Category: Jamaica

Jamaica’s Rockfort Mineral Baths

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

Rockfort Mineral Baths is located in East Kingston, at the foot of the Long Mountain. It includes an historic military fort which gave the area its name. The complex operates as a subsidiary of the Caribbean Cement Factory.

Rockfort Mineral Baths
Entrance to Rockfort Mineral Baths

The fort was constructed around 1694 to defend the island. Though it has been around since the 17th century, the mineral spring was discovered only in 1907 following the earthquake which caused extensive damage to Kingston and took 800 lives.

Rockfort Mineral Baths
Rockfort Mineral Baths

Mineral springs occur naturally and produce water that contain minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value. The water at Rockfort is piped from a cold spring into a swimming pool. It contains sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and copper. To avoid overexposure to the minerals, patrons are advised to spend no more than 45 minutes in the water. Continue reading “Jamaica’s Rockfort Mineral Baths” →

5+ Reasons to Visit Kingston Jamaica

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

The municipality of Kingston & St. Andrew is the second smallest parish in Jamaica and its political, cultural and business capital.

Located in the south-eastern corner of the island, Kingston is surrounded by the Blue Mountain, Red Hills and Long Mountain. It faces Kingston Harbour, the seventh largest natural harbour in the world.

While most visitors to Jamaica head to the beaches of the north coast, there are several attractions in the capital that make it well worth a visit. Here are some of my favorites:

  • National Gallery – Located in the Kingston Mall, the National Gallery houses works by Jamaica’s premier artists. Tues-Thurs, 10-4:30 pm, Sat 10-4pm, Sun 10-3pm. 12 Ocean Blvd, Kingston. 876-922-1561 Admission: J$400/Guided Tours J$3,000.
  • Hope Botanical Gardens – At 200 acres, Hope Botanical Gardens is the largest green space in Kingston and home to the most popular collection of endemic and exotic botanical collections. The gardens were established in 1873. Open 876-970-3505
  • Rockfort Mineral Bath – Sitting at the foot of the imposing Long Mountain in East Kingston, Rockfort Mineral Bath has been refreshing Jamaicans and visitors since its discovery in the aftermath of the Great Earthquake of 1907. The waters of the bath flow from cold-water springs in the surrounding mountain range. Many patrons credit healing and good health to the radioactivity and saline content of the water. Bathing is limited to 45-minute sessions. Open 7-5 pm daily. J$350 adults/J$250 for children and seniors Continue reading “5+ Reasons to Visit Kingston Jamaica” →

Goodbye, Sandy. So Glad You’re Gone!

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

It occurred to me a few days ago that we might finish the hurricane season without getting hit. Then one of my neighbors asked if I’d heard that a storm was approaching. I hadn’t. It was so early in its formation, it didn’t even have a name.

By Monday, it did: Sandy. I know a few people who share the name and had a little laugh at their expense. But there would be no joking about this Sandy.

She was headed directly for Jamaica on a path that would have her cross directly south to north through the center of the island. I was nervous. A broad storm passing through central Jamaica would have untold impact on the entire island, not just the parishes in its path.

Hurricane Sandy, Jamaica photo from RJRonline
Hurricane Sandy, Jamaica photo from the internet at RJRonline

Continue reading “Goodbye, Sandy. So Glad You’re Gone!” →

Wag Water River Jamaica

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

The Wag Water River in the eastern parish of St. Mary is, to me, one of Jamaica’s more interesting rivers. It rises in the mountains of St. Andrew, flows for just over 36 kilometers through St. Mary and empties into the sea west of Annotto Bay, in the parish.

The Wag Water, which used to be called Agua Alta, is one of two rivers that supply water to Kingston, the capital. Continue reading “Wag Water River Jamaica” →

Devon House Jamaica

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

Devon House is a Georgian style mansion that was built in 1881 for George Stiebel, Jamaica’s first black millionaire. Though having a German Jewish father, Stiebel’s mother was black and in photographs, he appears to have more of his mother’s color. Stiebel was born in 1820.

When he was 20, Stiebel’s father, Sigismund, gave him start up money to buy a ship which he used to transport cargo between North and South America. Eventually, he acquired two more ships and became involved in the lucrative gun trading. This landed him in jail in Cuba.

Continue reading “Devon House Jamaica” →

5 Reasons to Get Out of Negril and Explore Hanover Jamaica

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

Hanover is Jamaica’s second smallest parish after Kingston & St. Andrew. It was created out of the neighboring parishes of Westmoreland and St. James on November 12, 1793.

Hanover got its name for George I, who was from the House of Hanover. Lucea, its capital has been known as Sant Lucea, St. Lucia, and St. Lucea.

There’s an interesting story about Lucea and its clock tower. According to the story, Germany gave a clock to the people of the island of St. Lucia. Unfortunately for the St. Lucians, the captain of the ship that was taking the clock from Germany confused the name and landed it in Lucea instead. Continue reading “5 Reasons to Get Out of Negril and Explore Hanover Jamaica” →

Oakton House Jamaica

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

The Oakton House, a stately wooden structure caught my eye. Located in Half Way Tree, Kingston, it’s a stone’s throw from the Old Courthouse that I wrote about a few posts ago.

