Lucas the Lion Finds a Home at Hope Zoo
Lucas the lion was the talk of the town last week. The four year old African lion arrived at Hope Zoo in Kingston the week before from his home at the Monterey Zoo. Many of the animals at Monterey are trained to perform in Hollywood. Lucas, apparently, was too "aggressive" to be trained but instead of keeping him at the zoo as is the normal practice, Charlie Sammut, his former owner, donated him to Hope. Sammut, who was seen with…
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FoodieTuesday: A Traditional Breakfast in Jamaica
In Jamaica, a traditional breakfast, sometimes called a country breakfast, is substantial. It usually includes some of the following: green bananas, Johnny Cakes also known as fried dumplings, roasted or fry-roasted breadfruit, fried plantains, bammie (a flat bread made from cassava), and yam and either ackee and saltfish, saltfish and callaloo, mackerel, fried fish, pork, or liver. [caption id="attachment_12010" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Traditional Breakfast offered at a special tour of Appleton Estate[/caption] A traditional breakfast in Jamaica can sometimes mean porridge…
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Walking in Nelson Mandela’s Footsteps
I've never been interested in meeting famous people but I would have given a vital body part to have met Nelson Mandela or failing that, hear him speak in person. [caption id="attachment_11994" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Photo of Mandela on a banner at Victor Verser Prison[/caption] The closest I’ve come is a visit to a few of the places that will always be connected to him and to his “ideal of a democratic and free society” for which he declared in 1964,…
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Holywell Recreational Park
Despite still nursing a broken ankle, last weekend I accepted an invitation to brunch and a drive up into the mountains to Holywell Recreational Park (pronounced Hollywell), a 25-acre park that is part of the Blue and John Crow Mountains. [caption id="attachment_11941" align="aligncenter" width="567"] Holywell Entrance[/caption] [caption id="attachment_11946" align="aligncenter" width="641"] Mist on the mountain[/caption] [caption id="attachment_11947" align="aligncenter" width="638"] View of the grounds[/caption] [caption id="attachment_11948" align="aligncenter" width="636"] Flowers and mountain[/caption] Holywell is located about 3,000 feet above sea level and about…
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The Breadfruit, Bligh’s Gift to Jamaica and the Mutiny it Caused
Looking up at a breadfruit tree laden with fruit, I heard an older gentleman remark to no one in particular, that it’d be a rough year. Breadfruit, he continued, as if revealing some truism that was lost to this younger generation, is always plentiful during hard times. His words echoed in my head each time I noticed tree after tree that was covered in the slightly oval fruit that grows to the size of a large grapefruit. And as the…
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Group Getaways: How to Travel with Friends and Keep Your Friendships
I don’t like group getaways. There are too many personalities to contend with, too many logistical issues to manage, and no matter how carefully you plan, someone’s fragile ego always gets bruised. However, a few years ago, when my best friend announced to family and friends that she wanted to celebrate an upcoming milestone birthday in South Africa, I knew that for her sake, I’d have to set aside my hang ups about group getaways. I was lucky. By the…
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Discover the wonders of World Heritage in Paphos
Cyprus has both beautiful scenery and a fascinating history. The island is full of picturesque villages, vineyards and beach resorts. If you’re looking to visit some exciting historical attractions and relax on a sandy beach, Paphos is the perfect location. With year-round sunshine and warm seawater, this area is a popular destination for tourists. The region’s natural attractions are particularly stunning with Paphos Forest, the Akamas Peninsula and the Troodos Mountains all waiting to be explored. Paphos is known for…
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Beach Dreaming and a Giveaway
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. - Jacques Cousteau I love the beach. I love the sea, I love looking at it, being near it, and being in it. I love the sounds of the waves, whether they're lapping gently or crashing to the shore. [caption id="attachment_11594" align="aligncenter" width="509"] Sunrise at Boston Beach[/caption] The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea. -- Isak Dinesen I didn't realize…
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Ahhh….Ras Natango: When Life Gives You Rocks
"When life gives you rocks," Ahhh...Ras Natango Gallery and Garden's Tamika Williams said, "you make a rock garden!" That's exactly what Tamika and her husband Ian Williams did with the half acre property they bought 25 years ago. Now, it's a beautiful garden and gallery, a prominent eco-tourism spot in the small community of Camrose, near Montego Bay, and a fine example of "community tourism" at work. The idea behind community tourism, which was pioneered in 1978 by local tourism consultant, Diana McIntyre-Pike…
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Ahhh…Ras Natango Gallery and Garden, an Eco-Tourism Destination
When Ahhh….Ras Natango Gallery and Garden’s Ian Williams, aka Ras Natango, first saw the property that would eventually bear his name, he was looking for a place where he and his wife, Tamika, transplants from Kingston, could put down roots and raise their young son. After a bit of negotiating, he bought it on spot, telling Tamika about it only when he returned home. If he expected high fives, he was wrong. She needed more than a little convincing. [caption…
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