiting. Did the most tourists thing we would possible do and bought some very blue and "look at me I'm on a cruise ship ponchos!!!"
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We got a map of the island as we were wanting to check out the Queens Staircase and the Tower. Found them on the map and started walking.... in blue ponchos and all!!!
It was about a mile walk, and in the pouring rain. We get almost there to a cross road and people in there cars are just flying through. Its a 4 way stop and no one is really stopping.... a lady a few doors down just kinda laughs and says " your going to have to just jump out there. They wont hit you but you better hurry!" So thats what we did!! She was right they didn't hit us!!!
We get to the queens staircase and there is a local gentleman that gives us a little history about it, like when it was originally built it had 77 steps but because of the now concrete floor the covered up one of the steps so now its only 76. And that everything was built by hand!
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On the top is the old fort. The highest point on the island.
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At this point it has fully stopped raining so we go to side of a tourist building where they have a bench and take off our "look at me" panchos. Its a beautiful area. We walk down a little bit to see if we can see the stair case from up here, we can! We can also see the dumping ground of where they thew all the luggage of travellers the have already gone through and taken everything worth value... time to go!!
We make our way back over to port, gab a bite to eat, grab a cab and head over to connecting island or Nassau Atlantis Resort!
When we get over there they tell us that unless we pay for the resort we are not allowed to enter. But we can walk over a couple of blocks and go behind the resort to the beach.
There was a little shopping area that you have to go through, but most of the shops were closed, so we just headed over to the beach. Fallowed the few people in front of us, had a few locals standing next to a sketchy trail telling us this way to the beach it was a short cut... yeah RIGHT buddy, we just saw the dumping ground, we're good. Besides i would rather stay out in the open.
We made it over to beach, it was breath taking!! The water was so clear you could literally see the tide rolling in under the water!
We found a section of the beach to call our own!
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After an hour or two we made our way up the beach and found ourselves in the resort section of the beach, and wouldn't you know it... that same storm started rolling in!! We didn't want to get caught in it again, so we went through Atlantis! A very small section! After all what are they going to, ask us to leave, that's what we are trying to do!
We make our way to the front and jump in a cab, and it starts to pore down rain! One other couple jumps in and the cabby, he tells us he doesn't want to stand out in it anymore and we head back over to the port.
We changed into normal clothing and head back out to the little shopping area next to the ships. It had stopped raining and the sun was coming back out!
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As we set sail we wave goodbye to last dry land we would see for the next few days
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