How do you want on a slushy and cloudy day, at least for a day, plunge into the warm ocean waters and soak up the sun! Fortunately, modern man is free in his movements and can go to any paradise on the planet. Recently, Russians, already fed up with the resorts of Turkey, Egypt and Thailand, are in search of something new and exotic. It will be able to give them the capital of the Bahamas - Nassau. The island on which this beautiful city is located has long been a stronghold of piracy and robbery. But let's talk about everything in order.
A game of geographical names: what are you, Nassau?
If you start looking on the map of Nassau and are very careful, you will most likely find two geographical objects with exactly the same names, but they are only located in different parts of the world. In one case, we are talking about the capital of the Bahamas, but in another Nassau - an island in the Pacific Ocean. The latter also deserves a detailed description.
Nassau - an island lost in the ocean
In the Pacific Ocean there are a lot of lost archipelagos that have not changed their appearance for many centuries. It is in this category that Nassau belongs. The island is part of Cook and has amazing pristine beauty. It is almost completely overgrown with coconut trees, which are the only income of a few local residents.
One of the features of the island, the natives consider its shape. The fact is that Nassau has practically no bays and lagoons - it is completely open to storms and winds. This greatly complicates the life of the islanders, who constantly fall under the destructive effect of cyclones and typhoons. After each revelry of the elements, they have to restore almost completely destroyed houses.
Island Description
Nassau is very small, it is more correct to call it an atoll, and not an island. It is only 1200 meters long and 800 meters wide. The shape of a regular slightly elongated oval ensured Nassau the absence of lagoons, which, in turn, significantly complicates the approach to the atoll. On all sides it is surrounded by coral reefs. In some places, their width exceeds one meter.
A few years ago, the construction of a convenient harbor was actively discussed, which would give impetus to the development of tourism on the island, but the significant cost of this project hinders its implementation.
Many tourists would like to spend their holidays in secluded Nassau: the climate on the atoll has a lazy and relaxing holiday. The average temperature is kept at around 25 degrees year round, which would be very comfortable for vacationers. However, you will not see tourists on Nassau. There is absolutely no infrastructure on the island for this, and at present, the development of this industry on the atoll is not expected.
Island history
Initially, the atoll was inhabited, natives from the nearby island of Pukapuk settled on it. It is worth noting that now Nassau belongs to the population of this atoll.
Europeans discovered the island only at the beginning of the 19th century, but it did not make much impression on them. Over the course of 70 years, Nassau was periodically rediscovered by the French, British, and captains of whalers.
At the end of the 19th century, the atoll was occupied by the Americans, later it came under the jurisdiction of the British Empire, and only in the middle of the last century the inhabitants of Pukapuk bought it.
Nassau population
According to the latest data, only 70 people live on the atoll, more than half of them are school-age children. All the islanders live in a single village, which did not even come up with a name. As we have already mentioned, frequent typhoons cause significant damage to the homes of islanders, so they make their houses as simple as possible, the roofs of such huts are made of palm leaves and branches, which allows you to quickly recover them after another hurricane.
In the middle of the last century, a school was opened in Nassau. It still works, which is very convenient for locals who do not need to leave their possessions in order to get an education.
Can I buy tours to Nassau? Unfortunately not. At best, if you come to the Cook Islands, you will be able to get to the atoll with the help of local residents as a guest. But staying here overnight is unlikely to succeed - the islanders do not favor foreigners too much.
But what exactly were we talking about at the beginning of our article? Take your time, we will tell you now about another Nassau.
Nassau City: Description
Located on the island of New Providence. The city covers almost the entire territory and is the cultural center of the Bahamas. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe island is approximately 20 square meters. km, on which the most beautiful villas, excellent harbors, entertainment centers and magnificent beaches are located. All this is available to tourists day and night.
The city itself is reminiscent of the construction of prim England. And this is not surprising, because for a long time the island was under British rule. Most of the buildings date back to the 19th century, many of them are historical monuments.
