#7 Bling, Beach Christmas and Braids




As I've said before the Lucaya Market is just around the corner from our place and it is also the home of the Straw Market. Fifteen years ago this was an incredible place to visit with all of the vendors trying to out sell and yell their neighbours. Now, following covid/Dorian it is much quieter but still interesting to visit. Someone tried to sell me a bracelet to  match the ones I got in Mexico and they were exactly the same design as what I had so the question becomes.....Are my Mexican bracelets from Mexico or......


As Ray would say, "It just caught my eye." 5 plus carats of amethyst with a few diamonds thrown in.


Tine to renew the car rental for another month. Our last month here. This is the rental office. I find it very funny. No sign. Just a little shack in a parking lot. Cassius is the owner and he is so amazing. I was concerned about getting the airport on time on the 28th of January. "No problem. Meet me here at 6 in the morning and I'll drive you to the airport." No charge. This is one of those situations where I need a plan well in advance on how it is going to work. I'll have like 3 alarms set to wake me in time to get to the airport and then not be able to sleep most of the night incase they all fail so knowing how I'm actually getting to the airport is a great relief. 


One of our touristy trips this week was to Garden in the Groves. I wanted to show Teyha all of the naturally growing orchids. There were no orchids. We went to the Hibiscus Garden. There was one hibiscus bloom. Are you getting the picture? The walk ways were a challenge. Pavement all breaking up. It was really disappointing. We had lunch and the cafe and Tehya went off exploring and left the old folks watching the flora and a bus load of tourists eating hot dogs for lunch. You know one of those true Bahamian lunches!!! I don't think I've seen a hot dog on any menu
 yet here.

Pretty waterfall near the cafe.


Even the ducks are ugly!!!




Christmas morning was highlighted by Melanie sending Ray and I stockings and Tehya had gifts from her sister Kahia. 




FYI - This is young people speak for "Don't take my picture!"


And this is where Tehya wanted to spend some of Christmas Day. Lovely. Simply lovely....


Ok. Don't get excited. These bombs were not acuatally bombs but little yellow tomatoes. So, check out the writing at the bottom. I've seen these growing in Kingsville so how could they also be grown in the USA. Someone's lying here.....


Oh my gosh, this was the first load of food that arrived at our door thanks to Ron's Mom. Fantastic and just a wonderful surprise. I love it when folks realize I really don't want to cook this winter....


This was our first trip to Williamstown for Tehya. There she is getting into tidal pools. Reminded me of you YB at Casa Manana playing in tidal pools until it was dark. 


This is like Where's Waldo but with sea birds.....


When you think you can get to the sand bar although you are wearing long pants but she did make it eventually.


Then the second load of food arrived cooked by Diama and delivered by Tamika two of Jerrisma's daughters. This was again an amazing treat!!! 


On our next visit to Williamstown, the 2 Dollar Bar was actually open. It may not look open here but it is!!!


It's important in life to see all sides. 


Another trip we took this week was to Xanadu Beach. We hung out here a lot on our first few trips to Grand Bahama but this was the first time this trip. As you can see not too many people come here. Tehya and I got into the water and it was actually my first ocean swim. Clear and warm. You couldn't ask for anything better.


This is what happens when the girls go booze shopping.


This is Maria on the left who is one of my Eight Mile Rock knitters. She has been over a couple of times for help when she gets stuck on her project. This time she brought her delightful grandson Isiah and her daughter Monique. Tehya took Isiah out to feed the fish in the canal and at one point he said the knitting was what grandmothers do. Very funny little guy. 


This is how it started.


And this is how it ended two and a half hours later. Tehya told Sandra the braider that she wanted a Bahamian braid and so this was the gorgeous outcome. 

It has been a busy time and Tehya leaves in three days. We will miss her.

I wish you all a very blessed 2026. Stay safe and joyous!!!

 

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