Port Antonio, Jamaica

The Travels of Running Tide
Mick Norman
Fri 11 Apr 2014 13:38
We are enjoying Port Antonio. The marina is really good though we are still
anchored just off the pontoons. Port Antonio is a part of Jamaica that the
tourist revolution has forgotten. There is a small cruise ship terminal
adjacent to the marina but no cruise boats visit anymore or at least
infrequently. The Blue Mountains are just inland so the surrounding
countryside is very attractive. There are only a couple of restaurants but
these are surprisingly expensive and a bit out of town.Food at the marina is a
bit average but there is an excellent bar and pool area.
The town is a bit scruffy and not helped by the fact that most of the roads
have been dug up to replace water mains and sewers. The locals are
friendly but there is a bit of an edginess about them. A bit more attitude than
elsewhere in the Caribbean. I just feel that there might be little bit of
resentment. There is a lot of poverty here and whilst there is a lot of money
sloshing around in Jamaica its in the hands of the few.
The other day Norm, I and Paul a Brit also sailing through went rafting on
the Rio Grande. The rafts are what were used traditionally to bring bananas to
the coast from inland. You feel a little bit like royalty being punted
along but it was good fun and the countryside is stunning.
I have been trying to get PADI Open Water Diving Certification since
setting off on our travels. I dived many years ago but never got any formal
qualifications.. Yesterday I got my qualifying dives completed and I am three
quarters of the way through the online theory. So hopefully I will be sorted
soon.
Yesterday I had a day off from studies and we all including Paul headed off
for a day in Kingston the capital. First stop had to be the Bob Marley
Museum, that was fun singing BM classics along with the museum guides. We all
learnt lots of things about his life that we didn’t know. There was an
assassination attempt in his home in Kingston. Apparently six gunmen broke in.
It didn’t sound very professional as three or four people were wounded including
BM but no one killed. Sounded more like a bungled robbery to me.
After that we went to have a look around the town and found a shopping
precinct with a body piercing shop. Now Norman has been threatening to have a
earring fitted but always making excuses for not having it done. As a sailor you
need an earring so that the mermaids can lift you out of the water when you fall
in. As I didn’t fancy fishing Norm out of the water unaided I was keen that he
have this safety device fitted. The lady in charge was a charmer and Norm was
soon under her spell. He resisted the offers to have his nipples or nether
regions suitably adorned and so checking that we had the right ear which is left
the deed was done with little blood letting.
We will be moving on on Saturday west along the coast to Montego Bay. After
that we are Cuba bound. Reports are that the shops are empty so the MoBay stop
will be primarily for provisioning. Internet access is nigh on impossible in
Cuba so we’ll see.
![]() The Anchorage, RT the middle of the three boats
![]() Bikini Beach, next to the Marina
![]() Looking over to Navy Island
![]() Rafting the Rio Grande
![]() Paul on his Raft
![]() Rafting the Rio Grande
![]() A Few Beers in The Marina Bar with Paul
![]() Looking Down on Kingston
![]() Norm with Bob
![]() Downtown Kingston
![]() I would like a ring Just There
![]() Be Gentle with Me
![]() The Finished Job |