TRAVEL & TOURISM 143
I went in early February, right in time for Bob Marley’s birthday and it was perfect. I was expecting huge crowds of people. There wasn’t. I was expecting blazing caribbean heat. It wasn’t bad at all. I was expecting adventure, and I got it. My experience in Jamaica was a gift. And now I get to share it with you.
I arrived in Montego Bay, MoBay as it is called by locals and tourists alike. The airport was small and the people were friendly. As I stepped out I was immediately approached by several drivers, offering to drive me here and there and offering me the herb. As an experienced traveler, I knew to hold out a bit so I can find a driver who was friendly, helpful and offered a fair rate. He drove through town, pointing out different landmarks and finally to my hostel, Mobay Kotch. Hostels are my preference for short term accommodations.
Mobay Kotch is a beautiful 17th century Georgian style home that originally belonged to a wealthy merchant. It is located in an older part of MoBay’s downtown and walking distance from most places. This was a great place as it offered large, clean spaces that was tastefully and minimally decorated. The hosts and guests were also really cool. Not a bad first impression.
I walked around Montego bay for several hours and listened to the music, met the people and I was pleasantly surprised at how colorful and kind the people of Jamaica were. What saddened me was seeing how impoverished the economy is. Nonetheless, there were children joyfully playing in the streets. Something that is a rare sight in my own community in America.
I stayed at the Kotch for only one night as the real treat was to follow, but I would definitely stay there again on my next visit.
The next morning was humid. I rose with the sun and sat out on the balcony and watched the city come alive. My bags were still packed and I was waiting for my guide to take me to the local bus stop. Jamaican coffee in hand I was off to my next adventure.
Down the road, midway between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios in an area call Runaway Bay was a humble Bud and Breakfast called HotBox Jamaica. The founder, Abigail Roach was the proprietor of the original HotBox Cafe in Canada. She created HotBox Jamaica as a way to help travelers experience Jamaica, the local way. She had lived on island several years and is a wonderful hostess. She offered insights into Jamaican living and emphasized helping the locals thrive in a depressed economy. Her thoughts on the political climate of the world and her love the the Jamaican people and their way of life really shaped the way I thought of locals, not only in Jamaica, but all over the world. She’s cool like that.