In recent decades, the city has replenished with modern entertainment centers and casinos. The newly built area of \u200b\u200bCable Beach is striking in its vibrant signs and an abundance of people, because it is here that Nassau's entire nightlife is concentrated.
History of the city
In the XVII century, it was the British who laid the city here, but in those days it bore the proud name of Charles Town. Although with such a beautiful name, he existed for several years, and already in the 90s of the XVII century it was renamed to Nassau. Under this name, the city developed further.
It is worth noting that his story is very rich in events. For a long time, New Providence was the main base of pirates. They hid their ships in numerous bays and enjoyed life in drinking establishments.
For many years, the British, Spaniards and even Americans fought for power over the city. Nassau saw many bloody battles and deaths, until the British crown was established on it. But at the end of the XIX century, the island became very interested in Americans. They began to come here on vacation, and during the Prohibition period, many smugglers smuggled alcohol through Nassau.
Now the city is the capital of tourism in the Bahamas, vacationers bring to the budget up to half of all incoming funds. Nassau is developing rapidly, the city quickly adapts to the needs of vacationers, which is very valuable for them.
When can I go on vacation to the Bahamas?
The climate of Nassau is subequatorial. This is very conducive to the development of tourism, the average temperature rarely drops below 25 degrees. In winter (February, March), the tourist flow decreases a little, but Russians can relax at this time of year. Indeed, by our standards, a water temperature of twenty degrees is quite acceptable for swimming.
In the summer, hurricanes and typhoons are often in the Bahamas, so this is not the best time to relax. The high season in Nassau begins in September and lasts until February.
Nassau City: Attractions
Usually small islands do not have a lot of attractions and monuments, but the capital of the Bahamas does not belong to this category. So, what can be advised to tourists who come to Nassau? What to see first?
As a rule, guests are sent to Parliament Square. Here is a large monument to Queen Victoria and almost all buildings of the colonial era. They are distinguished by a special architecture and character.
Among the many museums in the Bahamas, the most popular is the Pirate. It is dedicated to that period in the history of the island when the power of reckless corsairs was established on it. The exhibits of the museum are very interesting, periodically the collection is replenished with new finds.
Ancient forts designed to protect Nassau from the water are also of great interest to tourists. Many vacationers enjoy visiting the aquarium, which contains all the inhabitants of the underwater world of the Bahamas.
Excursions in Nassau have a different focus. They are divided into historical and entertaining. The first category includes inspection of the British heritage of the island. But the entertaining excursion program includes various sports, boat trips and, of course, visits to night entertainment venues, of which there are a great many in Nassau.
Beach area of \u200b\u200bthe island
Nassau's beaches are beautiful and varied, but most tourists prefer to spend their time on This small piece of land, literally covered with snow-white sand, is located very close to Ny Providence and even connected to it by bridges. The most luxurious hotels are located here, and you can find a lot of interesting activities to make the day go as fun and intense as possible.
The most popular resort on Paradise Island is called Atlantis, and is often compared to Las Vegas. Once it served only as a haven for local fishermen, but in just two decades it has turned into a luxurious and fashionable resort.
Direct flights do not fly from Russia to Nassau, but with the help of transit routes, our compatriots will also be able to enjoy the contemplation of the beauties of the Bahamas and see all the sights of their capital.
The flight from Florida to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, lasts only 55 minutes. I flew by Bahamas Air, famous for being always late - the flight was delayed this time too, though only for an hour. Nobody even announced a delay, the flight to the very end was displayed on the scoreboard as "on time". At the same time, all those participating in this performance - passengers, flight attendants, and airport employees - took it with complete calmness and walked around slowly, as if it were necessary.
The overwhelming majority of the Bahamian population are blacks, and this was immediately obvious when boarding my flight - almost all the people on the plane were black. But at the same time, the Bahamas is not a poor country at all, moreover, prices in Nassau directly bite, and finding an average hotel was almost impossible. In the end, I found one hotel, which is held by the elderly Greeks, and which cannot be booked through the Internet - you can only call there - and there were places and more or less divine prices.
