CAPITAL NASSAU - POPULATION 305,655 - AREA 15 SQ KM - OFFICIAL LANGUAGE ENGLISH
The Bahamas archipelago of some 700 islands; ranging from bankers' paradise to West Indies backwater and floating in crystal-clear waters; is a top destination for US holidaymakers. Tourism has seen a slight decline though since 2006, perhaps due to a few years of bad hurricanes; 2007's Hurricane Noel dropped nearly 400m of rain in 15 hours. While it's a year-round destination, the most thrilling time to head here is during Christmas, when the carnivalesque Boxing Day Junkanoo festival swings into action well before sunrise. To escape the melee, head to Bahamas' largest but least-visited island of Andros, a wild and spooky mangrove-fringed domain perfect for birdwatchers, beachcombers and divers keen to explore its 140 miles of offshore coral reef.
NASSAU, BAHAMAS
What hasn't Bond done in the Bahamas? Films from Thunderball to Casino Royale have been shot in this dreamy chain of islands, which for many represent paradise personified: palm-fringed beaches, glamorous waterfront bars, celebrity residents and even the odd casino. But colonial capital Nassau, with its past history of piracy and luxuriant debauchery, seems to be 007's favorite haunt. The precedent was set when the city's One & Only Ocean club starred in the original Casino Royale. If you walk around today, there's every chance you'll encounter someone with their very own Bond story, plucked from the filming of spy-related antics here over the past 50 years. |
