Jamaica – Discovery Bay
Saturday 11 to Tuesday 14 February – Can after the lifting of the
Sun we plug the wide entrance channel of”Discovery Bay” –
This is it, in 1494, that Christopher Columbus set foot in Jamaica
– A long beach framed by reefs and not a hotel in sight! The
Bay is like a turquoise lake. On the left side some villas
of very high standing (We will learn that they rent themselves 25.000
dollars per week), then fishing boats hanging on their
buoy, Colourful little beach bars, huts of
fishermen….. Beautiful villas on the heights… A place
peaceful. In the distance, On the other side of the bay a dock and a
conveyor where a cargo ship waits for its load of bauxite whose ground
of Jamaica is rich.
Our first visit is for the coast guards, who have not even realized the presence of our sailboat in their deserted bay! They diligently fill in forms, affix some signatures, Stamps… and here we are in good standing with the authorities. A small circular beach bar catches our eye and we quickly sympathize with the young owner “Roma” which has only been open for a few days. We are among its first customers. She offers to prepare a meal for us in the evening , We accept the invitation. Shortly after sunset, what was our surprise when we landed on the beach. On the sand, Under the palm trees, A table with white tablecloth and candles was waiting for us…. We are the restaurant's first customers! We have a long chat with Roma and his friend Seymore who is a tour guide…. A nice young couple with plans to get by in this very poor environment. Seymore offers to take us the next day for a sightseeing tour of the region.
We couldn't miss “9 Miles”, the village where Bob Marley was born and lived, without visiting the mausoleum… with a hundred other tourists… shaken by coughing fits! Yes, It's legal to smoke weed 9 There is no shortage of miles and vendors when the buses get off every corner. Anyway, legal or not in the rest of Jamaica, The sweet smell of marijuana is everywhere, in bars, The market, The streets, escaping from the open windows of cars…. It's part of their culture like tobacco in our country! It would almost make you want to get started, but with my horror of everything that is smoked….
Seymore also takes us to “Fire Water” – Firewater with miraculous properties. A source that releases combustible gases, which therefore gives the impression that the water is burning! We let ourselves be taken in by the chatter of the owner of the spring and we are immersed in the burning water to be massaged. Very pleasant… we'll see about the miracles!
We enjoy this relaxing bay, of its calm and the warm welcome of all the Jamaicans we meet there. Some even invite us to their homes to introduce us to rum-based blends…
Wednesday 15 February – We will take advantage of the almost zero winds of the night and leave tonight towards Port Antonio… about sixty miles to the east.