In general, Nassau lives in the rhythm of cruise ships. Every day a giant cruiser enters there, or even several, and during the hours that he stands there, Nassau turns into a huge anthill - tourists hustle in shops on the main street, restaurants are full of Americans absorbing kilograms of food, museums and shops are open. By evening, when the cruise ships leave the port, the city suddenly becomes empty, almost everything is closed in it, and a rare open restaurant boasts one or two visitors.
I'll start the story about Nassau with perhaps its main attraction - the Pirate Museum.
That this is the main attraction, I decided at the end of my visit. Initially, I was not going to go there at all - as I read that it was a very superficial establishment. This is true and not - of course, many families go there, so the museum is designed for both children and adults - but I got a lot of interesting information about pirate times there. The fact is that in the 17-18 centuries, Nassau was one of the main centers of piracy - if not the most important. According to the pirate saying of the time when the pirate was sleeping, he was not dreaming of paradise, he was dreaming of Nassau. Nassau's port is quite small, so it was able to receive small pirate schooners with a low landing, but the large warships of the imperial fleets could not enter there - which created such an uncontrolled harbor.
The museum begins with a representation of this pirate town. When you pass by certain windows, some comrade suddenly starts screaming from them, or prayers, creaking and so on are heard - it’s actually very funny!
Then you can go inside the pirate ship and get acquainted with the life of pirates. Life was not easy. There was little food and its supplies were replenished in the event of a successful attack - which happened infrequently. Of course, there was a very low level of medicine - often the ship's cook simultaneously performed the duties of a doctor. The pirates signed a contract that indicated how much of the booty belonged to each member of the expedition - the section was very democratic, the captain rarely received even 2 normal shares - usually one and a half.
This is a pirate method of punishment for violation of the law of the ship / contract - the offender was left on a desert island.
You can also get acquainted with the main stages of the history of pirates. Piracy continued with the connivance of England for quite some time - since the main victims of the pirates were the Spanish galleons - that is, the enemies of England. When the British colonies in America gained economic weight, the pirates began to threaten them too - and then England very quickly put an end to this practice, a governor with a fleet was sent to the Bahamas, the English fleet captured all the pirates in different parts of the Atlantic Ocean and most were executed.
The first Governor of the Bahamas to play a key role in the elimination of piracy.
This is what the iron device looks like, with the help of which the hanged pirates were shown to the population, so as not to be disastrous. The body was coated with tar, so that it did not decompose and could hang in this form for a whole year.
The first coat of arms of the Bahamas - the motto sounds like "Expulsis piratis, restituta commercia" - that is, the pirates are expelled, commerce is restored.
What does Nassau look like? Let's go for a walk around the city. Central Street and Bahamas Life Center is a cruise ship. Every day is new.
Another ship with a promenade at night:
The main square is with parliament and a statue of Queen Victoria.
Bay Street is the center of all tourist shops and restaurants. The Bahamas use the Bahamian dollar, which is equal to the US dollar - while both are in circulation at the same time. The first time I saw a Bahamian bill only on the third day of my stay there!
Typical house:
On the main street there is also a very interesting Museum of Slavery and Liberation - it is in this pink building.
Most of the slaves in the Bahamas were either from the Yoruba tribes in Nigeria, or from Congo. Although while transporting slaves across the ocean, fellow tribesmen were deliberately separated, nevertheless, in the Bahamas, these two communities recovered and even were at enmity for a long time - although in our time the borders between them have already been erased.
The museum is made naturally in the spirit of African pride. Many stands tell about the cultural development of African states before their enslavement by Europeans. I think it is seriously changing the perspective for people who know little about the history of slavery in the United States and the Caribbean.
