Capital of the Bahamas, Nassau, is a must. We land there and we pass through it whatever its final destination (or almost). Between America and England, his heart swings. Admittedly, you pay there in US dollars (at par with the Bahamian dollar, as in the whole archipelago), you come across XXL limousines and tourists in bermudas and caps robbing the duty-free shops of Bay Street, but not only. 40 years ago, the archipelago was still English. Today independent, the Bahamas remains imprinted with British culture:driving on the left, schoolchildren in uniforms, judges in white wigs, changing of the guard and tea party at the governor's palace... Far from the docks where cruise ships dock, Nassau remains above all a village of dolls with pastel pink colonial houses and old-fashioned charm. Limousines are overtaken by horse-drawn carriages (or vice versa). Pirates, corsairs and looters of wrecks have long occupied the place. Blackbeard's Tower or the Pirates Museum bear witness to this. To touch the heart of the "real" Nassau, you have to push in the early morning to the fish and shellfish market of Potters Cay, under the bridge leading to Paradise Island, the old "island of pigs" reconverted into Las Vegas at sea You can observe the activity of the port by playing a game of dominoes with the fishermen. You can also board the "mailboats", these postal cargo ships that connect Nassau to the outer islands and occasionally welcome a few passengers on board (between $30 and $70 depending on the destination).
The roots plan:a "conch salad" (conch salad marinated in lime, with onions, celery and cilantro) washed down with Kalik, the local beer, in the stalls of Arawak Cay or Potters Cay.
The charm plan:a drink at Marley Resort&Spa, the Marley family's former summer residence on Cable Beach, followed by dinner at Nettie's, Different of Nassau, just across the street. Or (more expensive), dinner at Graycliff, a former 18th century pirate mansion where time seems to stand still…
The roots plan:Orange Hill Beach Inn, a guesthouse. www.orangehill.com.
The charm plan:A Stone's Throw Away, a beautiful colonial house built on the hills of West Bay Street. www.astonesthrowaway.com.
Check with the Bahamas Tourist Office. Depending on your desires (idleness, diving, golf, nature), and your budget, we will recommend the right island or the right combination of islands. 113-115, rue du Cherche Midi, 75006 Paris. Phone. :01 45 26 62 62.
