bahamas
Highlights and Attractions

Major Attractions in the Bahamas

For many tourists who visit The Islands of the Bahamas, the main attractions are the cities of Nassau and Freeport. But these are also other very exciting destinations, and there is much more to discover in the Islands of the Bahamas. Just think about the total number of about 698 more islands and cays that form the archipelago.

Visitors who are searching for unspoiled beauty and quiet will find it in the most superb Caribbean waterfall locations. Here the islands offer unbelievable waterfall landscapes next to miles and miles of unexplored beaches, caves and cays, which allow for the best scuba diving, fishing and sailing. A good example is St. Lucia - an island of distinct natural beauty well know for its splendid waterfalls in the rainforest.

Other hot attraction points are the unique activities in Montego Bay, Jamaica, that tourists just love to follow every holiday. The most known attraction in Montego Bay Jamaica is the Hilton High Day Tour - a day tour into Jamaica's interior, with visits to villages, local schools and plantations. This shows up the Jamaican culture and way of life, along with the ancient beliefs of the island. As people are well known for their warmth and friendliness, tourists are always treated like family. Others attractions are exciting rafting trips trough the white rapids of the Great River, touring the country site of Western Jamaica, or azure waters in style with catamaran charters.

Nobody should miss the sand and the blue water of Jamaica, as the Jamaica beaches are known as the best beaches in the Caribbean. And while tourists enjoy Caribbean sun, they also could listen good reggae music and fresh news about the islands at the very original Power 106 Jamaica Radio.

Tourists can find a lot of things to do in Freeport Bahamas. The city offers them bustling marketplaces, marinas, and great hotels. The cosmopolitan image of it provides traditional tourist fare, but offer splendid beaches, never-ending nightlife and excitement too.

For the curious one, here are some interesting and well to know 5 facts on Jamaica. For example, few tourists know that the total population for Jamaica counts 2,713,130 persons (accordingly to latest estimations). From the famous people from Jamaica we should mention Christie Linford, the sprinter that held the World, Olympic, Commonwealth, and European Cup titles for the 100m, achieving 9.87 seconds at the world championships in Stuttgart, Germany in 1993. Also, we should mention the unforgettable Bob Marley - singer, guitarist, and composer of reggae music, born near Kingston, Jamaica. He made his first record at the age of 19, and in 1965 formed the vocal trio, The Wailers, with Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingstone. Their music developed political themes with an artless lyricism and infectious rhythm, and in the 1970s Marley brought it around the world.

Besides religious and national holidays, Jamaicans have a number of historic and cultural celebrations. Among the Holidays celebrated in Jamaica, this is very important : on January 6, the Maroons (offspring of escaped slaves) gather to celebrate the Accompong Maroon Festival, which honors Cudjoe, who led the Maroons to a temporary victory over the British during the war of 1729-1739.

February is carnival month throughout the Caribbean. In Kingston, the University of the West Indies hosts a two-week celebration; people assemble for fashion shows, calypso competitions and all-night dances. During the month of April, Jamaica holds its own Jamaica Carnival, beginning on Easter Day and lasting for a week. In August, the Jamaica Festival coincides with celebrations of Emancipation Day and Independence Day. The festival features competitions in all the major arts, as well as culinary arts. People also enjoy beach parties, calypso, reggae, and soca music.

Labor Day (May 23) originally celebrated the activities of the trade union movement, but since 1972 it has been a day for community service, which includes repairing roads, painting schools, and planting trees and decorative shrubbery. Independence Day, celebrated on the first Monday in August, is entirely given over to celebrations that mark Jamaica's independence from Britain.

Christmas is the biggest family event of the year. Jamaica Christmas tradition is celebrated by going to church, exchanging gifts with their families and gathering for a large meal. Visits to friends' and relatives' houses follow during the week between Christmas and New Year's.

Various ethnic groups have their own celebrations. Events such as Chinese New Year, the Hindu Diwali festival and the Muslim observance of Hosay can draw participants from the entire community in areas where there is a strong concentration of these peoples.

Other traditions keep live folklore song like digging songs, worksongs of the farm or plantation. They enabled slaves to communicate while under the watchful eyes of the overseer and also helped to lighten the work. This tradition has been retained by subsistence farmers working each other field (grung') and swinging their hoes in unison. A lead singer sets the pace and the others respond in a chorus. Many digging songs have common masculine like nagging wives; (Lead) 'Woman is a people, (chorus) 'grumble too much'. Other manual laborers, like river rafters, have adopted the tradition- 'We'll be rafting down the Rio Grande, uh huh, uh huh'.

For more information on the Food and Culture of the Bahamas click here

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