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Ocho
Rios
The
first town in Jamaica to be developed specifically
as a resort, Ocho Rios (usually just called
"Ochi") abounds with neon-fronted
duty-free stores, fast-food chains, bars, clubs
and visitor-oriented restaurants. Local culture
takes a back seat to the tourist trappings here,
so it's not a good place to get an authentic
flavour of Jamaica. It's not the best choice
amongst the island's "big three" resorts
for the classic Caribbean beach holiday, either
– the strip of hotel-lined sand just can't
compete with the beaches of Negril and Montego
Bay, and the club and bar scenes are less vibrant.
Nonetheless, the nightlife is improving, and
Ochi compensates for its scenic deficiencies
with a certain infectious energy.
Charms
of this Region
Dolphin
Cove
Cuddle with Sugar, get rubbery, wet kisses from
Mitch, or let Cometta and Betta take you for
a spin around the cove. These exotic and friendly
mammals wait to entertain you.
Craft
Markets
Wood carvings, straw hats, t-shirts, jewellery
or dyed fabrics…these one-stop shops carry
a wide variety of gifts for even the most budget-conscious
shopper.
Dunn’s
River Falls
Climb 600 feet up Jamaica’s most spectacular
and famous waterfall, fringed with lush gardens
and spilling onto a small golden sand beach.
Water
Sports
Snorkel. Windsurf. Dive. Whatever your pleasure
– on or under the water – you can
find it in Ocho Rios.
Nine
Mile
Make a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the world’s
greatest reggae icon; Bob Marley. Visit his
shrine, and pay your respects to Jamaica’s
favourite son.
Harmony
Hall
Renovated historical architecture meets modern
fine art in this gallery-cum-restaurant.
Wassi
Art
Experience art in the making at the gallery
and studios of talented intuitive Jamaican potters
and painters.
Horseback
Riding
Ride along secret trails and by-ways through
quaint rural villages and lush green pastures.
Then, if you like, take your horse to cool off
with an exhilarating swim in the sea.
Gardens
Exotic tropical flowers and trees abound, often
with a bubbly stream or waterfall nearby. Ocho
Rios’ gardens are landscaped acres of
paradise, breathtaking and inspirational.
Fern
Gully
Miles of greenery sprouting in an old river
gorge. Fern Gully is home to over 500 species
of fern, many of which can be found in only
Jamaica.
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Brown's
Town
General
History: Brown's Town is one
of the largest and most important inland
towns of St. Ann, primarily because of
the high concentration of educational
institutions in the area as well as the
large Brown's Town Farmer’s Market.
The town is a convenient twenty minute
drive from Discovery Bay on the coast,
a scenic and tranquil route which winds
through the amazingly lush Orange Valley
and through the bauxite-rich hills of
rural St. Ann. |
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Just
to the north of the town centre is the Minard
Estate, the pimento plantation and home of the
eccentric and caustic Hamilton Brown, for whom
the town is named. The Minard estate now belongs
to the Government of Jamaica and is operated
as a cattle research and development station
through the Agricultural Development Corporation.
The two-thousand acre estate is home to approximately
one thousand head of cattle, and is the primary
breeding station for the Jamaica Brahmin cattle
variety, although the estate also maintains
herds of lineage mapped Jamaica Red Poll and
Jamaica Black cattle.
In
the nineteenth century, Hamilton Brown owned
the twin estates of Minard and Huntley, and
because of his wealth and clout in the area,
was instrumental in local politics. In the nineteenth
century, he led a group called the Colonial
Church Union, a coalition of Anglican congregants
who would routinely persecute non-conformist
missionaries and their followers by burning
churches and free villages. For his efforts,
Brown was honoured with a monument in the Anglican
churchyard. Ironically, the main thorn in the
side of the Colonial Church Union then, Dr.
James Johnson's Jamaica Evangelistic Mission
(known popularly as the Tabernacle Church),
is today one of the institutions that residents
are most proud of. Brown's Town is heralded
as the birthplace of this movement, an offshoot
of the Baptist Church, which today is one of
the largest groups of churches in the island.
In addition to the Tabernacle Church, Brown's
Town boasts twenty-eight other Christian church
denominations within the town limits.
Only
the number of schools rivals the number of churches;
in the town itself there are six of Jamaica's
premier educational institutions, creating a
Mecca for students from Jamaica's north coast
and rural interior. Brown's Town is also an
important trading centre for local farmers who
live in the surrounding Dry Harbour Mountains.
Norman Market, one of the oldest in the island,
was famous for the bells atop the steeple, which
would ring on major holidays, echoing through
the mountains and surrounding towns. Today,
the market is in transition, having outgrown
its original location, but it still is the largest
and most prosperous in the area, attracting
sellers from as far away as St. Elizabeth.
Interesting Story: The district
of Stand Fast, just outside Brown's Town got
its uncommon and telling name in honour of the
tenacity and resolve of its residents. During
one of the last face-offs with the Colonial
Church Union, the Union militia was on a rampage,
intent on destroying anything missionaries in
St. Ann had built. In the midst of the confrontation,
the villagers received word from the Brown's
Town missionaries that their resistance was
paying off and they should "stand fast
and defend themselves" when the Union militia
came. The people of the district barricaded
themselves in anticipation of an attack, which
never came to fruition. The actions of the Colonial
Church Union were brought to a standstill by
a coalition of missionaries, but in the process
of celebrating their successes, other members
of the coalition neglected to send word to the
residents, who eventually had to courier a message
asking if the village still needed to "stand
fast".
Famous For: Some of Jamaica's
most respected educational institutions are
located in and around Brown's Town. St. Hilda's
High School for Girls and York Castle High School
in particular have longstanding reputations
and alma mater lists which include some of the
most prominent names in Jamaican society. One
of the newer institutions, the Brown's Town
Community College, in just a few years has managed
to make a name for itself with its rigorous
and effective skills training and university
preparatory programmes.
Must See: This area of St.
Ann was, in the nineteenth century home to many
sugar and cattle estates and plantations, producing
sugar, pimento and other crops. Today the legacy
of the colonial period remains, with many elegant
homes scattered over the rolling hills and valleys
around Brown's Town. Many are privately owned,
but most owners are proud of their properties
and sometimes allow viewings if politely asked.
Of note is the Minard estate, now a cattle-breeding
estate with the New Hope Great House and the
ruins of the Minard Great House.
