This post is part of a series. You can start with Cruzin’, then Cruzin’:Day Two, Mexican Adventures and Cruzin’ Day IV:Poison & Magic.
See that? That’s the beach at Bimini, part of the Bahamas. See that ship, that’s our ship. See those clouds? Full of rain. Looks like that hurricane is getting closer.
This little island is a quick flight from the US, so it was and is popular with fancy types who like to own houses here and fly in on their own light plane. I think my hero and primary inspiration for this blog, Hemingway, had one. A house, not a plane. Didn’t get to see much though, they don’t even let on you on the beach other than by the pier, next to the sewage treatment plant. There is a casino though, if you’re tired of the one on the ship.
Mrs Sachie and I had lugged our snorkelling gear (masks and snorkels) all the way from Bangkok so we finally got in the water. And what a swim it was! We saw… sand. Some fish under the pier. Then it started raining.
We had returned to the buffet last night after the show because Mrs Sachie needed another helping of pasta and now she’s got a sore tummy and the runs so it’s up to me to keep the Mast Bar afloat. Again. But it’s our last night aboard so after a bit of needling she ventured out for a few drinks at Martini Bar (nothing like the one in Phnom Penh) in the Grand Plaza, the great atrium amidships.
We had seen a video of these bartenders juggling bottles and performing tricks on the cruise line’s website and they do it in real life too. But in real life they drop and spill them a lot more. Great fun, but it takes ages to get a drink.
As you can see, it’s a classy place.
Uh oh.
It was only a couple of weeks before the election that would see Donald Trump return to the White House but you wouldn’t really know, at least in Florida. There wasn’t a lot of political action on show and this stuff was rare. The gentleman’s shirt reads:
I identify as M.A.G.A:
- I put God first.
- I love my family.
- I love my neighbour.
- I respect the law.
- I am not a threat unless threatened.
- I only kneel to God.
Well, good for you mate, no need to make a fuss about it. Seems like a pretty milquetoast political statement, not exactly ‘Eat the Rich’. It strikes me that the MAGA movement is a malleable canvas that people project their own political assumptions and hopes on, regardless of its deeds. Usually in response to some left-wing strawman. See how that fourth bullet point turns out for your candidate.
Sachie says it’s time to stop thoughtfully stroking my goatee and go to bed. We have an early start.
And that’s the last look at our cabin.
Goodbye lifeboat 08, we won’t miss you.
And that’s it for the series! We arrived back at Fort Lauderdale in the pissing rain and got onto one of these:
Checked into the Orlando Marriott Airport hotel:
And ate this:
Next stop, NASA!