Nassau in the Bahamas

Sailing into Nassau, I got this good photo of the sun rising over Paradise Island.

Downtown Nassau and the Nassau Water Tower are easy to see from the decks of the Carnival Fantasy cruise ship docked in Nassau.

Typical downtown street in Nassau. The colorful buildings give the city a cheerful, upbeat look.

Browsing through the market in Nassau is much the same as native markets elsewhere in the Caribbean and the Americas.

Like many former British colonies, Bahamian school children still dress in proper uniforms.

The Bahamaian Houses of Parliament are clustered around a Queen Victoria statue in Nassau's Parliament Square.

This statue of Queen Victoria stands outside the Bahamian Houses of Parliament in Nassau.

The Queen's Staircase in Nassau has 65 steps to the top; one for each year of her reign. The staircase is 102 feet tall and is carved from limestone. Nassau's Queen's Staircase was built by slaves in 1793-1794 to honor Queen Victoria. These old photos of the Queen's Staircase are very interesting.

The views of New Providence Island, Nassau, and Paradise Island from the Water Tower in Nassau are spectacular.

Fort Fincastle was built in 1793 to guard Nassau from Spanish invaders. The water tower offers great views of the city and island (for a fee).

Nassau's Fort Fincastle, built in 1793, is one of several historic forts on New Providence Island in the Bahamas.

Bahamas photo of the view of Paradise Island and the large Atlantis Resort from Fort Fincastle in Nassau

Fort Fincastle, which was built in 1793, offers good views of the Nassau harbor and Paradise Island.

Bright orange poinciana trees line the streets of Nassau. They are lovely, but have very messy blossoms.

The views of Paradise Island and the Atlantis Resort from Fort Fincastle are excellent.

The Atlantis Resort and Casino on Paradise Island near Nassau has fun activities for all ages. Big is the operative word to describe Atlantis. There is the largest casino in the Caribbean, a huge marine habitat, an enormous dinner theater, numerous pools, a golf course . . .Many cruise goers spend their day in Nassau exploring Atlantis.

Brilliant orange poinciana flowering trees are seen everywhere in Nassau, Bahamas

Isn't this a tempting sign? We all love to listen for the sea.

Snorkeling with sting rays in best known in Grand Cayman, but other islands such as the Bahamas offer tours for swimming/snorkeling with sting rays.

Ronnie and Linda Garrison petting a white sting ray at Sting Ray City near Nassau in the Bahamas. Photo was taken in 2001 - we've aged!