Across the bridge to Nassau

The history of Nassau is still very much alive today. Captain Woodes Rogers, a privateer from England, established control in the Bahamas when Nassau was overrun by pirates. The efforts of Captain Woodes Rogers during his campaign in making Nassau a pirate-free location can be seen as a dramatic statue at the entrance of the British Colonial Hotel. The Graycliff Hotel is also another permanent reminder of Nassau's roots. Graycliff was built by John Howard Graysmith as his base for pirate activity, and today houses the Caribbean's first 5-star restaurant.

The Bahamas fondness for art and music is just as evident in Nassau. Throughout local shops such as the Straw Market and the BahamaCraft Center, travelers get a taste of the Bahamian culture. When the sun sets, local Bahamian bars take over and welcome you to a vibrant musical experience.

The Junkanoo Festival, a spectacular street parade on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, is the heart of the musical culture in the Bahamas. This Bahamian celebration began as a temporary celebration of freedom for slaves who were given three days off for Christmas. It quickly blossomed into an exuberant Bahamian cultural expression, full of colourful costumes and sounds of goombay drums and copper bells.