Continuing a walk around Nassau - a statue of Columbus in front of the government house. In general, Nassau is located on the hills, now and then you go up and down.
I climbed one hill to look at the local cathedral - from there just overlooks the Hilton Hotel, the center of local prestige:
Actually the cathedral - now its old part is being restored:
And this is the new part behind the old:
I looked in through the closed glass doors:
Near the cathedral there is a platform with a single player. Generally wandering around Nassau during the day, you feel completely safe. But when it gets dark, sometimes a little unpleasant sensation arises - especially when some clearly black-faced kind of black characters appear due to a turn. Of course, one should not automatically follow prejudices, but one should not lose vigilance either. While I was there, I heard a report on the radio — it was on this day that two armed people attacked the store and shot the man.
There is also a local Art Gallery - which was closed. I admired the statue at the entrance.
There are three fortresses in Nassau - they were built by one slightly crazy governor. At the same time, no one has ever attacked Nassau. I climbed into one of the fortresses - it is the highest point of the city. It is called Fort Fincastle.
It is made in an unusual triangular shape:
In practice, it looks like this:
Entrance costs 1 dollar 8 cents. In Nassau, all prices are non-circular. The fact is that since January 1, a value-added tax was introduced here - 7.5%. And with the inherent laziness of the Caribbean, no one thought that VAT could be included in the price of a ticket or an object - no, they just add 8 cents to each dollar. Postcards also cost 1 dollar 8 cents.
Upstairs Fort:
Water tower:
And the promised city view. On this day - two cruisers:
Very close to the fort there is a very impressive building - the so-called Queen's Staircase. It was cut directly into the rock in honor of the abolition of slavery during the time of Queen Victoria.
It looks very impressive - and somehow unexpectedly in a Caribbean city!
In general, few people stop in the city center in Nassau - the main hotels are located outside the city, on the banks, and the so-called Paradise Island is considered the most exclusive, or Paradise Island - this is really a separate small island, half of which is occupied by the huge Atlantis resort. However, it is connected to Nassau by a bridge and from Nassau regular minibuses for $ 4 go there. Here we cross the bridge - this is Atlantis:
I went to Atlantis. You can visit all kinds of water parks there, a ticket costs from $ 100 and up - I was bored of doing it. The interior of the hotel is something like this:
There are several more hotels on the island:
The water area in front of Atlantis is full of yachts, one more luxurious than the other - Miami Boat Show is resting:
However, my goal was to see the so-called Cloisters. This is a genuine monastery, which one enthusiast in the 1930s moved here from France and placed in a park, divided into the eastern part of the island. The thing is wonderful, and also unexpected here. This is a view from the sea:
Sea view from the "monastery":
In the "monastery" at that moment they were doing fashion photography:
On the other hand, through the garden you find yourself in another exclusive hotel (where the entrance is closed to mere mortals):
In the garden there are statues of idols of the enthusiast who created it. This is President Roosevelt (in the background;)):
And the discoverer of Livingston:
In the Bahamas, it is customary to swim on the beach of your own hotel (in mine it was not observed). Nevertheless, for the sake of interest, I went to the public beach. It is located a few kilometers west. You need to go there on the "jitney" - a broken-down local minibus, which is controlled by a Rastafarian with braids and a portrait of Haile Selassie on the front window. Entrance to the beach:
Deserted, but someone recently built sand castles:
Maybe they?
And someone else arranged a whole shell show on the pier:
Atlantis is visible in the distance:
Private boats passing by:
And the cruise ship slowly goes to the next point of its route:
In a nutshell, more about local food. The main ingredient is conch, or sea snail. They do everything with her. In particular, I tried a salad of fresh sea snails. Very fresh! That is, completely unprepared - raw - just chopped and sprinkled with sour sauce. Very tasty, although eating it is of course a little dumb!
This conch fritters is the main local snack. Sliced \u200b\u200band breaded sea snails. An appetizer was an appetizer, and having eaten about 6 of the proposed 8 fritters somewhere, I realized that I simply have no strength for the main dish! Caribbean dishes are certainly killer - each time they brought as much food as I would have for three calls!