Say
Hello To: Do call the Jamaica Cultural
Development Commission's office to inquire if
Ms. Norma Walters will speak with you. Although
she is an extremely busy woman, she is a former
teacher and an excellent resource for information
on Brown's Town, St. Ann and Jamaican culture
in general. Ms Walters is well connected and
respected in and around Brown's Town, and can
direct you to scenic routes and interesting
places in and around the area.
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Cave
Valley
General
History: Cave Valley, so called
because of its proximity to the large
system of interconnecting limestone caves
that stretch through the north and west
of the country, is located on the banks
of the Cave River. |
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The river begins underground, appearing and
disappearing as it meanders from the interior,
finally feeding into one of the larger rivers
that flow to the sea. Although the river is
small, it is a dangerous one, and from time
to time, when heavy rainfall saturates the underground
sinkholes and channels, the water backs up and
floods the village and surrounding areas. It
is the same river, however, which causes rampant
and widespread destruction, that is also the
reason the valley is so remarkably fertile.
The
village falls within an old historic district,
not far away from the Vera Ma Hollis Savannah,
one of the major bases of activity for the first
maroons – those freed slaves of the Spanish
colonial era that took to the hills to wage
guerrilla warfare against the English. Years
later, the valley was still a maroon stronghold,
and so during the Maroon Wars, the English erected
a barracks on the banks of the river from whence
they launched their attacks. The ruins of the
Cave Valley Regiment quarters are still visible
today. Also just outside the village centre
is a chimney, the remains of a mill that dates
to 1872. The chimney is as impressive as it
is amusing, seemingly to rise out of nowhere,
and reaching at least thirty feet into the air.
Until
recently, Cave Valley was one of the most important
tobacco producing regions in Jamaica. In the
early days of English colonialism, tobacco was
one of Jamaica's primary agricultural products,
that is, before the North American colonies
demanded from the colonial government a monopoly
on the cultivation of the plant. When sugar
replaced tobacco in importance economically,
the island's tobacco regions diminished, leaving
areas of major importance like Cave Valley producing
cigars and cigarettes from the fine tobacco
that made the Caribbean famous.
Over
time, the cultivation of tobacco has declined,
and its stead, coffee cultivation has taken
over. The Baronhall Estate today is the largest
working plantation in the community, employing
most of its workers from the valley communities.
Because of its location, (the village is on
the major route from the south-central parishes
to the north but very far from any major town)
the market at Cave Valley never gained distinction
by virtue of its size or variety of produce.
Instead, Cave Valley market is best know for
the weekly livestock auctions held there.
Famous For: The reputation
of the livestock market at Cave Valley has far
exceeded its size; in the days when beasts of
burden such as donkeys, mules and horses were
the primary means of transportation, the market
flourished and gained notoriety as the best
place to buy such animals. Despite the fact
that as animals are used less and less nowadays,
the Cave Valley market still remains a major
meeting place for animal traders, although its
reputation has changed slightly. Now, many know
Cave Valley as the place where unscrupulous
livestock traders swindle unknowing buyers,
as animals that seem in good health are said
to collapse shortly after the transaction is
complete. The lesson, caveat emptor!
Must See: Outside the village
there are two interesting natural features,
the "Noisy Water" River Cave and "Rat
Bat Hole". Noisy Water River is actually
a section of the Cave River that emerges from
underground out of the wide mouth of a cave
and trickles over limestone rocks before it
disappears again. Rat Bat Hole, as the name
suggests, is the surface opening of a cave system
filled with herbivorous bats that extends deep
underground for several miles. Noisy Water River
is approximately one mile into the lands of
Brenton Bertram, and Rat Bat Hole is approximately
one mile in the opposite direction. Both the
river and the cave are worth the hike along
the steep hillsides dotted with grazing cattle
and teeming with various medicinal plants used
by the residents of the community of Norwood.
Say
Hello To: In the centre of town, Mr.
Bobby Simms owns and operates one of only four
restaurants in town, which also doubles as the
local hardware store and the local nightclub.
The Prestige Restaurant, Hardware and Nightclub
has a warm homey feel, and usually Bob is sitting
behind the bar ready to discuss just about anything
from current events to the state of the roads.
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Claremont
General
History: The district of Claremont
was first called "Finger Post"
until it was renamed in honor of the first
house built there 'Clermont House'. The
countryside around the town has for centuries
been home to the wealthy landed gentry,
and even today is dotted with elegant
homes and estates houses. |
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The
wealth associated with the area can be seen
in the architecture and plan of the town; the
shops of Claremont high street exhibit remarkable
architectural detail as well as very refined
finishing.
Must See: The special allure
of Claremont is not to be found in the town
itself, but rather around the town, in the rolling
hills, estates and lush meadows. There are many
interesting and worthwhile driving routes and
detours with beautiful homes set against breathtaking
views.
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Discovery
Bay
General
History: Unmistakably one of
the most picturesque natural harbours
in the Caribbean, Discovery Bay was re-named
in 1947 to commemorate the place where
it was once thought that Christopher Columbus
first set foot on Jamaican soil. |
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Recently historians have come to agree that
Columbus initially landed at Rio Bueno, six
miles to the west of Discovery Bay, a theory
further supported by the fact that Columbus
called the bay 'Puerto Seco' or 'dry harbour'
in reference to the lack of a fresh water supply
there. Nevertheless, Discovery Bay is still
home to Columbus Park, an open-air museum facility
with various Columbian and colonial artefacts
on display. Also of note on the coast are the
remains of the original Quadrant Wharf which
date to the 1700s but which today are attached
to a number of small local restaurants and shops.
Since
Columbus, many others have 'discovered' the
beauty of Discovery Bay, and over the years
a small town has developed around the bay area.
On one side of the bay lies the Kaiser Bauxite
Company's wharf and the Columbus Park, which
overlooks the azure cove from the western end.
On the other side are various private homes,
resorts and the family-oriented Puerto Seco
beach whose pristine white sand and relaxing
appeal can only be described as breathtaking.
Interesting Story: All the
artefacts on display at Columbus Park in Discovery
Bay were recovered by the Kaiser Bauxite Company
in the process of excavating in and around the
Discovery Bay / St. Ann area. These artefacts
include a section of a sugar estate aqueduct,
eighteenth century cannons; sugar boiling coppers
and a Lime mill. Interestingly enough, there
are very few artefacts from the time of Spanish
occupation in the park; rather, most of the
artefacts on display date to the eighteenth
century when sugar was king and the British
controlled Jamaica.
