Bonding in the Bahamas 2015 Film Location Tour, celebrating the Nassau films of James Bond 007

as told by our host, Emilio Largo

May 25, 2015…as our Bahamas Air Boeing 737 touched down at Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, I knew this week would be an exciting one for Domino and me. Having taken great care to assemble candidates from over ten countries, 40 James Bond fans that would appreciate

a 5 day celebration of the 1965 classic 007 film, “Thunderball”, I knew all was in readiness. I counted on our organizers,Richard and Leslie Skillman, from Themepartypeople, to anticipate any possible variation of counter-move in our activities.

Our adventure began at the British Colonial Hilton, known as “James Bond Hotel “on the island as it is here that Bond stays and has several scenes appear in 1983’s “Never Say Never Again”. The tiki bar where Sean Connery’s martini is nearly soaked by Fatima Blush is now long gone due to a hurricane but one can imagine the sounds of 007’s Scottish brogue over the sounds of a water ski boat inquiring as to the location of the Disco Volante.

The Hilton would be our host hotel for the next few days and Largo is never caught unprepared, I insured that a supply of Kina Lillet was brought in for those that prefer the Vesper Martini, which of course, many were, enjoyed our first evening.

While the island of Nassau is staggeringly beautiful, we began our first location visit under Nassau, more aptly, underwater at the Clifton Pier, courtesy of Stuart Cove Dive Shop. While now more pipe than plane, the Thunderball Vulcan Bomber rests in 40 feet of water and is easily seen from the surface snorkeling as well as a good dive experience. Sharp eyes will notice that the “tires” of the Vulcan are made of cement and haven’t aged a day. Enhancing the dive is a nearby wreck, the Tears of Allah, from “Never Say Never Again, and she being a bit younger looks very close to her film appearance and is an exciting dive.

Our post dive afternoon was spent touring Bay Street and Rawson Square where both “Thunderball” and “Never Say Never Again” were filmed extensively. Our agents faithfully captured photos of the Junkanoo street, Pinders offices, the columns where Small-Fawcet took cover...if you know your Bond films, this will have meaning to you.

REPORT FROM STATION T and BEYOND

From Istanbul-Vienna-Prague-Karlovy Vary-Munich-Cortina to Venice

Hosted by Richard and Leslie Skillman

July 2013 NEW YORK JFK AIRPORT

ISTANBUL: The mission began with agents assembling in the new Delta SKYCLUB luxury SKYBAR, which is outside and provides a spectacular view of the city and airplanes departing while we sipped on our last martini before boarding. Our flights delivered us all safe and sound at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul and from there our check in at the Surmeli Hotel, our base of operations for the next few days.

IF YOU HAVE TO ASK THE PRICE OF MARTINIS…Our first stop on the tour was the PERA PALAS hotel, while incorrectly identified as the hotel James Bond stays at in the novel, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, it was the very hotel where Agatha Christie wrote MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Our waiters, all huge Bond fans, treated us to a wonderful mushroom risotto along with their own 007 brand martini. We visited Ataturk’s office, housed here as a museum, with many of the Turkish leaders’ belongings and papers. We then taxied up the waterside to the beautiful Dolmabahce Palace, nestled on the Bosporus and one of Istanbul’s prized museums. Adjacent to the Palace are two world class resorts, the FOUR SEASONS and the CIRAGEN KEMPINSKI PALACE, the latter was used by the SKYFALL cast as its hotel and the site of the Press Announcement for SKYFALL. Incredibly very good martinis are served here, we recommend them, note the $30 per martini cost for your MI6 or CIA expense accounts.

Our drive down to the city through Taksim Square takes us by the gate seen as the RUSSIAN EMBASSY in FRWL and we have our group photo. A great tour followed of TOPKAPI Palace, easily a day in itself with its massive grounds and the location for the heist caper film of the same name.

Next stop is the Grand Bazaar, which is figured prominently in both SKYFALL and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. Entering the Nuru Osmaniye Mosque gate entrance, we recreate Connery’s 007 walk through the Bazaar to meet with Karim Bey.  Look for the stone fountain on the main "highway" of the Bazaar. Other locations within the Bazaar are the HAN, the exterior upstairs patio where Red Grant spies on Tania as she goes to meet with Klebb and Gate 7, which is the gate Daniel Craig poses on the motorcycle in front of.