The third hypostasis of sea snails - the main dish of them - I also tried, but forgot to shoot. But he shot a typical cocktail with rum - again, pay attention to its size!
I read about the traditional Fish Fry market, which is located to the west of the center and consists of many small booths where the local people crowd and sell dishes from sea snails. But I came there on a working day and the booths were closed - but a restaurant was opened, in which I took the previous photo.
Another future Bahamian dish looks at me through the glass of the aquarium:
Thanks to the tropical climate and the natural landscape, Nassau has become a place of pilgrimage for travelers who will relax during the day under the gentle Caribbean sun, and at night - a magical world of entertainment. The city is famous for its beautiful harbor, tropical breezes, bewitching rhythm of the drums, delicious dishes of local cuisine and the most breathtaking opportunities for good leisure.
Nassau is the main city of the Bahamas, their economic and cultural center, it is very modern and immediately attracts attention with the color of its buildings. Modern editions coexist with magnificent examples of old colonial architecture. It already does not remind me that once upon a time there was a small and noisy village in its place, founded not by anyone, but ... by pirates. A beautiful harbor and port promenade, crowded business districts, a variety of outlets - all this is Nassau today.
Despite the remoteness from Europe and other centers of civilization, Nassau is interesting for travelers from all over the world, not only for beach holidays, the entertainment industry, shopping, but also for unique sights. Only in Nassau and nowhere else can tourists combine serenity with active pursuits, and vivid impressions are guaranteed. Everyone who visits this wonderful place at least once, as they say, on the back of the globe, will definitely return here. In order to once again feel the whole rich palette - natural, historical, ethnocultural - of this magnificent resort city.
Climate and weather
The equatorial climate zone in which Nassau is located is characterized by hot weather throughout the year: air temperature varies between +20 ... + 32 ° С. There are two seasons - wet and dry. The first is set in May and lasts through October, characterized by hot and stuffy weather, the second - from November to April, and it can be called more comfortable. In general, the climate of the capital city is very mild, due to the influence of the warm Gulf Stream, as well as the trade wind - constantly blowing from the equator of the southeast wind.
January is considered the coolest month, when the air temperature drops to 17 degrees with a plus sign, however, this happens only at night. In the afternoon, the thermometer column can show +25 ° C. The hottest months of the year are July and August, when the average temperature minimum reaches +24 ° C, the maximum reaches +32 ° C.
The minimum monthly rainfall - within 40 millimeters - is observed in February and March, which are considered the driest in Nassau. But in the wet season, the maximum rainfall on average reaches 150-220 mm / month. For "complete happiness" at this time, tropical hurricanes begin to blow, characteristic, however, for the entire Caribbean. As for the water temperature in the area of \u200b\u200bthe capital of the Bahamas, in August-October it warms up to the level of +30 ° С, and in the remaining months of the year it keeps at +25 ... + 27 ° С.
Nassau History
Nassau, founded in the 17th century by the British, is an ancient and very beautiful city. It was originally called Charlestown, and by the end of the century it was renamed Nassau in honor of William III, the great ruler of England and Scotland, whose real name is Willem van Oranje-Nassau.
The capital of the Bahamas is perhaps the only one in the world called the pirate city. And it is no accident, because in the XVIII century these areas were chosen by sea robbers, the most famous thug among whom was Blackbeard. Here they settled so firmly that in 1706 they even founded the Republic of Pirates on the islands. A quasi-state, although nominally a part of the British Empire, was not actually controlled by the latter. Pirates have become a real disaster for shipowners and merchants, and that is to say the least. The robbery continued until in 1718 the British sailor Woods Rogers arrived in Nassau, bringing a royal pardon and regaining British control over the city and the islands as a whole.
