Corner of Charlotte St. and Bay St.

 

Echoes of Iron Wheels: The Story of Nassau’s Horse-Drawn Surreys

If you’ve ever walked down Bay Street in Downtown Nassau, chances are you’ve heard the rhythmic clack-clack-clack of hooves before seeing the source: a brightly painted wooden carriage topped with a fringed, canvas canopy, trotting gently past pastel colonial buildings.

For over a century, the horse-drawn surrey served as one of the most iconic symbols of Bahamian tourism. More than just a ride, it stood as a living link to Nassau’s pre-industrial past—a slow-paced, atmospheric way for visitors to soak in the island’s history. But how did a 19th-century utility vehicle become a quintessential Bahamian postcard image?

Poinciana on the Edge - PC Wallpaper

 

"Poinciana on the Edge" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Download full size: 4032x2279

Poinciana Drive-By

 

Poinciana Drive-By - ©A. Derek Catalano

Shirley St., Nassau 

 

Download full size: 2442x2404

Western Esplanade Obelisk - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

The Western Esplanade Obelisk, Nassau, Bahamas: A Monument to Courage, Duty, and Sacrifice

 

Introduction

Along the historic waterfront of Nassau stands a modest yet profoundly meaningful monument that many residents and visitors pass without fully appreciating its significance. Located on the Western Esplanade, overlooking Nassau Harbour, the limestone obelisk commemorates one of the most tragic and heroic maritime rescue attempts in Bahamian history. It was erected in memory of five Bahamian men who lost their lives on February 26th, 1861 while courageously attempting to rescue two men aboard a pilot boat that had been overturned by a violent sea.

The monument serves as more than a memorial to five individuals. It is a tribute to the long maritime tradition of The Bahamas, to the dangers faced by those who work on the sea, and to the extraordinary courage displayed by ordinary Bahamians who willingly risked—and ultimately sacrificed—their own lives in an effort to save others.

To fully understand the significance of the Western Esplanade Obelisk, it is first necessary to understand the important roles of pilot boats and harbour pilots, whose work has been essential to the safe operation of Nassau Harbour for centuries.

WTF? (What's That Fish?) 12: The Trumpetfish

 

Trumpetfish

 

By Rolling Harbour Abaco

Quite a while back, I wrote a series of posts dedicated to the unusual or downright weird marine creatures that, when you see them ‘IRL’, you exclaim “WTF”. Behold the Trumpetfish! These long piscine pipes are related to seahorses and sea-dragons. It’s time to spotlight them again. Read more>>

 

Bahamas Wildfire

 

The Silent Blaze: Wildfires in The Bahamas

 

Introduction

 

When the global public visualizes The Bahamas, the prevailing imagery is one of pristine turquoise waters, low-lying coral islands, and luxury tourism. Rarely do images of towering smoke columns or charred forest floors enter the collective consciousness. Yet, behind the coastal postcard lies a complex terrestrial reality: The Bahamas is home to vast, fire-dependent forest ecosystems that are increasingly caught in a volatile tug-of-war between natural evolutionary processes and human-induced climate pressures. In recent years, most notably during intense dry-season heatwaves, the phrase "The Bahamas is burning" shifted from a metaphorical warning to a literal crisis. Understanding the dynamics, impacts, and management of wildfires in this archipelagic nation is critical to safeguarding both its rich biodiversity and its human populations.

Banana Spider

 

Banana Spider - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Proactive Not Reactive

 

The Architecture of Prevention: Cultivating a Proactive Mindset in a Reactive World

Humans are instinctively wired to react. When a threat appears in our immediate field of view, our adrenaline spikes, our focus narrows, and we spring into action. This evolutionary hardwiring served us incredibly well when the primary dangers were sudden and physical, like a predator rustling in the bushes.

However, in our complex, highly interconnected modern world, this reactive bias has a devastating loophole: we struggle to treat slow, invisible, or eventual risks with the same urgency as immediate crises.

Too often, it takes a bridge collapse to inspect our infrastructure, a plane crash to check maintenance, a heart attack to change our diet, or a catastrophic system failure to audit our digital security. This "tragedy-response cycle" is incredibly costly—physically, financially, and emotionally. To break it, we must actively shift from a reactive posture to a proactive one. True safety and resilience lie not in how beautifully we manage a disaster, but in how quiet and uneventful we can keep our daily lives through consistent, systematic prevention.