Famous For: Once, it was thought
that Discovery Bay was the place that Columbus
first landed in Jamaica, and that was the town's
claim to fame. Today, historians have proven
otherwise, but Discovery Bay can now hold its
own as a charming town resting on the edge of
an exquisite notch of the Jamaican coastline.
Must See: An afternoon at Puerto
Seco is certainly in order for any visit to
Discovery Bay. The beach is well developed,
with a small jetty, a playground with rides
for children of all ages, a family restaurant
and a bar for adults. The water is brilliant
turquoise and shallow for about twenty feet
out to sea, but do carry or rent snorkelling
equipment for a glimpse at another side of Jamaica.
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Faith's
Pen
General
History: Jamaica's favourite
travel halt is marked by a humble strip
of vendors along the road which winds
down Mount Diablo and into St Ann. Located
in the midst of bauxite-rich country,
Faith's Pen appears where the climb up
"the devil's mountain" levels
off and marks the beginning of the descent
to the north coast. |
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The short strip of neat stalls, which is set
against a backdrop of brilliant red earth and
bright green mountains, exudes vitality with
loud reggae music pulsating throughout and the
smell of roast breadfruit and jerk smoke wafting
through the air. At Faith's Pen, one can buy
roast corn, steamed fish, cow cod soup, mannish
water, roots wine, honey and many other delectable
Jamaican foods.
Driving
by, it is almost impossible to pass without
stopping to sample some of the hearty treats
that are cooked there on the spot. Over the
years, each vendor has created his/her own niche,
and nearly all have their faithful clientele.
The oldest and most popular spots are easy to
identify; they are the ones with throngs of
people waiting patiently to be served. In short,
Faith's Pen is probably the best place on the
island to sample traditional Jamaican food at
its best, and the range and choice, coupled
with the welcoming smiles of vendors, reminds
one of just how special this island is.
Interesting Story: The location
of Faith's Pen today is a few miles from the
original congregation of shacks along the road,
moved in the 1990s partly because of its precarious,
traffic hazard location and partly to make use
of land reclaimed from bauxite mining.
Famous For: Jamaican Food!
Cow cod soup, mannish water, roast salt fish,
roast corn, roast yam…and an unending
list of other delicacies.
Must See: Miss Cherry (of Cherry's
One Stop) has been selling at Faith's Pen for
as long as anyone can remember. She is almost
always there, excepting of course, the days
she goes down to the Linstead Market to get
fresh produce for her stall. But don’t
just take our word for it; with over fifteen
stalls to choose from, you can make a meal by
getting each part from a different vendor. The
next best way to go about trying it all is to
stop more than once; although even veterans
of the stop will tell you that even after many
years they still haven’t tried everything
available!
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Moneague
General
History: An old elegant inland
town, Moneague once was one of the largest
and most important towns in St. Ann because
of its convenient location along the main
north to south highway. |
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Travelers
doing the three day journey would find it a
pleasant stop because the climate in Moneague
was significantly milder than in Kingston and
Spanish Town, and at one point the town boasted
many hotels, some said to be ‘the most
charming in the island.’ The name Moneague
is said to be a corruption of the Spanish ‘managua’
after an underground lake in the area.
Interesting Story: Affectionately
called “Swamp” by residents of Moneague,
the Moneague Lake is a rather interesting phenomenon.
Local legends maintain that the lake appears
only once every hundred years, when it rises
to swallow a valley to the north east of the
town and tells of prosperity for the next few
years to come. The truth is, the lake appears
after any long protracted period of heavy rains,
when the normal channels of drainage are blocked
when both underground water backs up and settles
and the excess surface water, having nowhere
to flow away saturate the land. As a result
of changes to the land topography due to bauxite
mining, the lake has disappeared only once in
the past thirty years, and now is a rather permanent
part of the landscape in Moneague.
Famous For: The combination
of the natural landscape and the architecture
of buildings in and around the town of Moneague
is perhaps the town’s most attractive
attribute. In colonial days, Moneague was a
town for the landed gentry, who built some of
the most beautiful homes against the startlingly
beautiful landscape. Many of these homes still
exist today; the old Moneague Tavern (now Café
Aubergine), the old Moneague Hotel (now the
Moneague Community College), and the Lake House
(now a private residence but still visible from
the road) being some prime examples of these
remarkable structures.
Must See: Formerly known as
the Moneague Tavern, today’s Café
Aubergine, a small restaurant with a colorful
history, is still a landmark along the highway.
In the old days the tavern marked the midway
point in a long journey between the north and
south coasts, but today, with new and improved
road systems, the journey is shorter but still
not complete with a stop there.
Say
Hi To: Beside the Moneague Lake there
is a sign advertising “Silver Lake Camp”
where patrons can access “Cabins, Boats,
Live Music and Fun.” The camp for the
most part is no longer in operation, but its
owner, Mr. Earl Nunes, has lived beside the
lake for more than 30 years and would be pleased
to chat about Moneague, the lake and fishing
techniques. Mr. Nunes also operates a one-man
band (hence the Live Music) and may even treat
you to an informal mini-concert.
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Nine
Mile
General
History: Along the road to Philadelphia
and nine miles from Alexandria is Nine
Mile, a rural community with few citizens
and fewer amenities. Embedded in a hill
made of solid rock and blood-red bauxite
rich earth, Nine Mile is the birthplace
of Reggae superstar Bob Marley and the
site of the Bob Marley Mausoleum. |
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A
few metres away from the village centre stands
the mausoleum and mini-museum, at the top of
the famous hill which Marley climbed daily to
carry water to his house. At the mausoleum,
located beside Marley's childhood home, the
late Jamaican cultural icon lies in a marble
tomb surrounded by gifts and memorabilia. Many
fans and followers revere the tomb as a sacred
place, and although in the spirit of Marley's
teachings no person is denied access to the
site, guests are asked to remove their shoes
before entering.
Nine
Mile is also the childhood home of Bunny 'Wailer'
Livingston, who is, along with Peter Tosh one
of the three original Wailers that shared the
early part of Marley's initial climb to international
fame. The hamlet is generally a rural, sleepy
little Jamaican village where most of the residents
farm for a living, but once a year, around February
6, Bob Marley's birthday, the village plays
host to hundreds of fans who come to enjoy a
spectacular yet intimate concert and to pay
their respects to the most popular Jamaican
entertainer to date.
