Today's excursion was a bit of a disaster.

It began badly due to having been given the wrong tour papers, which described a completely trip to the one I was being sent out on. Three groups of passsengers it seemed, escorted by 3 different escorts were apparently all going on the same tour, to drive through Nassau City, visit Fort Charlotte, a massive fort dating back to 1793, and to visit the Ardastra Gardens.

Unfortunately, upon arrival at the place where we were to board the buses, after walking quite a distance around the perimeter of the dock, from the ship, we were faced with absolute mayhem - throngs of people, well, thronging.... A big burly guy (yep - another one) seemed to take control of things, splitting our passenger-congo up and gesticulating towards some vehicles across the busy main street. What happened was this: the bus that I was allocated was too small. The driver managed, somehow, to squeeze everyone in except me. I was stood there, waving my lollipop, with the bus number on it, and saying to the driver "but, but, but... I'm the tour escort - I'm supposed to be... escorting them!!" and so on. The driver just shrugged and pointed towards the big burly bloke who was organising things, and said "see him - he'll sort it out..." So, I crossed back over the road, to try and get to talk to the burly guy, and as I did so - the coach drove off!!

For a few minutes, I sort of went into headless chicken mode. The Bg BG was busy dealing with yet another tour group, off another ship, so I returned back to the street to see if I could spot one of the other coaches, but they were gone. I'd been left behind!! I couldn't believe it! Anyway, upon returning to the big BG, I spotted an eldery woman, from one of the Balmoral groups, wandering aimlessly about with her tour tickets clutched in her hands, who had also been overlooked. Frankly, this was a saving a grace for me, because I was able to swoop down upon her and take charge, demanding to know from the big BG what he intended to do about us two passengers who had been left behind, reassuring him that this would all be reported unfavourably to Fred Olsen.

The upshot of all this is that another minibus was rapidly conjured up, to take this errant passenger and myself to Fort Charlotte, the first stopping point on our itinerary, where we could hook up with the rest of the party.

Things never really got much better after that. Because there was still no room for me on the minibus that I was supposed to be escorting, I had to hitch a lift with one of the other groups, who already had a tour escort - one of the dance hosts, called Allen. All of this just caused a certain amount of confusion amongst some passengers who suddenly didn't know which group they belonged to (it probably didn't help that I insisted on waving my number-2  lollipop about at the same time as Allen was waving his number-1 lollipop about - no wonder the poor dears were confused.

The tour of Fort Charlotte was slightly disappointing, and the Ardastra Gardens turned out to be more of a zoo than a botanical feast, where we had to endure a weird stage show featuring a bunch of performing pink flamingos (the national bird of the Bahamas).

We're on our way again now - sailing to towards Ocho Rios, Jamaica, where we should arrive on Sunday. It's been a glorious day, weather-wise, and I've caught the sun. Tomorrow is the first of our sea-days, and it has been confirmed that they want me to do two workshops - one at 10am, and a repeat at 2pm (which is certainly better than the three that were down on the original itinerary.

 

well peter you certainly know how to have an exciting cruise dont you!!! hope you took pics of these Big Burly Guys and lotsa pics of Miami did you recognise anywhere? glad you didnt have a problem at Heathrow, we did think about you especially when it was on the news again! hope your workshops go well speak soon lee n Sy:)

hi Hun!
glad you're safe & sound on the ship hope you have the time of your life too, like we've just had except yours will be warmer lol!!
I'm back safe & sound from the Isle of Skye!
The Cuillins are like no other mountains in the country & are known as the mini Alps by mountaineerers, it just means you have less distance to fall than the alps & not so long, but they are just as hard!!!You take care & catch up with you soon.
luv CaZ xXx

Hi Lee n' Si n' Caz - thanks for the comments doods. In answer to the question of did I take any photos of said big burly guys - NO WAY!! Believe me, you just don't!! Apart from anything, I'd say they've all had to have a major sense of humour bypass before they're allowed to take up the post! Hope the concert was good by the way!

Caroline - great to hear you got back home from the Cuillins safely - I'll look forward to hearing of all your adventures and seeing the photos when I get back.

Luv to all

Peter