Bahamas 2015 Day 4

Tis morning (Bahamian accent intended), we got up and had hot breakfast again at the hotel and then grabbed a cab into town.  We passed Dog Flea Alley on Shirley Street and arrived at our destination, the Queen's Staircase (located at Shirley and at the end of Elizabeth, past the hospital). 

Awesome.

A cool shaded area is a welcome respite from the heat of the summer Bahamas.  Cut out of rock over 16 years, the passageway leading to the stairs is as impressive as the 65 stairs themselves.



At the top a friendly tour guide recounts the history of the steps and directs us to Fort Fincastle a few hundred yards away.  It was very interesting to tour the fort (make sure to move the cannons). 

We walked from there to the straw market.  If you are familiar with traveling abroad, the straw market is where you can get a deal, but you will have to work for it.  If haggling is not your thing, then you can still be happy there, but you might be more comfortable with the souvenir shops that line Bay street.    We were lucky to escape with a few nice trinkets and then find a guy who knew a guy (Gregory) who would take us around for a price.  TIP: negotiate cab fares up front.

We wanted to eat lunch at Nassau's famous "Fish Fry".  The Fish Fry in Arawak Cay is not a restaurant, it is a pile of restaurants all catering to locals and tourists alike.  But we didn't see many tourists when we got there (or when we left).  That's sad - this place has the best food on the island.  I can't recommend them all because I haven't been to but one, but the food was crazy good.  Ask your driver for a recommendation.  We went to a place just to the left of Candie's.  (I heard Candie's was good too).  Tons of food.  Super delicious, better prices than Paradise Island.  You have to do this.  #1 thing to do in the Bahamas.  (and drink Kalik Gold (7% abv) and Sands).  Our driver waited for us and then took us to the Rum Cake Factory.  Yum.  Bought some cakes and then headed back to the hotel.

We slept away the afternoon until the Rum Punch festival at the Comfort Suites.  We got up for that!  Then we hit Virgil's BBQ at the Atlantis.  Felt like home - had Elgin and Lockhart on the placemats and you could order different kinds of BBQ from all over the US.  We had Kansas City Fried Chicken and really good baked beans, mac n cheese, and biscuits.  Coming from Texas we understood "Family Style" and ordered the right amount, but we saw other tables covered in food they would never eat.

Casino (cashed out comps for free buffets tomorrow!) and did pretty well otherwise!  Kids club and home to bed.