At
the right time of year, a visit to the Bob Marley
Mausoleum can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience
and a totally fulfilling lesson in Jamaican
history and culture, for often, some of the
most important figures in reggae music can be
found there, paying their respects and reasoning
with visitors. The house of Cedella Booker,
Bob's mother, for instance, is also located
on the compound and just a few chains away is
the former home of Bunny Wailer. The easiest
way to get to Nine Mile is to drive along the
hilly byways of St. Ann, through the town of
Claremont, a quiet and picturesque town with
interesting architecture and a beautiful old
church.
Interesting Story: Many of
Bob Marley's most famous lyrics were conceived
here; visitors are encouraged to sit under these
same trees and perhaps conceive their own tunes.
Famous For: Bob Marley, the
village's most famous son, born here on February
6, 1945. Nine Mile today houses the childhood
homes of Bob Marley and Livingston "Bunny"
Wailer, in addition to the Bob Marley Mausoleum.
Must See: Pay your respects
to one of the most important figures in modern
music; stop by the Chapel at the mausoleum,
which is decorated with stained glass in the
Rasta colours of red, green and gold. Remember
to remove shoes before entering and to sign
the visitor’s log when leaving!
Say
Hello To: Cedella Booker, fondly called
"Mother B", is Bob Marley's mother
and lives in a modest house nearby. Call ahead
to see if she is in town, she is a busy woman
even at her age! If Mother B is not at home,
ask around for Uncle Lloyd, Bob's uncle, who
will treat you to interesting anecdotes of Bob
Marley's childhood. Another interesting character
is Ras Paul, the gatekeeper and I-tal chef who
will treat visitors to a bottle of his famous
"Roots Wine" for a small contribution.
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Ocho
Rios
General
History: Ocho Rios is a favourite
vacation destination for visitors and
locals alike. What was once a small, rural
fishing village is today one of the major
centres of Jamaica’s tourism. The
English translation of the name Ocho Rios
is eight rivers, but the name is actually
a corruption of the Spanish words, "las
chorreras", or " cascades". |
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As such, while visitors sometimes feel misled
expecting to see eight rivers running through
town, their minor disappointment is more than
offset by the fact there are more than eleven
rivers and more than twenty waterfalls in the
area, most of them located along the north coast
road on the western end of the town.
The
largest and most famous of the waterfalls is
Dunn's River Falls, where adventurous spirits
can climb up over 600 feet of thundering cascades.
Other remarkable cataracts can be found at the
Enchanted Gardens, the Ruins Restaurant, Llandovery,
Laughing Waters, and at the mouth of the White
River.
Despite
the fact that the town is home to Jamaica's
largest hotel and to over 30 smaller hotels,
resorts and private villas, “Ochi”,
as Jamaicans fondly call it, is still in many
ways a small town. Most businesses and hotels
are located along Main Street, the major road
through town running parallel to the beach.
Main Street has a distinctive Jamaican quality
and feel to it; usually it is bustling and full
of activity with shoppers, crafts people, children,
taxis and reggae music setting the pace and
tone of the town's pleasantly cheerful and relaxed
vibe.
Ocho
Rios is also a huge shopping mecca; partly because
of the pier, where the major cruise ship lines
call. The town hosts two major shopping centres:
the Taj Mahal and the Island Centre, both of
which offer fabulous duty free shops with good
bargains on normally expensive items. There’s
also the famous Ocho Rios Craft Park, where
the sign advertises "free gift for all
customers". The Park is a great place to
obtain Jamaican curios and mementos of all types,
get your hair braided, or just hang out with
ordinary Jamaicans.
At
the night, Ocho Rios is abuzz with activity
–there are lots options of things to do
and places to go. Usually, the Little Pub has
a musical revue or a theatrical production running,
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in Island
Village is always crazy with outrageous theme
parties and tropical drinks, and on most nights
James Street pulsates with reggae pouring out
of the numerous local nightclubs and bars.
More
than anything else, Ocho Rios is an exceptional
family resort area and, being centrally located,
is the ideal base from which to explore Jamaica's
north coast.
Interesting Story: Ocho Rios
was identified and developed as a tourist destination
after World War II when Clement Atlee, Prime
Minister of Britain began to confiscate the
wealth of the aristocracy. The legislation instigated
an enormous capital flight from Britain, and
Ocho Rios quickly became the holiday home for
the wealthiest and most famous Britons.
Famous For: “Ochee”
has the largest number of waterfalls per square
mile than any other piece of coastal real estate;
including Dunn's River Falls with magnificent
cascades over 600 feet high!
Must See: The descent to the
coast from inland St. Ann along the A3 highway
is marked by an almost mystical gorge covered
by a canopy of foliage that blocks almost all
sunlight. Fern Gully; 3-mile long roadway lined
with hundreds of species of fern, is the largest
fern arboretum in the world. Set in a breathtakingly
beautiful canyon that is a nature lover’s
paradise, the highway winds itself along the
course of an old riverbed until a glimpse of
the ocean indicates your arrival in Ocho Rios.
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Oracabessa
General
History: Oracabessa is one of
the fastest growing resort areas in Jamaica,
energized by heavy investment from long-time
resident Chris Blackwell's Island Outpost
Trading Company. Its towering cliffs,
shining in the golden sunlight, may be
a clue to origins of the town’s
name, which is said to derive from the
Spanish words oro (gold) and cabeza (head). |
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The town is renowned as the private retreat
of two of the twentieth century’s most
prolific authors and playwrights: Ian Fleming,
James Bond creator and writer, and Sir Noel
Coward. In addition, it is also famous for James
Bond Beach, named for the fictional character
after one of the Bond movies was filmed in Oracabessa,
and now a major entertainment venue for local
events.
The
main street in Oracabessa is a pleasant and
graceful promenade with a number of well-maintained
buildings in the early twentieth century Jamaican
vernacular tradition. On the outskirts of the
town are other note worthy buildings, most of
which are owned by Island Outpost, including
Goldeneye, Fleming's tropical retreat, and Blue
Harbour, the three-villa seaside home of Noel
Coward. Firefly, the primary vacation home of
Noel Coward is leased by Island, who restored
and refurbished the house as a museum and now
oversees its operation.
The
community of Oracabessa is heavily dependent
on fishing for much of its income, and there
are a number of fishing beaches dotted around
the small harbour. In the centre of the harbour
channel is a small island called Santa Maria
that has good snorkelling potential, used mainly
by fishermen, but with development plans in
the works for a tourist attraction.
