International bazaar

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We had been given details of the International Bazaar, including the perfume factory, by the complex on which we are staying. The bazaar is just around the corner from the supermarket that we visited on the first night here, so we know roughly where it is.

Whilst driving there, we spot the Grand Bahamas port marked on the map. As we both like boats, and this is not too far from the bazaar, we decided to take a quick detour to look around the boats.

At first it looked like we were not going to be able to get very close. The first place we looked was on the wrong side of the estuary.

We continued down the road and came across another road sign posted to the port. This took us right down to the dock area. We parked up on the outside and began to peer in through the fence at the two gigantic passengers in the port. A local taxi driver took pity on us and said we would get a better view if we went inside. We did not think we would be allowed in there. She told us where to take the car so that we could get right up close to the boats.

We moved the car into the port car park and walked around. We entered the area of the cruise liners. The people coming off of the boats were in a completely different world.

The one big cruise liner that was in dock was absolutely huge. About twice the length of the average cross channel ferry from back home. Some of the outside cabins had outside balconies with only a sheet of glass separating them from the outside ocean.

There was also another vessel parked along side it. This looked like an island to island boat for within the Bahamas. They were unloading crate loads of provisions from USA or surrounding Islands. It was really interesting watching them unload these personal crates and seeing what each family had bought in with them.

From the port we went back to the bazaar. We were really disappointed with this. We are here out of the normal holiday season, and the whole of the bazaar looks to be closed up, probably because it was Sunday. A lot of them were in urgent need of repair.

We went back to the supermarket we visited from earlier and stocked up on some more supplies then went back to the apartment. Just as we got back, the heavens opened and they stayed that way for the rest of the day and all the next.

We have been invited to a welcome party on the beach tonight with free food and drink. It is supposed to be on the local beach, but we somehow doubt that with the current rain. The moved the party into a nearby gazebo.

They had traditional Caribbean music, drinks and a sampler plate of traditional Bahamas food. A lovely way to spend a wet evening.

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