At the end of the same century, Nassau became the object of numerous attacks from the Spaniards. In 1776, it was captured by American revolutionaries - though not for long. After 6 years, the Bahamas and their capital were also occupied by the Spaniards, but a year later, in July 1783, the British loyalists repulsed them without firing a shot. While the Civil War was in progress in the States, more than 7 thousand loyalists moved to Nassau and other regions of the islands from the United States.
During World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard based their boats and ships in Nassau that resisted the Kriegsmarine submarines. Since 1968, the city took over the capital's functions in the modern sense: the residence of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, formerly a self-governing territory, was located here, and since 1973 the government of the independent state of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas was located in the city, which, in turn, was part of the British Commonwealth .
Nassau Attractions
Nassau's most visited attraction is the Queen's Staircase. The unique structure is invariably included in the list of must-see places in the city. The staircase got its name in honor of the British Queen Victoria. The Queen’s staircase consists of 65 steps - as many years as she was on the throne. Steps ten years hollowed out by slaves in the mountain, which is located in the very center of the capital. An excellent panorama of the city and its environs opens at the top of the stairs.
However, the best view of Nassau opens from a water tower, the height of which reaches 40 m. This attraction with good reason can be attributed to one of the main business cards of the city. It was built in 1928. An interesting fact: funds for construction for some reason were allocated by the government of the neighboring United States. From the architectural point of view, this object is not particularly interesting from the architectural point of view, however, as an observation deck, it has no equal in the city.
Another famous place in Nassau is the Atlantis Bridge. This gives you the best view of the strait that divides New Providence and the adjacent Paradise Island. The ships pass freely under it, and the roadway itself rushes sharply upward from the shore. The traffic on the bridge is organized in such a way that there are no traffic jams: on the left side, traffic moves to the island, on the right - from the island. From Atlantis Bridge, the famous pink Atlantis hotel, cruise ships anchored and running back and forth along the Strait of the boat are perfectly visible.
Interested in the beauty of pristine nature? Then you need to visit the gardens of Royal Victoria Garden (Royal Victoria Garden), which are located in the southern part of Shirley Street. They represent a large botanical garden, the history of which dates back to the 19th century. The family of various tropical plants, collected from all over the world, unites over 300 species. Magnificent orchids are especially striking, of which there are a lot, including the rarest species. Bizarrely braiding trees, they emit such exquisite aromas that they seem to be saturated with everything around. This idyllic picture is complemented by many birds singing as masterly as if competing among themselves, whose trill is louder and more beautiful.
After enjoying the natural beauty of Nassau, it's time to look into the realm of books. The public library of the Bahamian capital, spread out in an unusual octagonal building, built at the end of the 18th century, also belongs to the main attractions of the city. The interior is also interesting, according to which you cannot say that until 1879 the prison was located here. After the last prisoners were released from here, books settled in the former prison cells. There was application to other rooms of the ex-prison: one was taken to the reading room, the other housed a magnificent museum dedicated to colonial times.
Visit Nassau and not visit the famous Rawson Square? This is hardly possible, because around it, in fact, lies the historical center of the city with the buildings of the 18th-19th centuries that have survived to this day. In the center is a sculpture of the first Governor General of the Bahamas, Sir Milo Butler. Over time, this place became very busy, it was chosen by hawkers, street musicians, bankers and, of course, tourists.
Two of the most famous streets adjoin Rawson Square - Prince George Warf and Bay Street, forming the crossroads of the Old Town, where a whole complex of historical buildings is located. Bay Street is known among tourists and the fact that it has many shops, cafes and restaurants. It is one of the main trade and leisure centers for visitors. Prince George-Wharf can also boast of its shops and cafes, which, in addition to tourists, are very popular with sailors from local and foreign ships. If you suddenly find yourself in Nassau for the winter holidays, be sure to come here, because the annual Christmas carnival is held here.
