In the final installment documenting our brief stay in Nassau, I wanted to walk through the town and see the old world charm of a Caribbean city. Though there was some native design to be seen, the town was loaded with signs of big US chains. There was no shortage of McDonalds, Burger Kings, Dunkin Donuts, and others that were enough to ruin the character of the native buildings and streets. I did my best to document the local flair.
The government and official buildings are painted pink or turquoise. Bright colors dot the streets with interesting stores, but once I walked a few blocks of the busiest area, the streets were largely deserted and vacant. The port can accommodate four huge cruise ships, and the the area directly adjacent to the place where passengers disembark has the usual batch of tourist traps selling souvenirs along with taverns and bars that are purely for the tourists and not the locals.
One of the most interesting of areas was the area along the beach near the cargo terminal called the Fish Fry. At least here, the bars were local and there were dozens of small places to eat a short distance from the beach. The signs boasted beer brands and local names. There was not a single chain restaurant. This would be the area to visit for sampling the local fare being cooked outside or in small shacks that one would avoid anywhere else.
Walking through the Fish Fry along the Nassau Harbour is a beautiful public beach and bay with turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. The Nassau Harbour Lighthouse is out on the point and a sailboat anchored off shore added to the scenic beauty.
more to come …