Jamaica

Salamander
Sat 10 Mar 2018 23:52

Engine update is that the English fitters have emphasised that we have not been given anything like the correct info from the local engineer. The engine does not need to be lifted out for the oil pump to be removed. All we need is for a good engineer to do some work on the boat.
Further update is that any engineer should have an oil pressure gauge to check the oil pressure. Murray has checked the sensor afap and that appears to be working. We have now had 3 completely different assessments from 3 engineers, so have no idea what to do next. At least the tender engine now works and we have bought a new phone locally.
We are staying in the Errol Flynn marina, which is lovely, the staff are hardworking and friendly. We have access to a beach, swimming pool, washing machines, cheap cocktails and have a 5 minute walk to a Devon House ice cream and cake parlour. Great views in what was once a playground for the rich and famous of Hollywood.

Jamaica

“I never met a woman as beautiful as Port Antonio” - Errol Flynn who once owned Navy Island opposite the marina.

Blue Mountain coffee is wonderful, the land is lush and colourful. All in all it would be hard to find a prettier marina. The benches in the marina grounds are used for schoolboys and girls to conduct a much shyer form of courtship than you would see in England.
A visit to Kingston provided a drive on some of the worst roads in the Caribbean and a visit to the quirky Bob Marley museum. The guides can all sing and are such massive fans of this prolific mixed race singer/songwriter. The 'shot room' has preserved the two bullet holes where some black men shot Bob Marley, his wife and an employee. Mainly they missed, but Bob played the rest of his life with a bullet in his elbow. The gunmen were never caught and Bob Marley went to live in London for 18 months.Jamaica

Jamaica

The gang wars continue in Montego Bay and a yacht turned up that had been refused entry due to the continuing conflict.
Like all Caribbean islands Jamaica has a bloody past with the Maroons and others fighting the British and anyone else who landed on the island. In a gap in the Maroon wars they turned in any runaway slaves, had their own land and peace ensued for a while. More war, more conflict that seems to continue today.
We decided not to cruise for several reasons: the extreme racism Caroline experienced, the ease of obtaining guns and the enormous amount of drug taking. Port Antonio locks you in at night and has a number of guards, plus Police and Coastguard on site.
One day Caroline was walking along and realised a young child had slipped their hand in hers and was happily walking along with her while the parent was going in a different direction. Clearly advice to children is different in Jamaica as when in the car we were flagged down by children asking for candy.
Unfortunately the racism experienced by Caroline left s not wanting to stay. Examples include being pushed in supermarkets by local customers, overcharged and generally a number of local people were clearly not happy with white visitors. A market trader shouted “F**k off white person you have no right visiting a black persons country, white people should stay in Europe”. Scams included trying to sell us a dead crab saying they couldn't put it on the ground to prove it was fresh as it would run away and frozen lobster which was still in the wholesalers plastic bags but was 'definitely fresh when it was frozen last night – it's the law in Jamaica' (it isn't, we checked). Another was serving a more expensive dinner – pork chop in a sauce – as they had run out of pork chop without a sauce, but didn't tell us in advance. Topped off by the whole marina being called bloodsucking motherf***ers for the best part of 2 hours, the flavour of Jamaica can sometimes be quite bitter.

Jamaica

Racist Lady

Jamaica

Jamaica