Elements of Urbanism: Nassau, Bahamas

Fort Fincastle, the Water Tower & the Queen's Staircase



Just south of downtown, Fort Fincastle was built in 1793 by Lord Dunmore atop Bennet's Hill. The Water Tower adjacent to the fort was erected in 1928 to maintain water pressure on the island. At 126' tall, it provides a panoramic view of Nassau. A short walk away, the Queen's Staircase is Nassau's most visited attraction.

Nassau's most visited attraction is the Queen's Staircase. Climb the 65 steps, recently renovated, carved out of solid limestones by slaves in the late 18th century, between 1793 and 1794. It is reported that slaves were forced to cut through rocks with axes and other sharp hand tools.

This 102 foot staircase was named in honour of the 65 years of Queen's Victoria's reign. Construction of this monument is still regarded as remarkable. For practical purposes, the staircase provides a shorter route to and form Bennet's Hill.

http://www.bahamasgo.com/treasures/queensstaircase.htm





Lighthouse Beach



Lighthouse Beach is a popular waterfront destination on the west side of Downtown Nassau.











Arawalk Cay



Roughly one mile west of Downtown Nassau, Arawalk Cay, also known as "The Fish Fry," is a popular destination for Bahamiam cuisine.

Known to Nassau residents as "The Fish Fry," Arawak Cay is one of the best places to knock back a Kalik beer, chat with locals, watch or join in a fast-paced game of dominoes, or sample traditional Bahamian fare. You can get small dishes such as conch fritters or full meals at one of the pastel-color waterside shacks. Order a fried snapper served up with a sweet homemade roll, or fresh conch salad (a spicy mixture of chopped conch—just watching the expert chopping is a show as good as any in town—mixed with diced onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and hot peppers in a lime marinade). The two-story Twin Brothers and Goldie's Enterprises are two of the most popular places. Try their fried "cracked conch" and Goldie's famous Sky Juice (a sweet but potent gin, coconut-water, and sweet-milk concoction sprinkled with nutmeg). Local fairs and craft shows are often held in the adjacent field.

http://www.fodors.com/world/caribbean/bahamas/new-providence-and-paradise-islands/review-196405.html




My guide on the help, helping remove conch from its shell at Goldie's Conch House in Arawalk Cay.

The Conch is a large-sized sea snail. The name was originally a slang term for native Bahamians of European descent. Due to them being harvested well before they have a chance to breed, the Bahamian conch population is in danger of collapsing.

By the way, live conch is pretty ugly (as evidenced above), but it's not bad. A little rubbery.

We both liked it better raw than cooked.  And we even ate the "conch pistol," a clear, slimy, dangling bit, considered to be the conch penis. (Don't worry, it isn't.) The pistol is said to increase libido and serve as a sort of viagra. "Put some more lead in your pencil!" declared the signs.

It tasted a bit like jellyfish. Did it work? Can't say. I'm a lady!

http://www.jenselk.com/2/post/2011/02/the-exumas-the-bahamas-and-one-disgusting-couple.html




The Nassau Container Port lies just north of Arawalk Cay.

APD Limited was formed in 2009 to design, develop, construct, manage, operate and maintain the Nassau Container Port and the Gladstone Freight Terminal as a modern container port and warehousing complex.

Ownership of the port is a partnership between Arawak Cay Port Development Holdings Limited (40 percent equity stake), the Government of the Bahamas (40 percent equity stake) and Public (20 percent equity stake). Each has invested in APD Limited. The historical initial public offering which was launched in the fall of 2011, allowed the public to acquire 20 percent of the total equity of APD Limited. Approximately 11,500 Bahamians participated in the IPO, a record for the Bahamas. Plans call for additional equity to be made available to the public in the future.

In its role as owner and operator of the Nassau Container Port and the Gladstone Freight Terminal, APD Limited has an inherent responsibility to efficiently, securely and safely serve the market while providing opportunities to all stakeholders.

http://www.nassaucontainerport.com/about_apd.cfm

Cable Beach is recognised as the hotel district of Nassau. Five enormous hotels—two of which are all-inclusive—are located on this strip. The area is also known for its dining, the Crystal Palace Casino, and the golden sands of Cable Beach. Most of the area's restaurants are located either in the hotels or across the street. There is little to no nightlife. There is a bit of shopping, most of it located in the Wyndham. The commercial future of Cable Beach is being re-imagined with the development of Baha Mar, a resort and casino project that will bring more than 2,000 hotel rooms and the largest gaming and convention facility in the Caribbean to this section of New Providence Island in December of 2014 (estimated opening date).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassau,_Bahamas



Paradise Island



Formerly known as Hog Island, Paradise Island is a 685 acre island on the north side of Nassau Harbour. It is best known for being the home of the massive Atlantis Paradise Island resort. Employing over 6,000, the resort is the city's largest employer outside of the government.

The Atlantis Paradise Island is a resort and waterpark located on Paradise Island, The Bahamas. Officially opened in 1998, the resort was created by South African hotel magnate Sol Kerzner and Kerzner International Limited. Paradise Island first opened its Coral and Beach Towers as the Trump Plaza, then changed its name to Atlantis when the Royal Towers were built. The Coral and Beach Towers were later refurbished to match the theme of the Royal Towers. On 28 March 2007 a 600-suite luxury hotel named The Cove Atlantis opened on Paradise Island. Another tower, the 497-room Reef Atlantis, opened 19 December 2007.[1] Atlantis was heavily impacted by the crisis in the United States in 2008 and had to lay off 800 employees to face decline in occupancy rates.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis_Paradise_Island






Located on Paradise Island, The Cloisters are the remains of a 14-century French monastery which was transported to the island in the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst, and finally erected in the 1960s by Huntington Hartford.






Article and Photographs by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com