Shakin' in Der Boots!

Most countries would be shaking in their boots with the news that a ruthless dictator is coming to power. Not the Bahamas. As read in the local rag this morning the Bahamas is terrified of a weak, 81 year-old, retiring dictator. Why? Well when Castro took over, Cuba ceased to be, as it had been for many years, the playground of America. Once the tourists were shut out of Cuba they had to find another place to party so now Americans hop on over to the Bahamas. Since tourism (directly or indirectly) accounts for 60% of the Bahamas GDP it seems Bahamians owe a great big "Thanks" to Fidel.

Here is the big question... When Cuba tourism possibilities legally open up to Americans will they fly right over Nassau on their way to Havana? The local rag seems to think so. After all Cuba has gorgeous beaches, tons of history, amazing architecture, fabulous music, cigars, mojitos and most of all - really lovely people. The Bahamas has "sour-faced" employees and sky-high prices.

In any case we don't think the Bahamas should hold their breath. Nothing will change in Cuba for a while. One Castro out and one Castro in.

Em is Swimming!

Emily started her official swimming lessons yesterday at school. Lisa went to watch. She has to pass 10 steps until she can go in to the next level class and in her first half hour lesson she got to step 5! Lisa was very proud of her little fishy. Here she is this past weekend at Cabbage Beach.

Sweet Moments

This has been a rough move. Yes - we are living our well-planned, hard-earned dream and we are extremely thankful for that, but as Lisa and her sister Michelle always say - "everything is relative". You can't feel guilty for feeling anxious about life even though people are starving in Africa. You can only deal with how you feel in any particular moment within your only life context. Just because you aren't starving in Africa doesn't mean you can never be depressed.

Not that we have been depressed since we have been here (well Lisa hasn't, but Mark is always depressed so that doesn't count) but there have been moments where we worried about what we doing and how things were going.

Yesterday Tom took the car to take out his Parents and Emily which left us with the problem of getting downtown for Mark's football game. We hitched and got picked up by the first people that passed us. They were a young Bahamian couple (one black, one white) who went out of their way to drop us where we wanted to go - all during rush hour traffic. It was a sweet moment as were quietly driving in to town with the windows down, the sea air blowing in and the sun setting over the buildings and busy streets of Nassau. Then a great evening of football under lights and a drink in an outdoor bar (shack) overlooking the water.

How can you not love living in a country where you get picked up by the first car that passes with complete confidence that you are safe and secure in the hands of generous people?

Emily's Day

Emily saw more of the tourist parts of the Bahamas today than she has since we arrived. She must feel like she is on vacation. Tom and Emily went to Ardastra Gardens where they watched the flamingo parade and fed the parrots and then spent the afternoon at Cabbage Beach. Mark and Lisa spent the day relaxing at home - Lisa trying to keep her foot up.

Here are some photos of their adventures.

Aching Ankle!

Yesterday Emily's Dad (Tom) arrived so we went out to PI. Emily and Tom went to Anthony's Grill and toured the Atlantis while Mark and Lisa went to Bimini Road (overlooking the yachts). We met up at 9:30 for the Junkanoo Rush through Marina Village. Unfortunately we forgot our camera so we have no pictures today. Emily was getting a little sleepy and grumpy so Lisa offered to pick her up (something she hardly ever does since Emily is getting too big). Emily in hand and Junkanoo moving forward Lisa stepped back to make room and stepped off the edge of the pavement and turned her ankle. Mother and daughter went crashing in to the bushes - thank goodness they were there. This morning Lisa can't walk. Ouch!

Emily and Tom have gone off to explore the zoo and the beaches for the day. Since they took the car Lisa and Mark were planning on going for a nice walk... not today!

Houston: We have a problem - Nassau

Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the pool, we have discovered a moisture problem. As can be seen from the photos below the spare bedroon has what appears like a rising damp issue. However since the walls are concrete and thus porous by nature, this does not seem an insurmountable problem. From what can be gleaned from the web, concrete will always attract a certain amount of damp and as long as proper maintenance is administered then it should stay in good shape. So what is needed is some advice and preliminary preparation work for Mark then to complete the job....there the rub! Although we have the contact details for a "good" painter, trying to get him to turn up or even answer his phone is proving problematic. The Bahamian "island" mentality of working only when the wind is blowing in a certain condition and only on any day other than the weekend or during the working week, is taking its toll. They are masters of provarication and torpidness: enough to put the Italians to shame - and that's saying something.

Anyway we have to go as we are expecting Doug any minute this morning - fat chance!