Birthday Bureaucracy – November 18, 2022, Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas

Sailing Hubby headed in to check us in via the immigration office and the good news is $600 later we have a year cruising permit and a 90-day visa.  This year at least didn’t require a health visa or COVID tests which makes the process a bit smoother.

It’s funny there are things about the Bahamas I forgot like somehow there is island music playing in the background ALL the time.  This usually comes from the passing dive boats filled with tourists.  Then there is the rooster.  I swear on every island there is one and we were awakened by him this morning here in Green Turtle.  Lastly, how friendly everyone is here.  They are all so happy but if I lived in paradise, I guess I would be to.  So different than Americans.

We spent Ron’s birthday walking on the beach after getting checked in and enjoyed met up for cocktails with a couple cruiser friends from South Africa whom we had met in Vero Beach.  As nice as it was to be ahead of the cruising herd in Green Turtle and only $20 for a mooring a night, we wanted to keep moving.  There were several large weddings happening this weekend and many of the places were either closed for private events or PACKED!  So, we headed south and due to weather, made a run across “the Whale” (a tricky cut requiring mild weather) to Hopetown.  Another front is headed our way and that is a nice, protected anchorage.

Hopetown is restoring their lighthouse but there are still lights up on “my Christmas Tree!”  I am glad we got to go up in the lighthouse last year since it is now closed to the public til further notice.  I love Hopetown and it’s nice to be back here.  We will likely be here for week since we have lost our starter battery on the port side, and it is supposed to storm all week.