Friday, April 10, 2026

Virtual Jamaica: St. Mary's Catholic Church

 

Today, will be our last day in the tiny parish of St. Mary's.

Tour

https://youtu.be/BqRGYCLVKVk?si=udbppw2VL08blkC-

And we will end with the old Roman Catholic Church...surrounded by a cemetery that holds the graves of Jamaicans that died in WWI.



The church, unfortunately, is not open today...so we are unable to see the inside.  We know that the rules remain similar to other Catholic churches and that women cannot enter without head-coverings (scarf is fine) and that there is a font with holy water upon entrance.

Beyond this...we've no clue.

Aside from the roof, which has obviously been replaced, the exterior looks like it has seen centuries.

The clock no longer works on the tower.

Located near the ocean you can hear lapping waves. The setting is quite peaceful.

 

Monday, we will begin Portland, Jamaica! 

My coconut shell bracelet/necklace arrived from Jamaica today.

A lovely souvenir of our time here...I'll wear it on these travels!
 

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Virtual Jamaica: St. Mary~ Banana Plantation and Samples

 

Today we explore a Banana Plantation...

Aerial Tour

https://youtu.be/S_kRrD78fKs?si=h_smSnf5N433Wq9s

Bananas

https://youtu.be/_jnU4E95XrM?si=23M3bNVI6fRvbbrP

https://youtube.com/shorts/DNFwfvtzhs4?si=O4Pujdu9XBTkDC8S

The above-mentioned banana plantation has literally miles and miles of bananas being grown...planted...tended to...or harvested.

And they even showed you how to begin your own plant at home.

https://youtube.com/shorts/tCXxmnMfMvg?si=tL7GYl9bjVj4guJj

https://youtube.com/shorts/q4iDPV9HeA4?si=fRZ3kF02aw1EI3Ve

And samples

The ones shipped are still quite green.

Also St. Mary's Banana Chips

https://youtu.be/If9U6ME3ycQ?si=Fp66_4pQqKjfWJLt 

 


 https://www.amazon.com/Marys-Banana-Chips-1-06-Ounce/dp/B00GLG0D1I/ref=asc_df_B00GLG0D1I?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80676876081673&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=95&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584276351805365&psc=1&msclkid=0ff5d64096331ed38210bf967d90c43e

Available on Amazon 24 one ounce packs for $22 USD.

https://youtu.be/4DHjU2OpnV4?si=J6DINvmtf1nPRutt

 

Lastly, on Friday, we will check out the Old Catholic Church.

 

See you there... 

 


 

Monday, April 6, 2026

Virtual Jamaica: St. Mary's~ Old Spanish Bridge and Fern Gully

 

And today we are (virtually) back...

 

A relic remaining from the 17th century when the Spanish arrived and colonized this island.

https://youtu.be/VZI5L7cZte0?si=YXHIqKtf5H1soXDj

Now, basically a tourist attraction complete with rope swings so you can cool off in the hot Jamaican sun.

And surprisingly...people are encouraged to carve their initials in its rocky face.

Nearby is Fern Gully...

A long drive into the rain forest that boasts an assortment of beautiful ferns and other natural botanicals.


 

A brief, but beautiful, excursion.

Wednesday, we will tour a Banana Plantation, and sample their wares!
 

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Easter Weekend...Update on John...Football...and New Stuff..


 Raining like S.E Asia outside...the little ones may need snorkels and masks to dive for Easter Eggs!

 


Easter Weekend...and to be honest, I'm exhausted. Seeing a hot bubble bath...some good food and a nap or three in my future.

John's week has been rough...on everyone.

Especially John.

Full of therapy...inability to eat more than a minimum...pain...difficulty sleeping...and knowing that Sunday is his 10th day.

Faced with the decision of 14 more days in rehabilitation or leaving on Monday.

Realizing he was weak...tired and had lost another 8 pounds...bringing him down to 160 pounds.

...absolutely skeletal... 

 As of last night...he has decided to go home...to his food...his bed...his cat.

Our friend, Jan, has an 1100 kcal. smoothie she wants him to try.

Our friend, Kathy, promises milkshakes.

We are so hopeful.

He just says he is so tired.

I'm just sad and scared. 

We're taking it one day at a time...isn't that all any of us have, anyway? 

...tears...

The football season is going to be interesting...after all the coach firings and replacements.