Common Cessna 402 Malfunctions

 

Cessna 402 flying over The Bahamas

 

Common Cessna 402 malfunctions involve fatigue cracking on wing spars, hydraulic-induced landing gear failures (including pressure leaks and nose gear jams), and fuel system issues such as worn float valves or unmetered air leaks. Engine problems like detonation-induced piston failures are also significant concerns. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Specific technical and mechanical malfunctions associated with the Cessna 402 include:

Wing Spar Fatigue and Cracking: The FAA has issued several Airworthiness Directives (ADs) due to stress fatigue and cracking found on the lower wing skins and auxiliary spar caps. If unaddressed, this can lead to catastrophic wing failure. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Landing Gear System Malfunctions:
• Electrical/Hydraulic Pressure: The hydraulic landing gear system (especially on the 402C) is prone to pressure build-ups that can melt reservoir sight tubes, introducing smoke and fumes into the cockpit.
• Mechanical Jamming: Nose struts can jam in the wheel well if deflated before takeoff, preventing the gear from extending. [1, 2]
Fuel Valve and Feed Line Wear: Excessive wear on fuel float valve actuators can allow unmetered air into the fuel lines, potentially causing fuel starvation or erratic engine performance. Furthermore, auxiliary fuel tank bladders are known to leak if not kept adequately filled when parked. [1, 2]
Engine and Auxiliary Pump Flooding: Operating auxiliary electric fuel pumps on "high" during mechanical pump failures while advancing the mixture can result in sudden, unintended engine flooding. [1]

 

©A. Derek Catalano/Gemini

 

Related news: Crash Probe Takes Shape

Old Paintings

Two old acrylic paintings I did in 1994.

 

"Coconut Lizard" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Download full size: 2066x2041

 

 

 "Seagrapes" - ©A. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 2039x2099

 

Masonic Temple, Bay St., Nassau, Bahamas

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

The Brotherhood of the Square and Compass: An In-Depth Examination of Freemasonry

Freemasonry remains one of the most enduring, highly debated, and misunderstood fraternal organizations in human history. To some, it is a benign civic group dedicated to charity and personal self-improvement; to others, it represents a shadow network operating behind a veil of ancient rituals and allegorical secrets.

Arthur's Bakery, Harbour Is.

 

Arthur's Bakery - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Download full size: 5312x2988

Arthur's Bakery - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 Download full size: 5312x2988

PLP Dock, Harbour Is.

 

PLP Dock, Harbour Is. - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Download full size: 4137x2988

Chickcharney Mural by June Collie

 

Chickcharney by June Collie

Located at The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas

Nassau, Bahamas 

 

Download full size: 3968x2828

 

Related article: Mythical Creatures of The Bahamas

 

Beach Bungalow

 

 

Paradise Self-Sustained: An In-Depth Guide to Off-Grid Living in The Bahamas

Living off the grid—severing ties with public utilities to achieve complete energetic and agricultural self-sufficiency—is an evocative ideal. When transplanted to the unique geography of the Bahamian archipelago, this lifestyle shifts from a romantic notion into a precise exercise in tropical engineering, marine climatology, and traditional ecological wisdom.

The Bahamas, with its unique terrain, distinct wet and dry seasons, and geographic exposure to extreme Atlantic weather, presents both incredible advantages and profound structural challenges for self-reliant living. To successfully establish an off-grid homestead here, one must master four core pillars: sub-tropical housing design, solar-plus-storage energy architecture, closed-loop water systems, and regenerative island agriculture.

Old Fort Bay Bougainvillea

 "Old Fort Bay Bougainvillea" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Download full size: 1280x960

The Sweetest Hill in Nassau: How Mortimer Candies Crafted a Century of Bahamian History

 

Mortimer Candies, East St. Nassau, Bahamas

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

The Sweetest Hill in Nassau: How Mortimer Candies Crafted a Century of Bahamian History

 

If there is a single scent that defines the childhood nostalgia of generations of Bahamians, it is the sweet, sharp aroma of boiling peppermint wafting from the top of East Street Hill in Nassau.

Since 1928, Mortimer Candies has stood as a living monument to Bahamian resilience, culinary tradition, and entrepreneurship. Operating for nearly a century, it is one of the oldest black-owned manufacturing businesses in the country. To visit Mortimer Candies is not just to buy a bag of sweets; it is to step directly into a time capsule of "Over-the-Hill" Nassau history.

Standing in Sea Mural by June Collie

 

Standing in the Sea by June Collie

Located at The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas

Nassau, Bahamas 

 

Download full size: 4032x2693

 

 Photo - ©A. Derek Catalano

Moonrise Pine

 

"Moonrise Pine" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Download full size: 3264x2016

Poinciana Top

 

Poinciana Top - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 Download full size: 1200x675