Interesting Story: Ian Fleming,
former British Intelligence Officer, famous
author and creator of the James Bond series,
fell in love with Jamaica and was inspired to
write all his ten novels here. It is said, Fleming
decided to live in Jamaica when he came to the
island and watched a Jamaican girl swimming
nude in the bay below Goldeneye, his famous
house.
Famous For: Scenes from the
classic James Bond movie "Goldfinger",
which featured a young and stunning Ursala Andress,
were filmed at James Bond Beach.
Must See: Firefly, former home
of artist, actor and playwright Noel Coward,
is a small house that sits on a hill above the
town. The house is now a museum with guided
tours, but for thirty years it was Coward's
refuge, and the house has been preserved exactly
as it was at the time of his death. Firefly
is a model of elegance in simplicity; the cottage
has living space and amenities for just one
person but it sits on eight acres of land with
a magnificent view of the harbour below. Sir
Noel is buried here, and in his memory a statue
has been erected in his favourite spot, a bench
facing the coast, looking out into the royal
blue Caribbean.
Say
Hello To: Stop in at Dor's Fish Pot
for excellent seafood dishes and a mellow seaside
atmosphere. Your experience will be completely
altered if Dor’s stop happens to coincide
with yours. Dor is a vociferous woman with strong
opinions and a warm heart, and spending time
with her and her delectable dishes amounts to
a rare treat.
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Port
Maria
General
History: Not many people know
that Port Maria, the “Puerto Santa
Maria” of the Spanish, was the second
town to be established in Jamaica by the
colonizing Spaniards. Formerly a bustling
seaport under both Spanish and English
rule, the town today reflects little of
its former prosperity or importance. |
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Except for a handful of buildings, not much
remains of the colonial era architecture. The
town is set in the centre of a deep inlet of
the northern coastline with a small island just
offshore, and the bay is certainly one of the
most picturesque in Jamaica.
As
capital of the parish of St Mary; Port Maria
is home to the St Mary Courthouse, an old elegant
building subtly dominating the town’s
waterfront. In front of the courthouse is a
monument to Tacky, a freedom fighter of the
18th century. In 1760 Tacky, an African slave
of Coromantee descent assembled a guerrilla
army to attack their British enslavers and seize
control of the land. The revolt started on the
nearby Frontier plantation, but spread quickly
after Tacky and his followers raided the munitions
store in Port Maria.
Tacky’s
Revolt was one of the most pivotal slave uprisings
in Jamaican history, because although outnumbered
and ill equipped, Tacky’s followers kept
the British at bay for more than a month before
the rebellion could be subdued. Following the
rebellion, many of the slaves that managed to
evade the British banded together and fled to
the hills to join the maroons, but as many as
300 slaves were executed for their participation.
Of interest also is the St Mary parish church,
the small English-style chapel on the water’s
edge, west of the town.
Interesting Story: Port Maria,
and indeed the entire parish of St. Mary have
a very old and deep-seated tradition of protest.
From as early as 1655, African slaves set free
by the fleeing Spanish took to the hills, forming
Maroon communities and carrying out the occasional
attack on British estates and towns. In 1760,
Tacky, the notorious rebel slave, lead a revolt
against slave owners that lasted over a month
before British authorities could suppress the
fighting. Centuries later, in a 1938 riot that
started in Islington, a small farming community
near to Port Maria, four men died as a result
of clashes with local police. The spirit of
protest lives on, although in recent times not
much has been able to incite the people here
to mass violence.
Famous For: Tacky's War, in
1760 is still memorialised in the cultural capital
of the country. A popular poem relaying the
events of the Easter Rebellion is taught to
school children all over the island to pay homage
to Jamaica's rich history of resistance to oppression.
Must See: The St. Mary Parish
Church, built in 1861 of limestone blocks on
the edge of the bay, is one of the most picturesque
structures anywhere on the island. The modest
chapel is set against the dazzling turquoise
harbour, framed by tall palm trees whose leaves
rustle gently in the warm sea breezes.
Rio
Bueno
General
History: Rio Bueno, a small seaside
village on the border between the parishes
of St Ann and Trelawny, owes its importance,
history and livelihood to the magnificent
Rio Bueno harbour. The Rio Bueno harbour
is the deepest in Jamaica, and that feature
is probably one of the reasons that impelled
Christopher Columbus, on his first visit
to Jamaica, to drop anchor there. |
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Rio
Bueno, in fact, not Discovery Bay, was the first
place that the Europeans landed in Jamaica,
welcomed to land by the ease of entry into the
harbour as well as the availability of fresh
water from the river, which empties directly
into the harbour. The river itself is a curious
feature. Its source lies in the limestone sinks
of the Cockpit Country, but the river itself
appears and disappears at will, along its course
collecting many names such as the Quashie River,
the Dornoch River and the Cave River, but finally
entering the Caribbean Sea as the Rio Bueno,
the original name bestowed by the Spanish.
Since
the initial visit by Columbus and his crews,
Rio Bueno fluctuated has between a very important
town and a quiet fishing village. The evidence
of centuries of history abounds at Rio Bueno;
just outside the village, on a hill overlooking
the harbour is the original location of Calabar
Theological College, the first school to train
Jamaican preachers. The college has since been
relocated to Kingston, but there still remains
a well-maintained 150-year-old Baptist church.
Home
to the wharf for the deepest harbour in the
island on one side and the Queen’s Highway
on the other, the village sprung up during the
early days of English colonialism as a way stop
for both maritime and overland visitors. The
village of Rio Bueno has traditionally housed
highly acclaimed taverns, guesthouses and inns.
In fact, during one of its ‘glory periods’
the Duke of Wellington Inn at Rio Bueno was
said to be the best lodging house in the north
of Jamaica! By the late 1800s the town was almost
deserted, a shadow of its former self.
In
recent times the village has gone through two
such about-turns – having been resurrected
by the construction of a bauxite-shipping wharf
in the mid-1900s. Since then, smaller influences
have changed the town’s fate; the appearance
and disappearance of a certain jerk pork specialist
in the 1980s, for instance, changed the village’s
Friday night reputation for a number of years.
Despite all, the village remains a picturesque
gem steeped in history, with its old fort, warehouses
and churches set against the water’s edge
with the green hills of Trelawny as its backdrop.
Interesting Story: Rio Bueno
boasts many churches, two of which are of great
historical importance to both Jamaica and the
area. Baptist missionaries who broke away from
the Church of England, then the official church
of Jamaica, originally built the Rio Bueno Baptist
church in 1829. The Rio Bueno Baptist church
was, for a short while, the major place of worship
and education for converted blacks living in
the area. The humble meeting hall lasted only
three short years before members of the Colonial
Church Union, a band of vigilante white planters,
merchants and estate workers intent on displacing
the support base of the non-conformist missionaries,
burnt it to the ground.
