HOTELS, RESORTS & SPAS NASSAU DESTINATIONS True I


t’s getting closer – I can feel the beating of the drums in


my chest and the horns of the trumpets in my ears. I can sense the excitement building as people crane their necks to catch a glimpse of the performers’ brightly coloured costumes as they dance into the room in time with the rhythm. This is the second Junkanoo


we’ve experienced today in the Bahamas, and I already hope it won’t be the last. Like its masquerade festivities, the Bahamas is a treat for the senses. Crystal-clear seas, sounds of wildlife and Bahamian cuisine were just some of the reasons I thought I’d fall in love with this Caribbean nation and, after experiencing all this and more, I soon discovered I was right.


w CULTURE AND CUISINE I had barely been in the Bahamas for 12 hours before I found myself chomping down on a plate of conch fritters. Five minutes before, I hadn’t even known what a conch was, but I soon learnt it was delicious – although with


colours


Natalie Marsh finds out what’s new on Nassau Paradise Island in the Bahamas


@NatalieMarsh_TW


five more food stops ahead of us, I resisted the urge to fill up too quickly. The Bites of Nassau Food


Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour, by Tru Bahamian Food Tours, was a thorough introduction to the capital city’s history and places of interest, including its oldest wooden building, Balcony House, and the surprisingly pink Government House, the official residence of the governor general. Food and drink stops consisted of hearty portions of authentic cuisine, from pigeon pea hummus to conch chowder, and from steamed chicken and rice to traditional rum cake, leaving visitors with a stomach full of food and a head full of knowledge. To help wash all the delicious


food down, rum was just a short walk away at John Watling’s Distillery. On stepping in, I was immediately handed a sample of frozen piña colada and whisked through a short tour of the property. Tours run throughout the day, seven days a week, and are free for visitors. The distillery produces a pale


I fell in love with the Bahamian cuisine, Junkanoos, sounds of wildlife and crystal-clear seas


rum, amber rum and Buena Vista rum, packaging every bottle by hand. Guides encourage you to smell the rum from the barrels (though be warned, you still need to navigate a flight of stairs!) For those who prefer the grape


to the grain or the sugar cane, last autumn saw the opening of Bahama Barrels, the first winery in the country, where visitors can create their own wine blends. Owned by Graycliff Hotel &


Restaurant, Bahama Barrels is just one of the strings in this grand dame’s bow. The hotel prides itself on its guest experiences, boasting a cigar factory – which has a six-month waiting list for its cigars – a culinary academy and a


chocolatier. After tasting different types of chocolate straight from the taps, I really did die and go to chocolate heaven.


w BAHA MAR From one of the island’s oldest hotels to one of its newest, the Baha Mar development on the north coast has been in the offing for some time, but its phased opening – which began with the Grand Hyatt last year – is now complete. The $4.2 billion Baha Mar


resort consists of three hotels, adding 2,300 rooms to Nassau Paradise Island’s offering. SLS opened its doors at the end of 2017, while the Rosewood welcomed its first guests in June this year, completing the trio. Guests staying at any of Baha


Mar’s three hotels can share many of the facilities across the 1,000-acre resort, including its enormous – though surprisingly airy – casino. I opted instead for the animal sanctuary, and was greeted by nurse sharks, sting rays and sea turtles, as well as a flamingo habitat – the resort


19 July 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 43


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