Rum Bahamas Festival & Nassau, Bahamas: Day 1

 When we heard that the Bahamas would be throwing its first ever rum festival, we agreed it would be both the perfect excuse for a quick winter escape and an even better excuse to finally visit Nassau! Not to mention, what could be better than two days (we couldn’t stay for the entire three days of the festival) of sipping some of the world’s best rums with fellow enthusiasts in the Caribbean?

We set off for New Providence two days before the festival. This would give us some time to take advantage of the island’s history, vibrant art and food (conch, conch and more conch!) before we submersed ourself in the festival. Plus, we would have bragging rights on a two day head start of sipping rum before our buddy Rum Shop Ryan!

Mango Eddie and Rumshop Ryan in Nassau, Bahamas

A quick two and a half hour flight followed by a thirty minute car ride transported us from the relentless snowstorms of D.C. to the air-conditioned lobby of the historic British Colonial Hilton, our home-base in downtown Nassau.

Nassau’s British Colonial Hilton – our home for this winter jaunt

The regal lobby at the historic British Colonial Hilton in Nassau

After checking in, we wasted no time settling into our Caribbean groove by heading straight for the hotel’s bar on the beach.

Kickin’ off our trip with some of the British Colonial Hilton’s signature rum drinks.

The view from the Hilton’s Bar

Refreshed and invigorated, we then set off for a quick stroll through bustling downtown Nassau.

 Strolling through Nassay’s pastel colored shops to the tunes of a steel drum player. A perfect way to start our trip!

It would have been a sin to let our first day pass without digging into the Bahamian national dish, conch. As luck would have it, conch fritters were being fried right across from the hotel at the aptly named Conch Fritters Bar and Grill.

Pipin’ hot conch fritters from Conch Fritters Bar and Grill across from the Hilton

We ended our first day on New Providence on the beach at our hotel. As the sounds of nearby Señor Frogs and the cruise ships docked in the bay wafted over us, we danced in the sand and smiled to each other knowing it was great to be back “home” in the Caribbean.