It was probably built in the 19th century, during the height of Jamaica’s Georgian period (1702-1910), but no records have been found to show who the original owner was. Continue reading “Oakton House Jamaica” →

Jamaica Chosen “Caribbean’s Leading Destination” at World Travel Awards Ceremony

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

Jamaica was voted the Caribbean’s Leading Destination at the 2012 World Travel Awards Ceremony for the Caribbean and the Americas at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa on September 14th.

Jamaica took home several other awards including “Caribbean’s Leading Airport” (Sangster International Airport), “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination,”  “Caribbean’s Leading Villa Resort” (Round Hill Hotel), “Caribbean’s Leading Meeting and Conference Center” (Montego Bay Convention Center), and “Caribbean’s Leading Meeting and Conference Hotel” (Half Moon).

Other winners include St. Lucia (“Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination”), Tobago (“Caribbean’s Leading Hotel – Coco Reef Resort”), Necker Island (“Caribbean’s Leading Private Island”), and St. Vincent (“Caribbean’s Leading New Hotel” – Buccament Bay Spa & Resort).

Rio de Janeiro won the award for “South America’s Leading Destination,” while Cancun was voted “Mexico & Central America’s Leading Destination.”

The “North America’s Leading Destination” award went to Las Vegas while New York City was voted “North America’s Leading City Break Destination,” and American Airlines “North America’s Leading Airline.”

South Africa was the big winner at the WTA Africa ceremony with awards including “Africa’s Leading Luxury Hotel,” (Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villa & Spa), “Africa’s Leading Luxury Train” (The Blue Train), and “Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge” (Shamwari Game Resort). South Africa Airways and Abercrombe & Kent were among the organizations voted finest in their fields. Marrakech took home the award for “Africa’s Leading Destination.”

Dubai earned honors as the “Middle East’s Leading Destination” while Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace copped the “Middle East’s Leading Luxury Resort.”

In addition to the Turks & Caicos ceremony, others were held in Nairobi and Singapore. Europe’s event will take place on October 6th at the Conrad Algarve in Portugal. The winners of these legs will go head-to-head in the WTA’s Grand Final, which is set to take place at The Oberoi, Gurgaon on 12th December 2012. Read more about the winners here.

The World Travel Awards (WTA) was launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the global travel and tourism industry. Now celebrating its 19th anniversary, it is regarded as the very highest achievement that a travel product could hope to receive.

 

Campari Takes Over Appleton Jamaica Rums

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

Gruppo Campari, the maker of aperitif, announced this week that it had bought controlling interest in Lascelles deMercado, maker of Appleton Jamaica Rums, from CL Financial Ltd.

Campari takes over CL Financial’s 81.4% share and will buy the remaining shares by year end. The total deal is worth $414.8 million and is expected to lead to a profit from next year.

Appleton Rums
Appleton Rums

This is Campari’s third biggest acquisition. In 2009, it bought Wild Turkey from Pernod Richard SA, and Skyy Spirits in 2001.

Lascelles deMercado has the largest stock of aged rums in the world – Appleton Jamaica Rum, which is distributed by J. Wray & Nephew, a subsidiary company. DeMercado was formed in 1825.

It’ll be interesting to see what impact, if any, the sale will have on the local market. Other distillers, like Worthy Park Estate and Hampden Estate, producers of bulk rum for the European market, have expanded into the lucrative white rum market with Rum Bar Rum and Rum Fire White Overproof respectively. Hampden’s Rum Fire, which was launched in March last year was awarded its first gold medal at this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition.

 

Christopher Columbus Monument, Jamaica

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

When Christopher Columbus arrived in Jamaica on May 5, 1494, he anchored off the coast of the parish of St. Ann. He named the spot where he landed, Santa Gloria.

There is some uncertainty about whether Santa Gloria is now St. Ann’s Bay or Discovery Bay.  There is no doubt though that St. Ann is where Columbus first landed.

La Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus Statue, Jamaica
La Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus Monument, Jamaica

On his second visit in 1503, Columbus was shipwrecked and remained in St. Ann’s Bay for a year. During that time, the first Spanish settlement, Sevilla la Nueva was created. Sevilla is now known by its Anglicized name, Seville.

La Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus Statue, Jamaica
La Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus Monument, Jamaica

This monument of the navigator, called La Santa Maria, can be found near Seville. It’s in a beautiful little spot, but definitely out of the way. If I hadn’t been with one of my cousins, I would’ve driven right past it, like I’ve been doing for months now.

I was struck by how small in stature Columbus appears here but I think I remember (hope I’m not making this up!), that people were smaller then so this might be accurate.

Or maybe it’s that the base is so bulky that it looks disproportionate to the monument. I’ll definitely have to do more digging.

Also, I have no idea when it was built or by whom and so far, haven’t been able to find any information about it, which is a bit surprising.  There’s an inscription on the base of the monument but the gate to the little garden where it’s located was locked and I couldn’t get close enough to read it. Again, more digging is needed.

This is my submission to Travel Photo Thursday, which is organized by Nancie at Budget Travelers Sandbox. Be sure to head over and check out more photos from locations around the world.

This week, I’m also linking this post to Rwethereyetmom’s Friday Daydreaming series. Hope you’ll check out their photos too!