Another town square - Parliament - is located just south of Rawson. Here, in the late XVIII - early XIX centuries, buildings were erected for administrative structures. Here are the buildings of the former colonial administration and the current Parliament of the Bahamas, as well as the Supreme Court and the Assembly House. One of the dominant squares is the statue of Queen Victoria. The beautiful two-story Parliament building with an antique portico is decorated with four columns.
Not far from Nassau is a hill on which stands a 1787 Charlotte fort, named after the beloved wife of the Bahamian king George III. Now here is a museum. The former fort is surrounded on all sides by a moat. Tourists are attracted to this place by the popular local costumed carnival festival of Johncon. It is held here twice a year: for Christmas and New Year, and then in July-August.
While in Nassau, be sure to visit the Pirate Museum, it is located in the heart of the Bahamas, at the corner of George and Marlborough Streets. The museum is small in size, but it has a large number of fascinating and exclusive exhibits. The creators stylized it as a ship, visitors can get into it through the “docks” - dark rooms with low light. But on the “decks” of the impromptu “ship” there are memorial plaques with information about the most famous thugs of the Caribbean.
And finally, a few words about the Silver Bay islet, which is not far from Nassau. Here is the Crystal Cay Marine Park Aquarium, whose area exceeds 16 acres. It is noteworthy that it was built around natural reefs, which allows visitors to fall below sea level by as much as 20 feet. Such a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the life of the underwater world is enjoyed by many travelers.
Recreation and entertainment
Nassau has its own amusement park, this is the Aquaventure water park, located on the island of Atlantis Paradise. And from the children's entertainment that the capital of the Bahamas offers its guests, we can mention Castaway Cay Park. It is a real town in which pirates, heroes of Disney cartoons "live", and which provides young visitors with the opportunity to plunge into the world of unforgettable adventures.
For adults, there is a set of entertainment in Nassau, which includes many entertainment venues, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Among the latter, Senor Frogs and Booze & Cruise are very popular. Since the nightlife does not subside until the morning, you will surely find yourself comfortable places to relax, where you can relax, have a drink of local rum and dance to the heart. And in order to stay in shape after the night “vigil”, during the day you can go in for tennis, golf, diving, yachting and other sports - for this the city also has all the opportunities.
Located on the island, Nassau is famous for its marine areas, where, in addition to water sports, you can devote yourself to fishing. The southern coast of New Providence is framed by a long and deep reef. They bend especially bizarrely around Coral Bay. As for the west coast, it is shallow and literally teeming with life. This is where fans of sea fishing and snorkeling rush. Nassau gained fame with its yacht clubs - in the vicinity of more than a dozen.
Nassau beaches
A beach holiday in the capital of the Bahamas is truly paradiseous, which you can only dream of. Selective white sand, crystal clear water and magnificent drawings of coral reefs - all this is inherent in the beaches of Nassau. Here you can not only sunbathe from the heart, but also go for a yacht or water skiing, go diving and sport fishing.
On Paradise Island is the most famous city beach, connected to the city by a bridge. It offers beautiful views of the ocean, so it is not surprising that many vacationers take so many pictures here. This piece of land, fully justifying its name, is perfect for families with children. Here you can meet representatives of specialized schools for teaching water sports: they are looking for students among tourists. Be sure to send your child to such a school and literally in a week he will learn how to swim, as well as play water polo.
You may have heard of the world famous Dolphin Encounter program. So, it is implemented on Paradise Island. As part of the program, you can swim with these amazing and very intelligent mammals, talk with them, and learn to understand them more. She, you guessed it, is primarily designed for children who will be under the supervision of an experienced instructor.
Transport
To move around Nassau, choose a taxi or rent a car. Taxi drivers, like everywhere else in the world, will have to pay on the counter, but make sure that you are not deceived. But to rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old. Plus, an international driver license will be required of you. And do not forget that in the capital of the Bahamas, traffic is left-hand.
