Montego Bay, Jamaica
Early morning, I took the bike to the bike shop to fix the derailleur.
Once it was reattached, I searched for a swimsuit, as being in
Jamaica without one was impossible. I also visited a hairdresser and
almost ended up with dreadlocks! It's worth mentioning that when
Jamaicans speak to each other, it can be challenging for outsiders to
understand what's being said. So, the conversation about my hair
remains a mystery.
The following morning, I savoured my Blue Mountain coffee at a
Hibiscus-adorned table and felt like a million dollars. So good was it
that I stayed an additional day. In true Jamaican style, I lazily
contemplated what next to do. Ultimately, I sauntered the short
distance to downtown, which sported a smidgen of Jamaican history,
and a supermarket to stock up on a few needed items.
Sadly, the slave trade is very much a part of Jamaican history. By the
18th century, Jamaica was one of the most valuable British colonies.
However, the conditions endured by the slaves were horrendous.
Families were routinely separated, and housing and sanitary
conditions were dreadful. Beatings and torture were rampant and
many died from overwork and starvation. The life expectancy of an
enslaved West African in Jamaica was only seven years!
By the time the slavery trade was abolished in 1807, almost two
million slaves were brought to Jamaica, with thousands dying on
slave ships. Then, after nearly 250 years of resistance, emancipation
from slavery was finally won in 1838. The Europeans were brutal.
Returning, I trundled past numerous beach bars where rum came in
all colours, shapes and sizes, but I was in no mood to enjoy this
novelty.