On my tour of Nassau I also met Arlene Nash Ferguson, the Bahamian woman in the video below, and she gave me a tour of her museum and a quick history lesson of the Junkanoo Festival.

The word Junkanoo developed after a slave named John Canoe led the charge for the freedom of slaves in the 17th Century (seriously). It's held every year during Christmas time - a large parade with costumes, music, and Bahamian flair. 

Funny fact: The costumes are so big and heavy that a strong wind one year forced the festival to be canceled - the participants were getting blown over (one young man broke his leg)! 

Check out this video to get a feel for it -  perhaps an idea for a holiday getaway next year?

After we checked out the Graycliff Hotel property and its cigar factory/lounge, we took the short walk over to Junkanoo Beach for happy hour.

It’s a great alternative to the harbor area where the cruise ships dock: The beach is lined with small, locally-run restaurants and watering holes. Bright colors, big personalities galore – the perfect place to stick out your hand and introduce yourself to the locals.

Quiet and timid during the day, the “strip” fills up as the workday ends and the sun begins to fall and the colors in the sky change. We had a few and then walked back along the beach to the British Colonial Hilton, watching the blue beyond the clouds turn to a purple and orange.

Tomorrow: The story behind the Junkanoo Festival for which the beach is named (complete with yours truly in costume!).