Ironically,
St Mark’s, the Rio Bueno Anglican church,
one of the most beautiful structures on the
coast, was hurriedly consecrated in 1833 on
petition from the people of the then booming
town, probably as a display of English colonial
supremacy. The Baptists, however, were not to
be underestimated, and by 1834 a new Baptist
chapel, the first of those destroyed by the
Union to be re-opened, was consecrated. The
new church was twice the size of the original
one, surely to the horror of the Colonial Church
Union and the planters of Trelawny!
With
the new, larger church, the Baptist missionaries
expanded their operations, and soon founded
the Calabar College in 1843, the first institution
in Jamaica to offer formal instruction to theological
students of colour. Both churches exist in harmony
today, each relishing its colourful and longstanding
history, both celebrating worship on Sunday
mornings with their discrete congregations.
Famous For: The Rio Bueno Harbour
is spectacular from all angles, but especially
so from on top of the hills that border the
town. The various shades of blue are alluring,
and set against the background of the endless
sky, the portrait is simply breathtaking.
Must See: Rio Bueno has long
been a centre for the arts on the north coast,
and the village has been graced with the presence
of many renowned painters, poets and musicians
such as Joseph Kidd in the 1800s, and more recently,
Alex Haley and James Morrison. Today the artistic
tradition in Rio Bueno is supported mainly by
Joe James, a world acclaimed visual artist and
sculptor who operates Gallery Joe James and
the adjoining Rio Bueno Hotel. Most of the gallery
is housed in the former Harbour Master's Quarters,
creating a historic atmosphere amidst contemporary
art.
Say
Hello To: Joe James, proprietor and
operator of the Rio Bueno Hotel and Gallery,
is an extraordinary character. Mr. James has
been resident in Rio Bueno for over 35 years,
and has witnessed many changes to the village
and surrounding areas. Adjoining the Gallery
is his studio, and visitors are encouraged to
stop in to create, chat, or just experience…
Rio
Nuevo
General
History: The Rio Nuevo, a small river
that trickles down from the hills of the parish
of St Mary, lends its name to the small village
on the coastline where the river enters the
sea. Few people realize how important this small,
quiet 'suburb' of the large resort town of Ocho
Rios is to Jamaica's history.
In
the seventeenth century, while European nations
fought over the control of various areas in
the New World, the English wrestled the island
of Jamaica from the Spanish, then the dominant
colonial power in the region. At Rio Nuevo in
1658, the most definitive battle between the
English and the Spanish over control of Jamaica
took place and, as a result, after a mere 150
years of Spanish rule, the British were able
to capture the island. Today, Jamaicans are
the only people in the Greater Antilles that
speak English as a first language.
Rio
Nuevo lies along the north coast highway, marked
by a few small signs erected by the Jamaica
National Heritage Trust identifying the battle
site. On the actual battlefield site there is
a monument to all the Jamaicans, both of African
and Spanish descent that fought the invading
British valiantly albeit unsuccessfully. Today
it is hard to imagine the carnage and bloodshed
that brought the small community to the public
fore, since the site is now a grassy park dotted
with shady trees and benches where visitors
may sit and gaze at the horizon.
Interesting Story: One of the
most definitive moments in the island's history
took place here, at the mouth of the Rio Nuevo
on the north coast. The Battle of Rio Nuevo
was the last major battle fought by the Spanish
in a final-hour attempt to recapture the island
from the English in 1658.
The
Spanish, led by a brave and determined Christobal
Ysassi had, since the English first landed in
1655, maintained a consistent and harassing
guerrilla war from the hills aided by bands
of freed African slaves. In 1657, encouraged
by the slow responses of the English to previous
small skirmishes, the Spanish attempted to recapture
the island from the north, setting up a small
fort at Rio Nuevo and a camp near Ocho Rios
with military support and supplies from nearby
Cuba.
The
Spanish initiative was thwarted twice, once
at the base of Dunn's River Falls, where sensitive
Spanish battle information was leaked to the
English, and then again at Rio Nuevo. While
the defeat at Dunn's River only hampered progress,
the defeat of the troops at Rio Nuevo and the
destruction of the fort dealt a much more serious
blow to the Spanish campaign, both to the morale
of the troops and the strength of the army.
Over two days of heavy fighting, the Spanish
lost more than 300 troops to an onslaught by
the English Navy, and the few survivors of the
battle fled to the hills of the island's interior.
Rio Nuevo was the last major campaign of the
Spanish, and although Ysassi and a band of loyal
yet war-weary soldiers and freed slaves maintained
a guerrilla war for two more years, after the
defeat on the river's west bank, the Spanish
had no realistic hope of ever colonizing the
island again.
Famous For: One of the best
scuba-diving sites off Jamaica's coast appears
just offshore from Jamaica Beach, to the west
of Rio Nuevo. The reef, called the Rio Nuevo
wall, is a 25-foot dive, and supports barracudas,
turtles, parrotfish and other tropical marine
life in its mountainous coral formations.
Must See: Ten minutes south
of the village of Rio Nuevo, on a road canopied
by lush vines and sturdy, old trees, the Rio
Nuevo trickles down through the district of
Retreat. Crossing the river from Retreat into
Bottom Retreat is no mean feat, although the
quaint and picturesque swinging bridge certainly
makes it a beautiful endeavour. For many years
before the construction of the new Bailey bridge,
the community made use of a wooden bridge hung
by ropes made of vines. The wooden bridge is
still there, but few people use it these days.
The
community of Retreat is largely agricultural
and reserved, a small village where everyone
has known everyone else's family for generations,
and where neighbours are quick to the rescue
of each other in hard times. The village square
– in fact the whole district – is
made of the stuff that turns into stunning postcards,
a calming and picturesque corner of the true
heart of Jamaica. Retreat is home to an interesting
church, the Holy Trinity chapel, built in the
shape of a cross, on a small hill above the
river. The river, which runs through the district,
is an essential part of community life. On just
about any day, there is a dash of activity by
the riverbanks; children splash and play in
the cold spring water, while adults wash clothes
and cars.
A
short visit to Retreat is certainly in order
if you happen to be in the area. By the river,
the smooth, rounded stones are large and comfortable
enough to accommodate a picnic, allow you to
contemplate life, or make new friends.
