Jamaica rum

Jamaica rum, 31^st July

After being told there would be no shore leave, we had the unexpected pleasure of having a taxi tour around Kingston, with a knowledgeable driver. Kingston was both run down and gentrified, and the mixture made it an exciting city. The atmosphere was palpable, alive, vital, party like, teeming with exotically dressed young people. We arrived in an electrical storm and the place was inundated, so much so the city’s drainage system was overwhelmed by the run off from the rugged terrain. The tropical climate meant the vegetation was lush and luxuriant. Downtown where Kingston’s administrative centre is located was extremely rundown and neglected. However the new town was definitely aspiring to upmarket status. The recent gang wars much in the news recently were not evident in our encounter with this exciting city. The picture shows our driver, Claire, Helga and Craig, our fellow passengers, eating guava ice creams in Devon House, an old plantation residence.