subject: Sing In The City Of Songs [print this page] Nassau, the Bahamian capital is a city rich in beauty, history, and personality. It has always been the center of color and culture in the islands. The stories that lurk in its narrow, flowery streets and within the walls of its old forts are among the most legendary tales in the Caribbean.
Music is woven deeply into the daily life. Get the best airline deals to experience music in your life. Musical traditions here reflect both the impact of history on the islands and a home-grown, unique national character. Junkanoo, goombay and rake 'n' scrape all include the hand clapping and drum rhythms of West African dance music. The city's main festival is Junkanoo, an energetic, colorful street parade of brightly costumed people dancing to the rhythmic accompaniment of cowbells, drums and whistles. The word 'Junkanoo' is named after the founder 'John Kanoo'. Book your cheap tickets to Nassau to be a part of the celebration that occurs on December 26 and January 1. The "gran' dance" of Junkanoo is, of course, the heart of their annual national celebration. Competing dance groups (called "shacks"), like the Valley Boys, the Music Makers and the Saxons Superstars, spend all year creating fanciful costumes and practicing elaborate routines. Flights to Nassau such as British Airways have made visiting this city easy.
Probably the most famous architectural sight here, the Queen's Staircase is a flight of 66 steps that connects Fort Fincastle to the Princess Margaret Hospital. The most remarkable thing about it is that the staircase was not built, but carved out of calcareos (coral-based) sandstone. Get Cheap Flights to Nassau to visit Charlotte, the largest fort in the Bahamas. It is picture perfect with a moat and dungeons. Its ramparts offer one the best views of Nassau.
Easily noticed on the Nassau skyline by its space-age design is the Crystal Cay Marine Park, one of the world's best examples of an underwater park where nobody gets wet. Book cheap airfare tickets and get to visit this awesome park. It was built around an existing reef, and visitors can explore a huge display of exhibits both above and below the surface.
Junkanoo Expo is a museum dedicated to Junkanoo, the colorful, musical, and surreal festival on December 26 when Bahamian culture explodes in masks and sounds. Pompey Museum (Vendue House) which was once a slave market and place where salvaged items from shipwrecks were sold today is a museum that exhibits some of the finest examples of Bahamian art and history.
Typical meals for urban residents consist of fruits and vegetables, meat or fish, bread, and rice. The two national dishes are conch, an easily collected sea snail, rice, and peas. Poor people eat these foods because they are inexpensive and readily available; the well-off enjoy them as "heritage foods." Bahamian rum, local and imported beer, soft drinks, tea, and coffee are regularly consumed. You'll find conversation easy here the distinctive sounds of daily speech are all part of a true Bahamian experience.
