Bayshore Marina, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas

Our US visa appointment approaching on Monday, I dragged out all of our documentary evidence again to make sure that we had everything covered – why you are going, proof that you have ties elsewhere and that you will leave, proof that you can support yourself there etc. All present and correct, though the black printer cartridge was on it’s way out and the last couple of prints were barely legible (we obviously have two spare colour cartridges but no black). I had also forgotten that I still hadn’t got my passport photo taken.

So off I went on a bit of a tour, three computer shops later and still no printer cartridge nor anywhere local to get a photo taken so I took my first venture on a local bus. Being on a one way road about 2-3 miles from downtown Nassau, you end up taking one of the circular bus tours round the houses then onto downtown Nassau. I hadn’t realised quite how far it went first otherwise I think I may have even done the walk in the heat, as 40 minutes later I arrive in downtown Nassau. I had had a fairly extensive tour of the area first though as 40 minutes travelling on an island only 27 miles long and 7 miles wide yet without actually leaving the built up area of Nassau itself must surely call at most districts. Also, although the bus routes are numbered up to about 27, I also got the distinct impression that if the traffic is busy the bus driver can divert as they wish. It is not too picturesque out of the tourist areas and some areas seem pretty poor. The traffic is fairly heavy everywhere, but then this is very much a car-based society (directions always given as if you are driving and shops being malls with big car parks). Any Bahamians we have met outside Nassau seem to hate the place and blame it for all crime in the Bahamas.

Eventually I find a passport photo shop (no booths here) and wait in line as a local family come in dress up in proper Sunday best  obviously for portraits including two little boys one dressed head to toe in a white suit, white waistcoat and white tie who is judiciously and firmly placed on his mother’s knee until photo time. Mine is very quickly taken, I am asked the purpose of the photo and when it is ready I am passed a 2 inch square photo, i.e. not normal passport photo dimensions. I double check the size with the assistant and she says, yes that is right.

I return back to the boat and immediately drag out the visa instructions and the ruler, yes, it seems US passport photos are not the same size as English. So, now we have to repeat the exercise because Kevin’s photos are ones we had left over from something else in English sizing, never having thought to measure it. So, off we go back into Nassau. We start out walking planning to call in at another computer shop for a cartridge on the way. There is an enormous storm cloud hovering and the weather is extremely humid. We then discover that the directions we have been given are not too good and everyone we ask is unable to help much. Eventually we pass a mall with another store, not the one we were looking for but they have the Canon cartridge we need.

As the squall is almost overhead by the time we come out and now a long way from the Nassau road we decide to brave the bus again. This time we travel for about 30 minutes, amusingly passing a few of the things I have seen that morning but often from the opposite direction. I think Kevin has despaired of us ever reaching downtown Nassau by now, having a much better sense of direction than I is less happy to sit contentedly as we regularly turn away from Nassau. However, eventually we arrive and I escort Kevin to the photo shop and we finally have his photos too. It is now about 5pm and still raining so we decide to fulfil one of Kevin’s Nassau visiting plans – a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt.

Trip Souvenir

Hard Rock Cafe’s t-shirt sales must now be such a major part of the business that they are in a shop on the ground floor and the restaurant is upstairs. They have quite an array of designs but Kevin chooses the traditional white. We decide to have a burger (veggie for me) whilst we are there. For once in the pouring rain, the aircon is actually that bit too cold and we are quite pleased when the hot food arrives. Having worked previously in the US, Kevin has often remarked on the quality of the burgers actually being made of beef, though this US chain didn’t quite have it right. I was also rather shocked to find my small glass of white wine was $9.