Also, you can find the gate area that was rigged with a false wall and window for SKYFALL’s Patrice to crash his motorcycle through. Other SKYFALL locations included the Bazaar path and stairs up to the roof. No 007 would leave the rooftop unchecked, and our group made our way to the rooftops for photos and marveling at the SKYFALL (and TAKEN2 and INTERNATIONAL) sequences filmed here. The view is amazing on the roof and one could imagine the logistics of filming the SKYFALL chase up here!

Fellow Agents who joined us for our Nassau Reloaded tour, visited the Buena Vista Hotel, site of the Embassy scenes in Casino Royale, which was then under renovation by John Watling's...with pleasure, we can share it is open for business!

JOHN WATLING’S DISTILLERY OPENS ITS DOORS AT THE

SITE OF THE NEWLY RENNOVATED AND LEGENDARY bUENA VISTA ESTATE in THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN nassau, the Bahamas

John Watling’s Rum MAKES ITS DEBUT AS THE premium

‘spirit of the bahamas’

Nassau, The Bahamas, April 16, 2013 – John Watling's Distillery – JOHN WATLING’S rum, the “Spirit of The Bahamas”, announced today that it has opened its doors for complimentary tours at its home, the Buena Vista Estate, in Downtown Nassau. The historic Estate, founded in 1789 and overlooking the harbour, is the site where Bahamians hand-craft JOHN WATLING’S small-batch Pale, Amber and Buena Vista rums. At the Estate, John Watling’s features a production and museum-like tour, shopping and signature Bahamian cocktails at its Red Turtle Tavern. Within walking distance from the cruise ship port, John Watling’s Distillery is located on Delancy Street and is open from 10am-6pm, seven days a week.

John Watling’s Distillery has worked with the Antiquities, Monument and Museum Corporation (AMMC), the National Insurance Board (NIB), N&M Architects and Coastline Construction to refurbish the Buena Vista Estate to its original splendor. The restoration, which also includes the construction of a 10,000 square foot purpose-built barrel ageing and production facility as its storehouse, lasted more than a year.

“It is very important to us that John Watling’s Distillery and the Buena Vista Estate celebrate the rich history and heritage of The Bahamas. We have made sure that everything from our distillery to our rums is of the highest quality,” said Jose B. Portuondo, Founding Partner. “John Watling’s Distillery is a must-see stop in Nassau – In fact, here visitors will find a multisensory experience which features history, architecture, natural beauty, sweeping views of the harbour and the chance to take home a bottle of John Watling’s rum”.

The Estate:

Set on more than two acres of lush tropical gardens with centenary black olive trees, The Buena Vista Estate has been part of the history of Nassau, New Providence, and The Bahamas since 1789. Construction started on the house the same year as the United States Constitution was enacted; George Washington was elected President of the United States, and the start of the French Revolution.

The legendary Buena Vista Home hosted many famous patrons in the past, including everyone from Robert Mitchum and Bobby Kennedy to Ed Sullivan and Joan Crawford. The Estate made its Hollywood debut when it was featured in the James Bond film Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig.

The newly renovated Buena Vista Estate now serves as the visitor experience for John Watling’s Distillery, featuring antique furnishings, interactive exhibits, a retail store, and a tavern. It will also be made available for corporate and private functions.

We spent an over the top week with Bond friends, Bond Magazine & Tour editors,  writers and Fan Club Presidents, all in London to attend the Royal World Premiere of "Skyfall", the 23rd James Bond film, celebrating 50 years of the franchise. It was great to connect with friends we have traveled all over the world with enjoying the film sites and locations of James Bond films. The Bond marketing machine pulled out all the stops in London, with billboards on every corner and bus, decorated windows in Harrods and several key Bond centric exhibitions.

Bondstars.com hosted a Dr.No event at Pinewood Studios which included Sir Roger Moore in attendance discussing his new book, "Bond on Bond". A newly mastered digital print of "Dr.No" was shown to the audience after many of the remaining crew and cast were introduced, including James Bond theme music composer, Monte Norman and the first Bond girl,  Eunice Gayson. A hearty English meal was provided with we were delighted to have the opportunity to dine with Golden Girl, Shirley Eaton from "Goldfinger". Many Bond stars were on hand to sign photos and rare collectables were for sale from many well known Bond vendors.

"On The Tracks of 007" Author Martijn Mulder hosted a pre-Pinewood party and we had a wonderful time reconnecting with many friends in the Bond world. Martijn has been a strong supporter of our travels around the world to James Bond film sites and is hard at work on another update of his very popular resource guide.