JOINTS IN JAMAICA

After 3 weeks Florida it was time for something different. Like a beautiful island. But not something American like The Bahamas. No, more like Jamaica. The home of Bob Marley and the rastafaris. And from marihuana in large quantities...as we would find out...

We already found out before we even set foot on Jamaivan soil. We were still on the airplane stairs as a Jamaican stewart whispered: “You want grass? Cheap and good quality.“ The only grass we knew was the green grass, because green as grass we were. Flabbergasted we were picked up by the resort bus, which was hidden behind a huge fence with serious guards. Really appealing!

Once behind the fence Disney World, as we left it behind one week before in Florida, just continued. Beautiful beach, clear sea, happy rastafari everywhere...but what about the real Jamaica?

One day we had enough. We wanted to go into Montego Bay. Better not, the hotel manager said. We will anyway, we said. On foot we walked into Montego Bay. Where we found a true example of rascism.

At the bakery they refused to help us, even worse we were just ignored as one Jamaican after the other were helped. So that‘s how it felt, rascism. The only ones who didn‘t ignore us were the taxi drivers, but they looked so unreliable (as did their cars) that we decided to walk back to the hotel.

Well, then we would book a day trip to Ocho Rios, where we would find beautiful waterfalls. In a big bus together with a whole batallion of true tourists we were driven to Ocho Rios. Upon arrival, they took us straight to the base of the falls where we had to fit obnoxious pink shoes with which we would be able to climb the falls. In a line and holding hands with the same batallion of tourists we "climbed" the falls. I am embarassed when I think of it. What an "adventure" it was... 

So we restricted ourselves to relaxing in the resort. Not bad but when we departed we couldn‘t say that Jamaica made a positive impression with us. That was about 17 years ago. In the meantime I have heard that also crime has increased a lot on the island...