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Rum, Rhythm, and Relaxation in Nassau
By : Chanize Thorpe
A trip to Nassau is a multisensory experience. Sounds of luck emanate from glitzy casinos, aromas from celeb-chef menus fill the air, and the taste of smooth rum and new adventure lurks around every corner.
Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Ole Nassau
Ask a Bahamian bartender for a drink suggestion and chances are he’ll recommend the island favorites: the Goombay Smash or a Bahama Mama. Both made with rum (dark and coconut-flavored) and pineapple and orange juices, the fruity taste often inspires overconfidence. Drinking several during sunset cocktail hour isn’t uncommon and may lead to witnessing the famously elusive Caribbean “green flash” on the horizon. But no worries, you wouldn’t be the first to become intoxicated by the country.
The Bahamian islands were popular havens for rum-swilling pirates in the 17th century. Take a tour of the Pirates Museum, in downtown Nassau, for entertaining tales of the swashbuckling Blackbeard and Anne Bonny, who arrived on Nassau to load up on Spanish-buried treasure and healthy quantities of rum. The pirates eventually found other pastures, leaving room for Bacardi to open a plant on the island in 1965. For 42 years, the factory thrived, but closed in April 2009, leaving the opportunity for the island’s locally made rum—Ricardo, Ole Nassau and Don Lorenzo—to grab the spotlight.
Jump Up for Junkanoo
Names like “No Fear,” “Barabbas” and “Vola” conjure images of dramatic WWE wrestlers, but in Nassau, these are monikers of the many energetic performers who’ve participated in the yearly Junkanoo celebration. Each Boxing Day (Dec. 26) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m., Downtown Nassau hosts the island’s Carnival-like street party.
Local lore dates Junkanoo back to the 17th century, when Bahamian slaves were given three days off during Christmastime to celebrate with their families. The slaves adorned themselves with simple costumes made of scrap paper and feathers, but times have changed. Bahamians have taken it a million steps further, creating costumes with unbelievably intricate designs, but all made with the traditional base of rainbow-hued crepe paper. Imagination is their only limit as they decorate their outfits with beads, fabric and other materials for getups that can reach heights of 15 feet and weigh hundreds of pounds. If you want to learn more about this fascinating festival, the Junkanoo Museum (educulturebahamas.com), headed by enthusiastic director (and Junkanoo participant) Arlene Ferguson, invites visitors for a hands-on experience trying on gorgeous (and heavy!) headdresses. Tour the museum’s extensive collection of videos and costumes, then head into the craft room, where you’ll be handed a cowbell, whistle or a goatskin-covered drum to participate in a rollicking jam session.
If you visit Nassau during Junkanoo, you’ll join 50,000 Bahamian revelers and tourists dancing, singing and loudly pledging allegiance to their favorite “family.” There’s a fiercely competitive, but good-natured rivalry between the biggest performing groups—The Saxons, One Family and The Valley Boys, whose fabulous “Magic of Hollywood” theme and costumes took top Boxing Day prize last year.
The best place to rest your head after an all-night fest is Compass Point Beach Resort, only 15 minutes from the cacophony of Bay Street. The 18 Junkanoo-colored, two-story cottages and cabanas remind you of a box of crayons and all face the Atlantic Ocean. Relax on your private deck or take a stroll on Love Beach, the perfect ending to a boisterous night.
compasspointbeachresort.com
One Love for Jamming
Reggae legend Bob Marley is famous for his Jamaican roots, but few know that he and his family had a summer home on Cable Beach, 10 minutes from Nassau. A year ago, Marley’s widow, Rita, decided to convert their mansion into a 16-room low-key luxury boutique resort and holistic spa. Colorful but elegant rooms with names like “One Love” and “Kinky Reggae” are filled with antiques and CDs of Marley’s popular tunes. Marley’s music wafts from hidden speakers throughout the property, and a flat-screen TV plays old concerts in a library adorned with plaques, pictures and gold records. After a day spent by the pool and beach, enjoy happy hour at the Stir It Up Bar. It’s the place to be for sipping liquid happiness and listening to musicians play. If you’re lucky, you’ll be there on a night when Marley family members bless the audience with a soul-stirring melody.
marleyresort.com
There’s more music-making at Compass Point Recording Studio, a short walk from Compass Point Beach Resort. The 32-year-old institution, founded by Island Records owner Chris Blackwell, prides itself on its old-school décor mixed with state-of-the-art equipment. Classic rockers from the Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin spent hours in the studio during the 1970s and ’80s perfecting their craft. Today, artists such as Mariah Carey, come to drink in the history and turn out future hits. Fancy yourself the next American Idol? Rent a studio for a few hours with an engineer and prepare your demo.
compasspointstudios.com
Cuckoo for Conch
It’s almost impossible to dine in The Bahamas without tasting a conch fritter. Most restaurants boast a certain style and secret ingredient, making each one different from the next. Locals have a soft spot for the fritters served with brandy calypso sauce at The Poop Deck, a waterfront restaurant serving fresh seafood and views of the yachts bobbing in the marina. For an upscale version of the dish, head to nearby Paradise Island, where The Cove Atlantis resort is home to Food Network star Bobby Flay’s beloved Mesa Grill. At this island outpost, he presents a crispy conch dish with spicy yellow pepper-mango relish that mixes the chef’s love of Southwestern flare with a respectful nod to Bahamian tradition and ingredients.
How To Get There: American Eagle provides service to Nassau, Bahamas.
Book your trip today! Visit www.aa.com, call American/American Eagle reservations at 1-800-433-7300, or call your travel agent for more information.
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