In those four short miles, we entered a completely different world. There are SO many boats here. I don’t think we have seen this many in one place since the Gold Coast region of Queensland. It was like ducking under a low doorjamb to enter the darkness of the only tiny shack of a store for three nearby islands and finding yourself number thirty-five in line for the register on Christmas Eve at Costco. There were dinghies everywhere all of the time, as well as a constant flow of tour boats and water taxis. All were charging through the anchored boats at full speed. It was sensory overload.
Dolphins joined us on the move to George Town
We took the dinghy ashore and tied up at the free dock provided by the adjacent grocery store. Inside, we heard several people complain that the store had no provisions in. What‽ They had way more than three kinds of vegetables and dozens and dozens of potatoes. Good ones, too! The shelves were full of all sorts of wonders that we would never dare expect in such a small town. {Maryanne: We were so excited to find grapes, and avocado, and salad stuffs - the first time for us since LAST YEAR in South Africa, the selection seemed pretty cool to us!}
Enjoying George Town
Outside, walking the streets, the town was teeming. Two-thirds of the population were cruisers. Apparently, we have a distinctive look, or rather set of looks. There is the posh crowd who are out yachting in a multimillion-dollar boat that they wrote off as a business expense. There are those trying a little too hard to look like Jimmy Buffett, and then there’s the ones who are not trying hard enough and have given up altogether with any manner of personal hygiene or comportment. I’m afraid to figure out which one we are, but all three are pretty embarrassing. The locals, to their huge credit, were perpetually as warm and friendly as can be, despite the virtual tidal wave of demanding, self-centered behavior on our part.
We popped in for delicious frozen drinks at a couple of places, and also had the best restaurant meal we have had since Cape Town. It wasn’t until trying out the “other” Bahamian beer (Sands) at the Yacht Club (really just a bar) that we sat next to a bunch of clueless loudmouths that were making a real point of broadcasting how rich they all were. I remember one guy repeatedly telling the others at the table that he’s leaving each of his kids just over seven million dollars. Then they all agreed that that sounded about right and went around telling how much each of their kids was going to get, presumably when their investors figure out they were ripped off and have ‘em whacked. That’s it! I have to get out of here.
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