Graycliff: Still One of My Favorites

Fish at Graycliff Hotel, Nassau, Bahamas

I am not sure why it took me so long to report on the Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant at Nassau, Bahamas. The Graycliff was a fond memory of a time long ago when I used to visit the Bahamas frequently, around 1988 to 1989. I was dating a guy at the time who worked on both the British Colonial Hotel renovation and also the original buildings of Atlantis at Paradise Island. Our highlight each year, either a birthday or significant holiday like Christmas, always included a visit to our favorite restaurant, Graycliff. The food is divine, the atmosphere gorgeous and it always required getting dressed up and taking a taxi up the hill from where we stayed. Who wouldn't love the only 5 star restaurant in the Caribbean?

TruBahamianFoodTour map

my husband Moises at Graycliff

So when I saw a locals tour that included a tasting at Graycliff, I couldn't resist. We had an awesome day off our cruise with Lexi, our guide, from Tru Bahamian Food Tours. When we got to Graycliff, it was raining and before the tour was over, at the Greek restaurant, it rained so hard that the streets were flooded to our knees. Some things about Nassau never change. But it was wonderful to visit my old friend Graycliff. They still had the wonderful fish pond and the elegant swimming pool. 

Graycliff swimming pool

They also had some new additions like the Graycliff Cigar Room and a chocolate tasting area, which is where we headed on our tour. 

Graycliff Cigar Room

No cigars were being smoked when we were in the cigar room, just a room to choose cigars and maybe buy a little jewelry. And the end of the day, before all the rain, we got to sample exquisite chocolates!

If you are ever interested in having a wonderful meal or staying at their luxury, boutique hotel, more info on Graycliff can be found here.

Celtic Explorer Part 2

St. Peter Port Guernsey courtesy of Fraser Hall/Getty Images

This is the 2nd part of my discussion on the Holland America cruise Celtic Explorer on the Prinsendam next August, 2016. The first port of call is St. Peter Port on the island of Guernsey. I had no idea it was so pretty, until I started looking for images. And also, who can resist a place where the first thing that comes to mind is a cow? Who doesn't love the Guernsey cow? I know I do. More information on the Guernsey cow can be found here.

Guernsey Cow

What I didn't realize until researching this port is that Guernsey is located in the Channel Islands between France and England. If this area is at all similar to the Normandy area that I went to on my cruise from Barcelona to Dover, I know I will love it. What is especially great about this cruise is that I would be going to ten places I have never been before. After having cruised quite a bit in the Med, I can't normally find one cruise that I haven't been to at least half the stops. 

Isles of Scilly courtesy of Wikipedia

The next stop will be St. Marys, Isles of Scilly - an archipelago off the southwest coast of Cornwall. The water looks amazing! Now this looks like God's country to me! Then on to Antwerp.

Cathedral at Antwerp

My thought was to revisit Brussels from our stop at Antwerp. I always promised myself I would make it back there. I loved it so much the first time. My post here on Gargoyles & Graffiti, "Brussels: Better than Brussel Sprouts" has some wonderful photos I took in 2011. I wanted to go back and visit some of the museums this time. But after seeing this amazing photo of the Cathedral area at Antwerp, I might just have to stay there. Decisions, decisions.