When in Kingston
Kingston is a hugely vibrant, noisy and sometimes dangerous place to visit. Like most major cities, however, taking precautions and being prepared to reign in your inquisitive instincts, especially at night, will see you right.
The first settlers on the island are thought to have been the Arawak Amerindians from South America. Their quiet, peaceful way of life, which they had enjoyed since 700, was rudely disrupted by Christopher Columbus in 1494 followed by Spanish settlers in 1510, who brought slaves and disease, causing the Arawak population to die out within 100 years. From then on it was a battle between the Spanish the British for control of the island, amidst frequent slave rebellions. Slavery was officially abolished on the island by the Jamaican government in 1834 and autonomy from Britain won in 1947.
Large parts of the city are extremely run down yet for those willing to stay awhile there is plenty to enjoy here, especially during one of the many festivals that take place. The New Year's Eve celebrations along the waterfront are something to behold.
The Bob Marley museum is well worth a jaunt around as is Devon House, which was built in 1881 by George Stiebel, one of the first black millionaires in the Caribbean.
Port Royal, which was once a 17th century residence for British pirates before an earthquake did for them in 1692 is also fun. Some of the old buildings remain and there are plans to turn the area in to a living museum. It is reached by a 20-minute boat ride from West Beach Dock.
Spanish Town, which was the capital of the island when it was ruled by the Spanish, is a fascinating mix of Spanish and Georgian architecture and hosts a noisy local market.
Away from the city the visitor looking for a spot of beach time should head to Montego Bay in the north-west of the city, where golden sands and golf courses abound. There are also a number of old colonial period houses to look around although peak season is not the perfect time for this, as it attracts thousands of tourists and their cars.
Cockpit Country in the west of the country is another must for the tourist. Much of it is impenetrable and there are no roads in the region, making a helicopter excursion one of the few ways to view the incredible wildlife and flora and fauna that abounds.
There are a good number of international flights each day to Montego Bay's Donald Sangster International Airport although many flights now also arrive at Norman Manley International Airport. The island is well connected to those in other parts of the Caribbean with a good number of daily flights.
The island's towns and villages are connected by a huge range of buses and minibuses, known as coasters, which go to all reachable points of the island, often with more passengers than looks safe. Getting around Kingston by bus is a similarly busy experience, although taxis, especially those that travel set routes, are inexpensive.
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Introduction
