Nassau

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Oriana arrived at Nassau in the Bahamas early in the morning. Despite the hour, several other cruise ships were in the vicinity. I was up on deck to see the pilot boat arrive. In the distance was the flat silhouette of New Providence Island with the distinctive profile of Hog Island Light marking the entrance to Nassau Harbour. (It's now known as Paradise Island Light and remains a landmark.) Oriana docked at Prince George's Wharf, where cruise ships dock today, though it has been greatly expanded. We left the ship here and we transferred to the Nassau Beach Hotel.

Sightseeing in Nassau was by taxi. Among the sights were: Government House, the Ardstra Gardens, Fort Charlotte and Fort Montagu. Government House was then the residence of the British Governor-General. Ardastra Gardens is still known for the flocks of Pink Flamingos, the national bird of the Bahamas. Fort Charlotte was constructed in 1789 to add to Nassau's defense against possible Spanish attack from Cuba and, not inconsequentially, possible American attack. (Loyalists and escaped slaves had come to the Bahamas during the Revolutionary War.) It remained Nassau's principal fortification until it was decommissioned in 1891. Fort Montagu was an earlier fortification, built in 1742 to protect the eastern approach to Nassau harbour. When built, it was two miles away from Nassau proper. The fort came under fire in 1776 during the Battle of Nassau, an engagement of the American Revolution. (It was one of the first actions by the new US Navy and the Marine Corps.)

In the evening, the Nassau Beach Calypso Quartet provided music around the hotel's pool deck. I bought one of the group's LP albums as a souvenir. (Later I found this album was considered one of the top 100 calypso records!)

From Nassau, my mother and I flew to New York to see the World's Fair.

Oriana continued on to Bermuda, Le Havre, and Southampton.

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Photos

Government House
Government House, Nassau, in 1965. The Union Jack was still flying at this time. Government House, rebuilt in 1932 after the original 1810 residence was damaged in a hurricane, is the official residence of the Bahamas Governor-General. The statue of Christopher Columbus on its steps dates from 1830.
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Directing Traffic in Nassau
Directing traffic in Nassau.
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Fort Montagu
Fort Montagu was an earlier fortification, built in 1741-1742 to protect the eastern approach to Nassau harbor. When built, it was two miles away from Nassau proper. The fort came under fire in 1776 during the Battle of Nassau, an engagement of the American Revolution. (It was one of the first actions by the US Navy and the Marine Corps.)
The area in the background of the photo is now the Atlantis resort.
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Ardastra Gardens
Pink flamingoes at Ardastra Gardens. They are the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber). Pink Flamingoes are the National Birds of the Bahamas.
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Fort Charlotte
Fort Charlotte was constructed in 1789 to add to Nassau's defense against possible Spanish attack from Cuba and, not inconsequentially, possible American attack. (Loyalists and escaped slaves had come to the Bahamas during the Revolutionary War.) It remained Nassau's principal fortification until it was decommissioned in 1891.
The fort was built under Lord Dunmore, who had been the last British Colonial Governor of Virginia.
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Nassau Beach Hotel
Nassau Beach Hotel in 1965.
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Nassau Airport
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Leaving The Bahamas
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