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VI...thanks for the wonderful pics :) We are renting a car in November ( first time ) and heading to Duncan's Bay...Port Antonio and then back to Runaway Bay and then Negril.
We are so excited about PA for our first trip....and your photos certainly give us a good feel for the area.
Thanks for sharing :)
Jackie
Hi Jackie, I can't say this with enough enthusiasm, but you and your amazing photo skills are going to love Port Antonio.
Please stay with me, I've got some mountain and country side pictures that will mjake your eyes smile and have you wanting November to hurry up and get here.
I've got to get back to Runaway Bay...
Simple lovely, love the pier. More please.
....coming right up Sammy!!!
One of my favorite photos of this reach...
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After leaving the Marina, heading towards the room, I noticed these cool bamboo benches that lined the elevated sidewalk overlooking the water. Okay…the one under that tree looked desirable so I go up to check it out.
By the time I get up there, some guy claims it for his mid morning nap. Another close by is occupied by a young woman. I ask permission to share the seat she smiles and nods.
The view of the calm waters motivated me to take pen in hand and write. The two little boys concentrating on hooking a line to fish did little to distract the thoughts I transferred from my mind onto the blank pages.
The young lady sat motionless at the other end of the bench. That was more distracting than the traffic noise behind and the boys fighting with the hooks and fishing lines in front of me.
To make sure she was okay I asked her a question....
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Two hours later the child is still talking!!!! I had not written a word in the journal and my listen meter was timing down.
LOL she was a delightful young lady of 22 whose passion is cooking. In fact, 90% of the conversation was about that.
Her breezy personality provided the spice to make visualizing the preparation of each recipe interesting and fun. She explained how to prepare, from start of finish mind you, mannish water, ackee & saltfish, jerk chicken, curry goat, escoveitch fish, rice & peas w/coconut milk, festival…I’m sure I forgot 2 or 3 dishes but you get the picture. She prides herself on using her own special blend of seasonings and techniques.
I was impressed with not only her apparent culinary skills but her love of the art taught to her by her grandmother.
Obviously by this time, I’ve got a football player’s size appetite and she looks like she could stay in that Paula Deen mode for another two hours. I’ve got to end this now….
“I hope I’m not holding you up from something.”
“No, mam’, waiting for my boyfriend. But I can’t call him because me credit finish. So I wait for him to call me.”
“Well hunnybunn...lets go get you some credit!”
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We strolled down the hill, across the street and into a grocery store to buy a 500J digicel credit voucher. I know there’s a way I can share credit from my phone, but I didn’t want to get into that practice with anyone sooooo I came out of pocket for her.
She was very grateful and so were my ears….and eventually me belly.
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Oh, those Jamaican apples! That is my favorite fruit EVER!
You mentioned earlier you had or were going to start a blog...do you have it up?
Very nice of you to give the girl some digi credits. :)
ok...I'm missing the beach right about now so.......
it's Winnefred Beach time!!!!!!
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you killing me..........
Those apples were DEE-LISSHUS!!! I had more than my share of sweet, sweet pineapple also. That's the fruit I miss the most...my pineapple cut up in a baggie.Quote:
Originally Posted by jeannieb
The blog is almost ready to post...I'm still working on the introductory narrative. My problem is I tend to be overly wordy. But it soon come and I'll send you the tag immediately!
darlin....your pain has only just begun.....sorry....lolQuote:
Originally Posted by sammyb
June Plum
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Sweet, Sweet Almond
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Cynthia’s Restaurant.
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This is where hungry me had a fantastic lunch of steamed fish, vegetables, callaloo, and festival. I enjoyed everything.
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This is where hundred of hungry mosquitoes had their fantastic lunch of my legs.
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I could not believe that out of the 12 days in Jamaica this was the only time and place I got bit…no attacked would be a better description. It was like they landed on me, said grace then bit at the same time! It was crazy sudden pain.
The chef came with a repellent that worked with getting them off and keeping them away. However, my legs were flaming with pain and itching like mad.
I remembered what would take away the itch.
“Lime…lime…do you have any lime?”
He came running with a half lime. I saw the juice drip on my thigh before the fruit touched my legs so he’s using a juicy one…wonderful. The itching stopped almost instantly once the lime was rubbed on my legs. I gave thanks and praise for lime that afternoon and the hands that did the rubbing.
Chef said “Dem scent fresh blood.”
Huh??? All I know is that ‘ish hurt. :(
I so enjoyed this thread
Ohhhhh Vi, what a wonderful story about the young upcoming chef. She sounded like a delightful soul, filled with enthusiasm for cooking...I so love to see that at a young age. It was touching that you took her and got some credit for her phone....it only takes one kind gesture like that to help out.
I am so glad that I stopped over to catch this fabulous thread. I haven't enjoyed a trip report as much as this for some time. Thanks for your nice comments about my photography...as you realize, I am so excited to see what I can capture. Your photos are wonderful and you are a talented photographer in your own right...and also a great story teller. I have enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing... :)
Your photos are beautiful! Really enjoying. Thank you so much for sharing your experience/adventure. You've definitely inspired me to go to PA.
Got me hooked!!:D
Yes Vi.like they say "once you go you know" .and that means to me without a doubt PA and surrounding area..Went for the first time last July(just missed the jerk festival-lucky you) and this is after going to the west side of island for too many years..It is so worth the extra expense to get over there.Compared to Negril-well there is NO comparison (and yes, I have a certain fondness for Negril) It's one of the most beautiful places I've been to in the world...and the people, the nightlife,the food, the vibe...Ahhh
I so want to go when am there in Nov...
