Boaters looking for a fascinating time will most assuredly find it in bustling Nassau as well as on Paradise Island, a stone’s throw away from Miami Beach.
They’ll discover it in the well-stocked shops that vie for attention along Bay Street — and in viewing the old weather beaten buildings and their younger, more up-to-date neighbors. And they will enjoy it strolling in terraced Versailles Gardens that dazzle under blue Bahamas skies.
To thousands of annual visitors, this rewarding time is provided by interesting clocks, watches and even a sundial — timepieces that exemplify a blending of Old-World and modern elegance that makes Nassau and Paradise Island a popular destination for those who follow the sun.
Oldest church still standing in Nassau is St. Matthews, located about a mile east of the center of town. Completed in 1802, the building boasts the oldest of the clocks. Long ago this time-keeper was selected as official town clock to keep the populace informed. To this day, the government provides a grant to keep its pendulum movement in proper working order.
If you are fortunate enough to be in the vicinity of its Roman numerals on the quarter-hour, you’ll be in store for an extra dividend Westminster chimes that have been heard on New Providence Island for generations.
GOOMBAY SUMMER AT THE INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR
Where in the world do you want to shop? You needn’t travel too far away from the Florida coastline to find an exotic shopping bazaar where you’ll be able to purchase merchandise from the four corners of the world.
It’s Freeport’s renowned International Bazaar — a delightful maze of winding streets and lanes set in a little World’s Fair atmosphere of shops and restaurants. For an unusual and unique gift, find it in the Bazaar at special Goombay Summer prices.
A huge Torii Gate, gracefully dominating the front plaza which abounds in gardens reminiscent of a painters palette bids welcome to the visitor.
Arching the entrance to the Hong Kong section is an impressive cobalt- blue tile Mandarin Gate. Step inside on a street so Chinese in character it could easily fool an Oriental. Here, shops display merchandise ranging from hand-crafted Hong Kong furniture to delicate hand-carved ivory jewelry.
Perfume, cologne or fashions from France. They’re here in the Montmatre section of the Bazaar at tremendous savings. And so is a typical kiosk, colorfully decorated with posters depicting French scenes. There’s a delightfully chic French lingerie shop where the fashions are daring to say the least. Rest awhile at an outdoor cafe with brightly colored umbrellas and checkered tablecloths. An authentic French menu will please the most discriminating gourmet.
Scandinavia — a bit of Hans Christian Anderson’s fairyland world — is just a few cobblestoned step beyond Montmartre. Here, a perfect town has been recreated with aging rooftop tiles, chimney pots — and beautiful, blonde Scandinavian salesgirls. Fine china, crystal and silver abound in quaint little shops.
Through a Moorish archway is an area that has been called “Indiacum-Trinidad.” Specializing in goods from India brass, ivory and gold- threaded silk — the visitor may also find goods from the Caribbean. Sari- clad beauties glide around their boutiques in graceful native costumes.
The visitor entering through the North Gate entrance passes through a Spanish forecourt complete with a tiled fountain — a favorite meeting place. Soon, he finds himself in Granada, a typical Spanish town of narrow, twisting streets and tall elegant buildings with wrought iron lamps and grilles, ornamental gates and flower pots overflowing with red geraniums. Cafe Valencia, complete with Flamenco dancers, serves the cuisine of Spain. Visitors used to Miami Beach shopping will delight in the bargain priced leather-goods, suede garments, mirrors, combs and mantillas, silver jewelry they find here. Columbia emeralds, handwoven colorful ponchos plus a host of other items made in Spanish-speaking parts of the globe.
The uneven streets of Spain give away to carefully manicured gardens —Tokyo! Smiling down on passersby is a two-ton, green-stoned, potbellied statue of Ho-Ti standing regally in front of the entrance to the Japanese Steak House. If pearls of the Orient or a Japanese camera, tape-recorder or radio are on your list to take home, the Ginza shop offers substantial savings on U.S. prices.
Shopping for gifts or merely wandering through the Bazaar is a unique experience for all visitors to Freeport’s Bahamas Goombay Summer.
