Arriving in Nassau at 11:00, we have 4 hours until our flight to Eleuthera.
"Let's go for lunch over at Compass Point. We can eat by the water and maybe go for a short beach walk." Jim suggests.
"Oh, I'd love that. I'd much rather do that than hang around at the airport." I reply. Our friends Richard and Laurie take a taxi to a nearby supermarket. We take a taxi just a five minute drive near to the place we stayed in 2013. That's when we were waiting to board the Semester at Sea R/V Voyager for the trip through the Panama Canal. It's nostalgic. Our driver, Mark tells suggests another place Traveler's Rest. He drops us off at 12. We ask him to come pick us up at 2 so we can get our flight at 3. As we drive the familiar road to the shore, memories flash through my mind. This feels so nice sort of like "coming home." We pass A Stone's Throw Away on one of the highest points in Nassau. The road takes us through the carved 50 foot limestone cliffs down to the shoreline, showing us the amazing turquoise water. The driver Mark lets us off. We cross the busy street and walk up the path.
We are captivated by the restaurant on the right. The straw hut -like umbrellas with sand under the tables invite us right into this beach bar. We choose one with the best view of the gorgeous ocean view. A serious waitress asks us what we want. I have to explain my " gluten free dairy free no onion no garlic" diet. She is not interested, but listens and directs me to a fish taco which Jim also wants.
All of a sudden, the chef comes out to our table.
We meet Chef Alan. he assures me he can make me a GF DF lunch, a chicken taco! The serious waitress who we now think is "grumpy waitress" brings us our food. YUM! We enjoy our lunch then head to the beach across the street. We see an interesting anchor holding a skiff; a wheelbarrow turned upside down with a rock! A new fangled kind of killick? While we wait for Mark, the taxi driver, I get a bit anxious and ask Jim; "Do you think we should just flag down the next taxi?"
"Sure" he says.
I watch as cars whizz by until I see a car with the triangle shape on the roof. I wave. He stops.
"Can you please take us back to the airport?"
"lady, I'd love to, but I'm a pizza delivery driver! I am not a taxi!"
I laugh."Oh, sorry, I've only been in Nassau one hour. I guess I don't really know what taxis look like. I am anxious to get back to the airport."
"lady, I love that you are here! Sorry, I hope you get a taxi soon."
I keep laughing as I tell Jim
"That was a pizza delivery car!"
We wait, hoping the taxi driver Mark remembers to come back for us.
All of a sudden we see the pizza guy come back. He waves to us.
"Here, get in! I will drive you to the airport."
"Really? Great." Jim says as we see the guy move stuff off his seat to allow us into his car.
"I am really glad you came back." I say.
"Well, they don't pay me enough." He laughs.
"Well we will pay you." Jim says
"No, you don't have to, I'm happy to help you out today."
"Thanks. My name is Lea, this is Jim, what's your name?"
"My name is Detrone. I am the only Detrone in the entire world!"
"Detrone? How do you spell that?"
"D e t r O n e, accent over the second e. I'm the only Detrone in the world!"
"is it French?" Jim asks.
"No, I don't know what it is. My mother just wanted an unusual name for me."
"Well, we are glad to meet you Detrone." I say as we drive toward the airport.
"We got away from home in the middle of a snowstorm." Jim tells him.
"I've never seen snow." Detrone says.
"Well, come to Massachusetts some time in winter, you might like the snow."
"Ok. Sure" he laughs as we approach the airpot.
"You got us here in time. Thanks. I"d like to take a photo?"
"Sure, Let's take a selfie" Detrone says. He gets out of the car and joins us. He holds the camera as we snap a fun photo of the three of us.
We make our way through the airport to wait for the flight to Eleuthera. We meet Richard and Laurie at the gate.
"What a hoot to take a ride in the small Pineapple Air airplane!" Jim describes.
"You can barely see out the window they were so crazed over. The pilots were like cowboys. They jump up close the door, hop into the pilot seat, turn around and smile and get going. It's great."
We arrive in Governor's Harbor, Eleuthera. A woman named Precious is waiting for us with our rental car. We stop at the little grocery store to stock up. While loading the car, a man approaches Richard offering fresh fish for sale! We enjoy looking over Hendricks' catch and choose a bag of fresh grouper. We drive through the little village and then continue on to our house; Conch'd Out.
After unpacking the car, we take a dip in the turquoise water right in front of us, Splash! So happy to be swimming in Eleuthera.
We cook the grouper just the way Hendricks suggests; marinate it for 45 minutes in fresh lime juice and salt, Then cover it with scallions and broil it. Saute some cabbage and carrots, cook some rice and wow, what a great diner for our first night at Conch'd Out.
A game of cards ( Harry ) finishes off our evening together as we see the gorgeous sunset pink sky over the amazing turquoise water beyond the palm trees.
3/7/2023
