MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!

Hello all from the sunny Bahamas.....

We are still in Nassau celebrating Christmas and waiting on our friend Ian to arrive. Ian will be joining us tomorrow and will be staying through New Year's Day. T and I are both very excited about Ian coming. So, tomorrow afternoon, we will ride out to the airport and pick him up.....just about cocktail time. PERFECT !!

We have made good use of our time here in Nassau. T has done a lot of re-provisioning, and I have caught up on some basic maintenance. The water here is MUCH saltier than the water in New England.....so it is a constant battle of keeping the salt build up off the boat.

Yesterday, we went to the "fish market" for our Christmas Eve dinner. Well, the "fish market" consists of a beat up pick up truck parked just outside the marina. We climbed up on the back of the truck and looked in the large coolers for the perfect dinner. Yes, the fish were "still of the hoof" so to speak. We picked out the perfect grouper, and the mon asked "how d' ya like it ?" Filleted, perfect. So, our dinner to be was tossed onto a piece of plywood, the flys shooed away, and the knife briskly stirred in a bucket of water and the filleting began. Ten seconds later, we had two large pieces of the freshest fish imaginable. We bartered the "right" price and home (boat ?) we went with our dinner. It was SUPER !!

I made breakfast this morning......french toast with cinnamon, fresh ground nutmeg and oh, yes....a "bit" of Black Strap Rum.......Think I over did the rum a bit......T said it burned her throat......I think it was the cinnamon, mon.

We are hanging today, straightening out the boat for Ian's arrival and doing the beer shopping. Yes, all the stores (including grocery stores and liquor stores are open today). It is a beautiful day wx wise, warm, sunny and a light breeze......not a Christmas feeling at all. It is very different here......Christmas is really not a big deal. There are a few subtle decorations about, but none of the commercialism that you see in the states. Most of the stores and restaurants may have a simple wreath, or a small tree....but that's it. And what is really noticeable is the lack of lights.....no colored lights at all. So, we have been enjoying the string of lights I put up in the cockpit 2 weeks ago.

Finally, we have to say that THE CREW misses our friends and family up north. Although we are on our sailing adventure, you have all been in our thoughts during this season.......

So, to all of you from THE CREW, a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. I hope that you all can fulfill your dreams, whatever they may be, the way we have been able to this year. Lastly, "Kinvara" come on....get back to sailing.....you will love it here !!

D + T