In a recent cruise trip, we were lucky to visit the island of Grand Bahama, and specifically the capital Nassau. We are the kind of tourist, who will not take advantage of the wonderful weather, the sunny skies and the magical blue waters, and go to the beach for a relaxing day. No, no that would be too easy. We love, to visit the museums, learn the stories and the history behind a country , a city, a village.
So, in this specific trip we had only few hours to stroll around Nassau. We managed to visit Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle- which was built on the highest point of the island as a lookout and you can get great photos of the entire island, and even the Queen’ Staircase.- The set of 65 steps was carved out of the natural limestone wall that once rested in its place by slaves between 1793 and 1794. The Queens Staircase is 102 feet tall, and was so named in honor of Queen Victoria. Originally, the Queens Staircase was built to provide British troops a protected route to Fort Fincastle, and the slaves used, were local people from the island.
Fort Charlotte
Queen's Staircase
The one place though that we had the most fun and learned. as a family, was the Junkanoo Museum. What is the Junkanoo. The following is as per museum provided information:
The Story of JUNKANOO
The National Cultural Festival of the Bahamas
The Junkanoo Festival began hundreds of years ago with Africans who were transported as slaves across the Atlantic to work in the Bahamas. The earliest recorded reference to Junkanoo in the Bahamas is 1801.
By law, slaves in British colonies were given 3 days holiday at Christmas, and in the Bahamas, the slaves used the time to generate the festivals and rituals of their homeland, Africa, in celebration of life, survival and strength of spirit. Their festival regalia became the materials to be found in the environment and through the centuries, the costumes moved from the feathers and scraps of the plantation, through plant life, straw work, sponge, newspaper, tissue paper, and finally to the crepe paper of today. Their music: their goatskin drums, and cow bells that replaced the bells and the rattles of Africa.
Sponge costume
Straw costume
Cardboard & crepe paper costume
Snow Angel costume from cardboard, crepe papers and feathers
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- JUNKANOO, now the national cultural festival of the Bahamas, is celebrated in two spectacular parades in the early mornings of Boxing Day, December 26 and New Year’s Day, January 1 of each year, on Bay Street in downtown Nassau. Breath-taking costumed made from cardboard, wire, and finely cut crepe paper, are paraded by dancing groups and individuals to the unique sounds of pulsating goatskin drums, cowbells, horns and whistles. The nation’s main street is transformed into a sea of sight and sound that amazes, astounds, and enthralls all who view it.
If you were there with us, you would feel the rhythm and the passion of these people. Each year, as soon as the festival ends on January 2nd, they start back again to design and create their costumes for next years parade. They have craft classes to teach you how to create costumes out of cardboard boxes and decorate them.
..I was even the Junkanoo Queen… for a second…
"Junkanoo Queen"
Amazing work..wonderful experience…
what is your vacation style?
