The "Boy am I in Trouble" Story

Photo of the Government House taken from the street in front.

It was an ordinary day.  For months before we left on vacation to the islands of the Bahamas I researched just about everything imaginable that I would want to know about the place.  Checked out beaches we may want to visit, people we may want to see, and places and attractions that we would like to see.  We made quite a few day trips after arriving, but the thing I really wanted to do was make a trip to the Government House to see "The Changing of the Guard."  Saw photos of it as well as YouTube videos and was convinced it would be neat.  

One of the Royal British Defense Force members patrolling.

It takes place twice a month on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.  Well, October 19 was the date we had picked to visit the Government House for the hour or so long demon- stration of the changing of the guard.  Supposed to start at 10:00 AM and I thought they would surely be on time, since it is a government demonstration.  We hopped in a taxi a little after 9:00 AM and were there in no time.  

Statue of Christopher Columbus.

Very few people roaming the grounds so I thought we would get the best view for the best photos.  Found our way to the entrance and walked to the guard house.  While the others stood at the gate I walked toward the guard.  Met instantly by a member of the Royal British Defense Force.  A young island man dressed in a white uniform with white shoes and a Naval hat.  Name tag on his right pocket and a 9mm pistol strapped on his right hip.  Knew immediately that he was right handed.  Asked what I wanted.  "Where do we go to see "The Changing of the Guard," I asked.  He looked at me with a blank face and said, "What!"  "You know, the changing of the guard that you guys do every other week."  He responded with, "I don't know what you're talking about!  The only time we change guards is every 8 hours when we finish our shift."  Uh, Oh!  "The others aren't going to like this," I tell him as I turn around and walk away.  

Photo of the gardens in front of the Government House

Now, I should tell you that I made all the arrange- ments for this event and talked them into it so I suppose I will have to take all the blame for what has happened.  My wife as well as friends Jerry and Just Sue aren't going to take this lightly.  They see my face as I walk towards them and know something is amiss.  "No 'Changing of the Guard' today," I tell them.  "What??" they reply in unison.  I continued with,"But he did tell me that we can walk the grounds as long as we don't cross the yellow line or walk towards the Government Building."  After explaining the situation to them we headed up the walk, walking to the left of the yellow line.  Neat building.  Painted pink.  

Two members of the
Royal British Defense Force.

Something you would expect in a Caribbean island that has the Pink Flamingo as the national bird.  Governor Richard Fitzwilliam built the original house on top of Mount Fitzwilliam for himself during his 1733-1738 time if office.  In 1799 the Government purchased the ten acre estate and built another Government House between 1803-06.  A hurricane damaged the place in 1929 so it was dismantled and a new place was erected with additions in 1940.  The statue of Christopher Columbus was imported from London by Gov. Sir James Carmichael Smyth in 1830.  We walked down the steps in front of the house to see the statue as well as the garden.  As we headed to the opposite side of the property we can upon another guard station and stopped to talk with the guards.  Two very nice guys who were both born on the island, graduated from high school and went through military training.  Both were pleasant and sympathetic about our dilemma.  One said that they stopped the practice of changing of the guard some time ago while the other had never heard of it.  "Wow!  Someone better change the website and tell the tour directors," I said to them.  We left the grounds disappointed, but did enjoy our time spent at the Government House.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.