Freeport

Text Box: While I was paddling my butt off, the girls were doing a leisurely horseback ride into the ocean. It wasn't quite like Madeline did in Jamaica, where the horse was up to its neck, but it was fun for the girls nonetheless. They saw some beautiful countryside and also learned a bit about the ways of the Bahamians.

In Freeport, I went on my own on a kayak tour through the mangroves of Lucayan National Park. I had never really kayaked before, and it was meant for 2 people, but I ultimately did very well on the 3 mile tour. It was a lot of fun, but I could have used a hat, as the sun was very strong and hot.

After kayaking, we went to a beach and had a picnic lunch. We also learned a lot about the ecological and geographic aspects of Grand Bahama Island, like how it formed, how wildlife survives on it, and how it is eventually heading back into the sea.

Text Box: I was really looking forward to going to Freeport for a couple of reasons. First of all, the only public island I had ever been to in the Bahamas was New Providence Island, or Nassau. It was going to be interesting to go to an island that was tremendously less commercialized and populated. Second, I was looking forward to my excursion, which was kayaking. On many cruises there were opportunities to go kayaking in some mangroves or caves, but I was always hesitant to do it. This time, I went for it and would certainly kayak in the future as well.

Freeport, Grand Bahama

Text Box: After our individual excursions, we ran into each other on the ship and then head off near the dock into a cozy bar, where we drank an island drink such as the Bahama Mama.

Line Callout 2: We woke up the first morning to our first Bahama island. The weather was beautiful. Grand Bahama is a quiet island and there were not a lot of excursions to choose from, but we managed to find something for all of us to do.