I Little About the Bahamas
When I took my granddaughter to the Bahamas
as a graduation present, it had been years since my first trip which concentrated
on the out islands. Then only two and a half days had been spent in Nassau, so
a little review of my diary refreshed my memory. The Bahamas is an archipelago
of 700 islands and 2400 uninhabited cays and islets extending 720 miles. It is
just fifty miles off the Florida coast. The capital is Nassau on New Providence
Island. The Arawak Indians were the
first inhabitants and the first British settlement took place in the 17th
century.
No
longer a sleepy little town that often characterizes its sister islands, Nassau
stands out for its high-energy atmosphere and dynamic attitude. The capital
city of the Bahamas with a bustling port, Nassau’s history can be traced back
to days of the legendary pirate Blackbeard.
Beautifully preserved cathedrals,
pastel-colored Georgian buildings and 18th-century fortresses collide with bouncing
jitneys, street vendors and duty-free shops and occasionally fine shops. Historic
Bay Street is great for local markets, pubs and cafes, while the nearby straw
market offers unique crafts and Potter’s Cay is the place for fresh produce,
conch and fish.
I was anxious to introduce her to a new culture
and show her the city. We had a fabulous time and
pretty much covered the
entire island, often walking and walking. We enjoyed riding the local jitney to
and from our distant hotel.
I was happy to find many
positive improvements such as the lack of litter and friendly people.
Music
All through the islands of The
Bahamas, music is woven deeply into the fabric of daily life. Musical
traditions reflect both the impact of history on the islands and a homegrown,
distinctively national character. Blues and spirituals made their way down from
the American South and took on a Bahamian flavor---in breezy shore-side church
choirs where "rhyming spirituals" are sung, and on homemade guitars
in the hands of virtuoso performers.
Junkanoo, goombay and rake 'n'
scrape all incorporate the handclapping and drum rhythms of West African dance
music. Goombay is a secular Bahamian tradition, danceable music full of stories
about love and other daily dramas.
Rake 'n' scrape bands are purely
instrumental. A carpenter's saw, a goatskin drum and an accordion are all
traditional rake 'n' scrape instruments.
True Bahamian
Bahamian English is a fascinating
mixture of the Queen's diction, African influences and island lingo. Unfamiliar
sounding words you'll hear on the streets and beaches may be survivors from the
early English settlement (true Shakespearian English!), echoes of Africa or
local slang. The "h" is often dropped in daily speech ('ouse for
house or t'anks for thanks). Conversation is easy here – the distinctive sounds
of daily speech are all part of a true Bahamian experience. At times it seemed
as if I were listening to a foreign language.
Food
Fresh seafood lovers can appreciate
the Bahamian fondness for conch (pronounced
"konk") that is the most popular seafood in The Bahamas.
The meat of conch is firm and white, and local restaurants have found
delectable ways to serve it. Conch may be served uncooked with lime juice,
steamed and added to other dishes such as soup or salads, or deep-fried, which
is known as “cracked conch”. This seafood can be found in some form at just
about every traditional restaurant in the Bahamas. Traditional desserts
feature coconut. The Bahamas certainly do not have a shortage of coconut trees,
and shredded coconut is found on just about everything!
City sites next time.
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