In my post yesterday, I made a brief mention of Treasure Beach Jamaica, a place I’ve written about several times. Treasure Beach is a small community that is located on Jamaica’s south west coast, in the parish of St. Elizabeth. It is a close knit community where everyone knows everyone else. It reminds me of the district, that’s what we call them, that I grew up in – the kind of place we sometimes think no longer exists.
Treasure Beach is a 2-hour drive from Montego Bay, about 3 hours from Kingston. A number of the residents are involved in fishing but as tourism takes hold, more and more people are recognizing it as an option.
One thing I didn’t mention about Treasure Beach is Calabash, the literary festival that takes place there. It returned this year, so did the people who love literature – about 5,000 of them. Treasure Beach really is the perfect spot to listen to literature. Here are a few of the photos I took.
On the first night, Chimananda Adichie, read from the piece she had written about moving into the house that had been vacated by the legendary Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe. I’d heard her read the same piece in New York at the event honoring Achebe but here in Treasure Beach, it felt new somehow, and different.
And if the interviewee is boring, there’s this beautiful backdrop to focus on.
Since the festival lasts the weekend, we usually rent a villa.
Doesn’t everyone have breakfast overlooking the ocean?
I can’t mention food and not mention accommodations in Treasure Beach. One cool thing here is that there is only one main hotel, aptly called the Treasure Beach Hotel, the rest is a mix of villas — small, large and luxurious — guest houses and private homes where you can rent a room, especially during the festival. If you’d like to find out more about villa accommodations in Treasure Beach, Jamaica Villa Rentals is a good place to start.
The seas were rough most of the week we spent in Treasure Beach. Finally, on Saturday, it became calm and I spotted these fishermen bringing in their catch.
No matter how rough the seas are, the sunsets in Treasure Beach are always spectacular.
This is my submission to this week’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday Series. Be sure to check out other photo and story entries on their website.
Okay that colorful boat in the first photo would be enough to make me want to visit. I can’t even imagine how much fun a literary gathering would be in that venue. . .I am envious of your being surrounded by beauty and listening to such word weavers and talented folks.
What a beautiful place! I would be in heaven if I could have my breakfast overlooking the ocean every morning!
I’m sure I would love to have breakfast overlooking the ocean. Seeing a house formerly lived in by Chinua Achebe wouldn’t hurt too!
Gosh – what a wonderful place to have any kind of festival, but a literary one would be seem extra special — listening to the words while seeing such pretty scenery. Love your sunrise pic.
What a great view for the literacy festival. I love the boat shot and what a great way to end the day with the sunset!
Yes, it’s a lovely view. Glad you like the boats and the sunset. Thanks for visiting Lisa.
It really is a great venue. The first year I went, I was just blown away by it. Glad you like the sunset shot, Cathy.
It’s the best view – aids digestion, I’m sure! I’d have loved to see that house as well, Aleah.
There’s something about the ocean, it just makes everything better.
The boat really is a nice touch, Jackie. I always feel very fortunate being in that setting and listening to authors and poets read their works.
That last pic is gorgeous! And I would LOVE to have breakfast overlooking the ocean like that!
You’re right. That is a spectacular sunset and the beach is beautiful. Not sure which kind of literature would keep me from running straight toward the water 🙂
Hahahaha, so true, Sabrina. Luckily, there are breaks during the day so it’s easy to disappear for a swim.
It really is the civilized way to have any meal, I think.
There are breaks in the program and I’m sure people leave from time to time to take a swim.
This week I also was posting sunset picture. It is one of my favorite time of the day.
It’s such a peaceful time, isn’t it?
yes, it is 🙂
Oh, I love that little breakfast nook! How can any day get off to a bad start with a view like that?!
Oh, gorgeous! I don’t know how much attention I could pay to the authors in that type of setting. It looks incredible!
Sounds like the perfect place to smooth the wrinkles and crinkles out.
A literary festival in that setting? How perfect is that?
I like literary festivals and this looks like a spectacular setting for one!
Have you been to the one in Hay-on-Wye in Wales?
What I loved the most about this post is that pretty women on the dice! She looks so lively and cheerful!
Yes, she is a pretty woman! Lively and cheerful as well.
It is quite a spectacular setting, Sophie. The other reason I love going.
No, I haven’t. Definitely one to think about attending.
It really is a perfect setting, Jenna.
Definitely is that kind of place, Narelle.
Hahaha, it probably is hard, especially at first but I’m sure that after a while, it just becomes part of the backdrop.
It’s a perfect way to start the day, and if things go bad during the day, you just have to think about breakfast. I bet more people would have breakfast if they were to have it here.
Definitely, Vi!