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Runaway
Bay
General
History: Runaway Bay is certainly
one of the most scenic areas in Jamaica,
which is probably why it was the first
place in Jamaica to be developed almost
completely as a resort area. |
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Since the early 1960s, when the old Cardiff
Hall Estate was converted to a combination of
luxury hotels, golf courses and private villas,
the town has developed its own character and
persona as an elegant yet lively getaway for
those who truly need to relax, enjoy a bit of
luxury and rejuvenate themselves completely.
Indeed,
much of the beauty of Runaway Bay lies in the
fact that while the town itself is not a vibrant
bustling centre, it is conveniently located
within easy reach of Ocho Rios in the east,
Montego Bay in the west, and with Brown's Town
inland to the south. Also as well as having
some of the most spectacular beaches in the
Caribbean, Runaway Bay is endowed with captivating
natural features such as the Pear Tree River
and the Green Grotto Caves.
Over
the years, there has been much debate about
the name of this small coastal town. Some believe
it got the name as the fleeing point of the
last batch of Spanish soldiers retreating from
English troops under the directive of Governor
Ysassi in the 1600s. Others argue that it once
was the point of departure of African slaves
from inland sugar plantations who ran away to
Cuba. Whichever story is true, according to
one resident, "nobody nah try (to) run
‘way” from Runaway Bay today; in
fact, in the hills outside the resort town,
many foreigners have run away from their former
selves and made Jamaica home!
Famous For: Do stop by the
Green Grotto Caves, the largest and most accessible
caves on the island. The two caves open to the
public are the Runaway Cave and the Green Grotto
Cave, both estimated to be approximately half-million
years old. Along with stalagmites and stalactites,
there is a small and fascinating underground
lake in the innermost cavern. The caves belong
to a series of interconnected passageways and
chambers that spread far beneath the Dry Harbour
Mountains to the south. It is said that slaves
used the caves as an escape route, but it is
unclear whether these slaves were running to
the coast in order to leave the country, or
whether they were running to the mountainous
interior to join bands of maroons in the mountains.
Tours of the caves in which your guide identifies
interesting and sometimes amusing rock formations,
last about 45 minutes and are provided at a
small cost.
In
addition to the caves, some of the best beaches
in the Caribbean can be found in Runaway Bay,
protected by a large tropical coral reef. Accordingly,
the resort area is one of the most ideal for
water sports, scuba-diving, all outdoor sports
and of course, sunbathing.
Must See: Located on a hill
overlooking the bay is the Runaway Bay HEART
Hotel and Training Institute. HEART, the Human
Employment and Resource Training Trust is a
government-run programme that aims to develop
practical and vocational skills among young
Jamaicans. The Runaway Bay HEART Hotel employs
predominantly hospitality industry trainees,
and needless to say, since it began operating
has maintained a reputation for excellence in
service, since trainees are graded on guest
satisfaction. At the very least, a visit to
the Cardiff Hall Restaurant (also on the hotel
property and run by trainees) is a worthwhile
experience, as the culinary institute usually
manages to pull a "clean sweep" of
medal positions in the annual JCDC Culinary
Arts Competition. Upon leaving the institute,
apart from being pleasantly satisfied, guests
often feel the warmth and well being of knowing
that their patronage has helped a young Jamaican
to master essential skills for entry into the
working world.
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St.
Anns Bay
General
History: Originally called Santa
Gloria by Christopher Columbus, St Ann's
Bay is at once the capital of the similarly
named "Garden Parish", home
to the island's first city, and birthplace
of Marcus Mosiah Garvey – Jamaican
National Hero and pioneer in Black Nationalism
and Pan-Africanism. |
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St Ann's Bay displays many old historic buildings
and monuments set between the brilliant green
mountains and the royal blue Caribbean Sea.
The
historic St Ann's Bay courthouse (built in 1860)
and fort (built in 1750) have both witnessed
many years of hardship, conflict and brutality
and now stand as testimony to the understated
strength and character of this town. Also of
note are the statues of Marcus Garvey and Christopher
Columbus, each standing at opposite ends of
the town.
As
parish capital, the town attracts visitors from
all over the mostly rural inland areas. As a
result St Ann's Bay looks and feels like ol’
time Jamaica, where the entire town, even the
small side lanes, radiates a cosmopolitan blend
of people-on-official-business, people-on-personal-business
and people with not much else to do but socialize,
all dressed accordingly.
On
most days, this north coast hub moves gently
to a rhythm that ebbs and flows in sync with
the ocean visible from almost any point in the
town. Some evenings and most weekends, the fields
of the St Ann Polo Club and the Drax Hall Football
Club come alive with hotly contested polo and
club-league football respectively. By night,
St Ann’s Bay becomes a gathering place
for St. Ann locals, who cheerfully and regularly
patronize their favourite nightspots, away from
the tourist-oriented selections in Ocho Rios.
The result of a multiplicity of purposes and
personalities, St Ann’s Bay is a pleasantly
paced modern centre with a fascinating past.
Interesting Story: Local legend
maintains that there is a flammable body of
water near the Police Station. Apparently, this
spring will can be lit and will burn continuously
until extinguished by waters from the same spring.
The elusive spring is also said to have remarkable
healing properties for those who find it. Please
note: this story may be at best wild conjecture,
but investigating its validity may offer the
opportunity to make new friends!
Famous For: Jamaica’s
first National Hero, Marcus Garvey was born
in St. Ann's Bay. The charismatic and influential
Black activist and organizer spent his youth
here before moving to Kingston, where he started
his political life. His messages of Black solidarity
and self-determination paved the way for many
Black Pan-Africanist leaders around the world,
while in Jamaica his messages defined the philosophy
of the Rastafari movement. A son of a well-respected
local citizen, Garvey embodied the spirit of
the Jamaican working classes and eloquently
represented the interests of people from the
entire African Diaspora by organizing the United
Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), a Black
nationalist movement that in its prime had over
one million supporters worldwide.
Must See: A walking tour of
St. Ann's Bay is easy and well worth the effort.
Start on either side of the town, but as you
make your way across do take note of the St.
Ann's Bay Parish Library, Garvey's Market Street
house, the St. Ann's Bay Courthouse, the old
St. Ann's Bay Fort, the Baptist Church on Main
Street, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic
Church, the market, and the Columbus statue
on the west of side town. St. Ann's Bay is compact
and easy to get around, so a visit here can
be done on the same day as the Seville/Maima
Heritage tour. It is almost inevitable that
any tour of St. Ann's Bay will end near to or
at the beach, a delightful end to an intriguing
journey through Jamaica's heritage.