The city also runs public shuttle buses. Well, if you need to go to Paradise Island (the second name of Paradise Island), which is part of the metropolitan area, use the water taxi service. Transportation around Nassau and the surrounding islands is provided by ferries.
Cuisine and restaurants
Nassau has many restaurants, some of which are well-known not only outside the city, but also far abroad. One of them is Martinique, which offers French cuisine and is famous for its impeccable service. Interestingly, this place is mentioned even in one of the first films dedicated to the famous agent 007. The mention in the movies made the restaurant a good advertisement, after which James Bond fans rushed here.
Want to sample exotic Brazilian cuisine? Then welcome to Humidor Churrascaria, which offers steaks, pork, fried lamb and a variety of salads. For fans to drink (in the good sense of the word) - an assortment of more than 200 thousand bottles of wine that are stored in the basement of the institution. They offer cigars to visitors - and the real ones! You have to choose from 90 items.
But in the restaurant Portofino you can taste the real Bahamian cuisine. Breakfast is served in buffet style. On Saturdays, you can enjoy various delicacies and seafood. Friday is especially worth highlighting when the days of national cuisine are held.
Shopping
Most goods in the capital of the Bahamas are sold duty free, which is best reflected in the pricing policy of local outlets. If you buy perfumes, jewelry, porcelain, cameras or watches, they will cost you half as much as in other countries.
The main shopping street in Nassau is Bay, where a huge number of shopping centers and shops selling branded goods are concentrated. Here you can buy the most fashionable things, and at affordable prices.
The city of Nassau, like all of the Bahamas, is considered one of the most exotic places on Earth, so it is not surprising that travelers tend to leave here with memorable local souvenirs. What do they buy most often? First of all, products from shells and straw, fabrics, perfumes and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Tourists are happy to purchase national clothes, various symbols and amulets, as well as jewelry. All restrictions on the import of currency and the export of goods in the country have been lifted, so you can buy everything you want, and in the quantities you need.
In the center of Nassau is a souvenir market, which is also called the straw market. From the scattering of handmade goods offered by smiling sellers, my eyes literally run up. However, try not to fall for their charm, because this cordiality has one goal - to sell the product as expensive as possible. Do not be shy and bargain persistently.
Security
The capital of the Bahamas, despite its tourist attraction, remains, unfortunately, the most dangerous place in the country. Crimes such as robberies and robberies are common here. Local criminals - the impression is that many of them were given "lessons" by the pirates themselves - they not only get into houses, but they can easily rob directly on the street.
To the south of the center of Nassau is the Over-the-Hill area, where tourists are completely undesirable to appear. This is the poorest part of the city, there are many unemployed people who sometimes have nothing to eat. Of course, they will not fail to rob a stray foreigner. When hiring a taxi, try to avoid private drivers: many professional robbers often impersonate taxi drivers, with all the ensuing consequences ...
Nassau Hotels
Accommodation in Nassau cannot be called cheap. But not because hotel owners are very greedy people. The fact is that hotel owners are forced to include a government tax of 10% of the cost in the bills.
Local two-star hotels are more like cottages. Numbers are from 1500 rubles in translation into Russian currency and more. In hotels of the level of "three stars" and higher, double apartments cost tourists 2,500-3,000 rubles. per night. All these price inconveniences are compensated to some extent by the presence of swimming pools and beaches just a few steps away and a beautiful view of the ocean - all this can be found in almost any hotel.
How to get there
Nassau International Airport Linden Pindling is the largest in the Bahamas. It serves most American airlines.
Aeroflot operates flights from Moscow to Nassau, but they are connecting, that is, joint with other airlines. Here are a few directions: Moscow - Miami - Nassau (Aeroflot and American), Moscow - Paris - Miami - Nassau (Aeroflot and Air France-American), Moscow - London - Nassau (Aeroflot and British Airways), Moscow - Zurich - Miami - Nassau (Aeroflot, Swiss and American). Relatively inexpensive and comfortable flights are operated through New York and Miami by Delta and American air carriers.