Ms Sprat..I can't wait to see the photos you are going being posting...and Ms Jennie B look forward to your trip report-and all you first timers there as well as old timers...Bring it all on !!!!!
Thanks to everyone who stopped by and peeked in.
Hi there Nick. So glad you are tagging along and enjoying the post.
Sprat!!! You are such a sweetheart!!! Thank you so much for the complement. I can’t wait to see the beauty of Port Antonio you capture through eyes and lens. Please out do my total shots which will be easy because that land is full of photo moments. I tried to find my young iron chef friend the next two days, but didn’t. As I was leaving Portland, I regretted not getting her contact information. I’m hoping our paths will cross on my next visit. I remember she was starting a new job the following week. She wasn’t crazy about it, but expressed gratitude for finding employment. Yeah, I hope I to see her again.
Greetings Maryann! Nice you are enjoying the pictures as well. Please do give Portland a chance to amaze you as she has done to me. I cant’ stop thinking of how much more deeper my appreciation for Jamaica and the culture has gotten since that last visit. Not to mention the respect for the people. I’m going to start a separate post that will highlight the famous attractions in Port Antonio. Please stick around for that as it will have you wanting to be there that day.
Oh Vince…hello there sir. been a while since we had the pleasure of on of your masterpiece trip reports. I hope you delight us with one soon.
Hi there Suzengrace. You are so right about Portland being worth the expense to get there. I met a couple who took route taxis from Negril and it costing them only $25 for the two of them. I would give it a try myself if I didn’t have so much luggage. But what people should know is that the accommodates is where the savings of getting there comes in. You can find a great place to stay for as little as $40 a night. I hope you get there in November as I can tell you are in love with that place as much as I am. So hard to stay away, ain’t it.
The weekend went by too fast. :eek:
I'm glad I have more Port Antonio thoughts and pictures to share or coming to work today would NOT be fun.
Let me get started...so much more to share and rememeber and long for....
Winnifred Beach Part Deux
These shots are of my second visit to the beach. I love all the beaches I’ve visited in Portland so far for different reason. They all have their own unique vibe and beauty.
Winnifed is spacious and sprinkled with interesting natural décor. There are many cook and beverage stands that serve up their own flavor and variety of foods. This place explodes with activity on the weekends and holidays.
There was a nice amount of beachers this day. I met a couple of little ones who are enjoying their last weekday outing before school starts. I felt for them, but then again what a wonderful thing to have the beach waiting for when class ends on Friday.
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This is Otis and a shot of his place above. He owns a beverage spot on the beach. Great guy!
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He has the coldest red stripes and the most comfortable beachchairs around. Please check him out when you visit the beach.
These chairs are a must have for my bunz when I'm there. The bottom slides in and out which converts it to a lounger.
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Say hello to my little friend. He is such a ham when it comes to posing for the camera.
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These little boys were carrying on much chatter as they beat the heck out of fallen almonds.
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The time to leave came too soon...
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The Trident Castle. One of these visits I'm going to get some inside pictures of this place. Until then, I'll continue to admire it from the road.
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Thanks for coming back. :) I want to get into Trident too. Maybe I can pay someone to let us on the grounds then we can sneak around and I'll feel like Bond...Jeannie Bond.
LOL...well Jeannie Bond if you get in, PLEASE get a photo of the main dinning area. I've read it is incredible.
One of my favorite places to eat was the Hot Spot restaurant and bar on the corner of Eveleigh Park Road.
The place was purchased a year ago by two ambitious gentlemen who run it with all their heart.
The food is excellent! You get plenty and the price is great. They specialize in just about everything, but vegetarian dishes are their favorites.
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Some of the meals I enjoyed
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The above looks....um....bland, not tasty, right??? Let me tell you, I had the same dish three times while I was there. I was hungry, but didn't want meat so I asked him to hook me up with vegetables. The flavor of that meal was incredible. The chef is gifted. Food is cooked to order, like most places, but worth the wait. The first photo is jerk chicken at 300J. The baked chicken, also 300J. Vegetable platter $200J. I always had left overs because they filled your plate generously.
Besides enjoying the food and comfortable atmosphere of this place, you’ll also enjoy getting to know the owners. Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of the cook because…well…he was ALWAYS in the kitchen cooking. But I did enjoy great conversation with his partner.
Meet Ray.
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I tell you, his personality is just as captivating as his looks. His pores ooze with hospitality, warmth and charm. He’s always upbeat and makes sure anyone who stops by, leaves feeling the same.
I must have passed this building a dozen times when traveling back and forth on the main road from Port Antonio to Boston Bay. The place would grab my attention each time we rode by.
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I finally asked the driver to stop so I could get a picture.
“Does anyone live there?”
“Yes, someone lives there.”
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Not sure if I believed him because each time we rode by, nothing about the appearance seemed to have been disturbed. No one was ever seen about the yard. Windows never open. Even those shoes propped against the wall were always in the same position.
I took two pictures only. Although the building sat a distance from the road, I felt I was being intrusive so I didn’t linger to take more.
Then on my return from Boston Bay…the last trip there before leaving Portland…I noticed as we passed the house, the shoes were gone.
I’m just now beginning to understand why not seeing those shoes saddened me…..unfortunately I can't explain it yet.