Say
Hello To: Any trip to St. Ann's Bay
should include a stop at the Parish Library,
at the very least to see the statue of Marcus
Garvey outside. The library offers public access
to the Internet as well as a remarkable collection
of information on Jamaica and St. Ann in particular.
If you happen to go in, have a quick chat with
Fitzroy Campbell, Library Aide, who can help
you find anything you need in the library or
in the town.
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Walker's
Wood
General
History: Within the lush, Tolkienesque
hills of the parish of St Ann, is one
of the most remarkable communities on
the whole island. The village of Walker's
Wood, marked by a tiny explosion of brightly
coloured buildings along the main highway,
stands as a shining example of how local
grassroots organizations can make or break
the future of a community in transition.
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In
the 1970s, faced with poverty, a lack of basic
amenities, gross unemployment and constant migration
of the area's young people to Kingston, residents
of the village banded together to form the Walker’s
Wood Village Council, a group made up of nearly
fifty representatives from local churches, schools,
farms and other organizations in the area. Recognizing
that one main root of all the community’s
problems was the lack of employment opportunities
in the area, the Council first set out to create
a sustainable income-generating operation, and
from this thrust, the Walkerswood Caribbean
Foods Company was born.
Today,
Walkerswood is best known locally and internationally
for a line of seasoning spices and condiments
produced almost exclusively of local Jamaican
ingredients, supplied predominantly by farmers
in the community. The employee-owned company
is a model of community initiative, since over
the years it has created for itself a niche
in the gourmet foods market, while at the same
time providing the community within which it
operates with income, stability, and most importantly,
a future.
The
spice factory is only one success of the Council;
to its credit the group has also organized construction
of a multi-purpose community centre, construction
of the Walker’s Wood Post Office, and
is now working with an international development
agency on the Coastal Water Improvement Project,
which helps to educate farmers on how to develop
and operate environmentally friendly farms.
In
all, the beauty and character of the community
of Walker's Wood is matched only by the physical
surroundings; where rolling, verdant hills meet
brilliant aqua skies, there is nothing but serenity,
cooperation, and a strong independent spirit
that is uniquely Jamaican.
Famous For: The name of this
small rural village has reached to almost every
corner of the globe, as the Walkerswood line
of spices, seasonings and condiments has created
a niche for its products in the international
market. The most famous product, and deservingly
so, is the Walkerswood Jerk Seasoning, an aromatic
concoction of indigenous spices and seasonings
which lends the zesty flavour of traditional
jerk to just about any meat or fish dish. The
factory itself, located on a hill just outside
the town centre, does not at the moment accommodate
visitors, although there are plans to expand
operations to allow for tours and perhaps a
restaurant in the future. For the time being,
however, the complete line of Walkerswood products
is available at just about any supermarket in
Jamaica, and in Walker's Wood at either of the
grocers' in the village square.
Must See: The village centre
itself is worth the trip to Walker's Wood. The
buildings that line the highway have a distinctly
rural and tropical aura about them, complete
with benches outside to sit, "labrish"
(chat) and socialize with people who pause as
they carry on their daily business. Just outside
the village centre is another worthwhile stop,
the Walker's Wood Farm and Craft Market across
the street from the Post Office. The market,
as the name suggests, sells farm produce and
craft items from local farmers and artisans.
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Watt
Town
General
History: Watt Town, a small village
deep in the bauxite-rich Dry Harbour Mountains
of St Ann is the mecca of Revivalists
islandwide, since Revivalism in Jamaica
began here in the late 1800s. Located
at the top of a steep hill in the village,
is the Watt Town Zion Revival Church,
a small, humble building set amidst meticulously
maintained gardens called "the vineyards"
by the congregation. |
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The
gardens are constantly expanding, as visitors
to the church who have received inspiration
are encouraged to sow a seedling before they
leave. The result is a charming and peaceful
area, ideal for meditation and bible study.
In
its history, the church has had only four leaders,
including the legendary Father Donor, who started
the church, choosing the location after a vision
directed him to the village. Just before his
death, he bequeathed leadership to his daughter
Emily, who led the congregation for many years,
building a congregation and initiating traditions
still followed today. After her, a young and
dynamic preacher took over, and for many years
the name of Leader Linton was constantly associated
with the Revival church. Today the church is
in the care of the descendants of Mother Donor
and Leader Linton; Brother Elgar Linton, the
son of Leader Linton, capably assists the welcoming
and affable “Leadress” Inez York,
who also happens to be the great-great-granddaughter
of Mother Emily.
Each
year, on the first Thursday in March, the town
plays host to the largest revivalist meeting
on the island, at which whole church congregations
gather around the church for a day and night
of constant singing, praying and spiritual healing.
The church is equipped to provide accommodation
for pilgrims in search of inspiration and healing
year-round. Adjoining the "schoolroom"
is a building with a series of rustic rooms
and dormitories open to believers, who sometimes
stay for weeks at a time.
Generally,
visitors are welcome, but all guests are asked
to be respectful of the church and of the beliefs
of the members. Meetings are held several times
each day, however, usually there is someone
around who will, on request, gladly pray with
or for anyone, at any time. The church is maintained
by the contributions of pilgrims and congregants,
yet, like the community within which it operates,
it is constantly strapped for cash. Donations
are neither compulsory nor expected; they are,
however, highly appreciated, both by the regular
congregants and the pilgrims who use the facilities
there.
Famous For: The birthplace
of Revivalism in Jamaica, the village of Watt
Town in the hills of St. Ann is best known for
the "Zion church". Depending on which
time of day you arrive in town, you will be
able to locate the church easily by the loud
singing and drumming audible from just about
any point in the village. At the church itself,
congregants and pilgrims often dress in colourful,
loose-fitting gowns to attend meetings, where
they dance and protestelyze when "moved
by the spirit".
Must See: At the Watt Town
Zion Church spiritual schoolroom, the first
Thursday of March each year is a special day.
The occasion is certainly an experience to behold;
hundreds of believers dressed in elaborate and
regal gowns gather to sing and pray. Visitors
are welcome, but please seek permission from
the Leadress or Brother Linton for permission
to record or photograph the proceedings.
Say
Hello To: Leadress York is a most charming
and pleasant personality, who will listen to
those that need an ear, teach those in need
of guidance and pray for those in need of deliverance.
Links
& Sources:
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