Port Maria – Port Antonio - 78 km
The route swung inland over the hills, past rural settlements
seemingly untouched by the coast’s lively tourist trade. My path soon
spat me out at a beach, from where the way led to Port Antonio. As
my bike had problems, I looked for a bike shop, but sadly they were
closed. The town was a bit of a dump, mainly because of roadworks,
which turned the whole place into a muddy mess.
The next day, I stopped by the bike shop, where the staff adjusted
the gears as best they could.
Although I was barely in Jamaica for two weeks, I could easily see
myself living there. Its picture-postcard scenery, coupled with the
kind people, food, music and culture, made me fall in love with the
island right from the start. I sauntered to the marina, savouring not
merely the occasional waft of marijuana but the aromatic smoke from
the innumerable jerk stands.
Port Antonio – Morant Bay - 75 km
A traditional breakfast in Jamaica consists of saltfish and ackee (a
fruit), accompanied by callaloo (a spinach-like vegetable known as
marog in South Africa) and a side plate of yam, dumplings, and
plantain. Both ackee and callaloo are from West Africa and likely
arrived in Jamaica on one of the slave ships. Still, it didn’t make the
tastiest of meals for vegetarians.