NEW YORK, United States--Travel experts at guidebook publisher Lonely Planet have handpicked seven prime locations to ring in the New Year, from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage-listed city Matera in Italy to the United States’ jazzy New Orleans.
And the Caribbean secured a place on the list in the shape of Nassau in the Bahamas, which was chosen largely for its colourful street parties.
According to Bailey Johnson, destination editor for Central America and the Caribbean, Nassau is in a class of its own when it comes to New Year’s Eve (Old Year’s Night) parties in the Caribbean.
“Nearly every town in the Caribbean throws a New Year’s bash, but Nassau does so with a particular flair,” the travel writer said.
“Junkanoo is the Bahamas’ biggest, flashiest street carnival, and while it takes place multiple times a year, the largest celebrations happen on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
“In the wee hours of the morning, elaborately costumed dancers take to the streets with their troupes, parading through downtown Nassau to ring in the New Year with horns, drums, whistles and floats.
“Once the festivities subside, nap on the pearly sands of one of the popular New Providence beaches (Cable, Delaporte or Junkanoo Beaches, to name a few). And when you start to feel hungry, head over to Arawak Cay for the weekend fish fry or snag some conch salad from the market at Potter’s Cay,” the recommendation concluded.
Also securing a pick on the list were Las Palmas in Gran Canaria and Hangzhou in China, the latter chosen for a peaceful start to 2017 in a country that will be celebrating its own New Year on January 28.
The only country with multiple listings was Australia, with Melbourne making the cut mainly for its renowned rooftop bars, and Sydney scoring for its famous fireworks display in Sydney Harbour. ~ Caribbean360 ~