Also us signing Indiana Jones for 2 more years...Tua going to The Falcons...Minnesota taking Wentz back...Kansas releasing Pachenko...and more.

In-trading has been like musical chairs...I've never seen it like this before...and the draft hasn't even started.

We shall see.

 

The new stuff...

The best is that MY Dunkin' Donuts opens soon!!!!


 

And MORELS are back!

I'm getting mine next week. 


 And I've now tried the new Big Arch Burger from McDonald's.


 It was very good.  Kind of a Big Mac on steroids.  A full 1/2 pound of fresh beef. All and all worth the price.

...and it is a bit pricey for a burger...think 5 Guys prices...

 

Have a Wonderful Holiday Weekend!

 

 

 

 

Friday, April 3, 2026

Virtual Jamaica: St. Mary~ GoldenEye Resort


 Welcome to Ian Fleming's Paradise...

 

Now a luxury resort.

https://youtu.be/BiOl0XOqmcc?si=6Bi7dKJde5-auJXL 

With all-inclusive villas...cottages...lagoon side and beach side rooms...spas...kayaks...outdoor work out areas...3 pools...several beaches...restaurants...bars and live music...there is something for everyone!

https://youtu.be/kyd9CZIZKgE?si=S_7sDNtckRaBzVHt

Although the beach-side with its sugar white sand is inviting...I am thinking the lagoon villa will be perfect for our time in St. Mary's.

 

Including a claw-foot tub and an outdoor shower!


 Which, of course, were MY selling features.

I can see starting each day in this shower and finishing each night in a deep candle-lit bubble bath.

Right now, though, I just want to enjoy the seclusion of this hidden gem with an ice cold fruit/rum drink from my private deck overlooking the lagoon.


 

It just doesn't get much better than this.


 Until Monday...

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Virtual Jamaica: St. Mary~ Firefly Estate

 

But first...

 

OMG! 

Had to talk about my Jerk Steak adventure for a minute. I am not sure the word "adventure" is really appropriate here.

Got the mildest jerk that Walkerwood offers...and it was hot...like really hot...like surface of the sun hot!!!


 

Contains Scotch Bonnet Peppers...Cayenne Peppers and Black Pepper.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo HOT.

If this was mild I can't even imagine how HOT that the other sauce would be.

Jerk may not be for me....no matter how good it smells.

Anyway...

In the 1950's the writer/playwrite Noel Coward bought the Estate once owned by pirate turned Governor Sir Henry Morgan.

Noel Coward


 

 

 

 

Sir Henry Morgan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Morgan 


 

 

 

 

 

 

...if he looks familiar...yes...it's Capt'n Morgan!!!

 

A delightful bit of trivia...I might add.  

 

The Estate was known at that time as Lawrencefields.  Coward would change the name to Firefly Estate because of the thousands of fireflies that lit up the grassy property at dusk.


 

Firefly Estate

https://youtu.be/BwF1kmWr7ZU?si=c8ouE-IWhyV0s1dX

 

Coward wrote in his diary: "Firefly has given me the most valuable benison of all: time to read and write and think and get my mind in order . . . I love this place."

Along with other authors which he convinced to come live on this beautiful island was Ian Fleming who would later pen all of his James Bond series, here.

The (now named) James Bond Beach

https://youtu.be/S1jaOSiCBjQ?si=sgSfKW1R98GrbT9o 

was the beach featured in the Bond film Dr. No.


Fleming also opened The GoldenEye Resort.

We will give it a look on Friday!


 

 

Monday, March 30, 2026

Virtual Jamaica: St. Mary's Parish...Jamaican Patois...Jerk Beef

 

Today we begin exploring St. Mary's Parish...

The port city, St. Mary's was instrumental in Spanish & British Colonial times as both a sugar export and slave center.

Because the slave were shipped in from numerous places with varied languages the Jamaican Patois you hear today was developed by these slaves as a means to communicate with each other.

Lesson One

https://youtu.be/R1hfbI99Pgc?si=iFq39GyNy2ekVFOz

And you can follow the tutorial if you are interested in learning more.

Many things in this Parish are holdovers from colonial times including the architecture and even an old Spanish bridge.

...the churches and bridge we will trek to on another day...

The Parish is basically countryside outside of the port...filled with goat herds...banana and sugar-cane plantations...coconut palms and more!




This afternoon I am using the Jerk Spices to make Jerk Beef.

https://youtu.be/F5KCXaeYYS4?si=iOlZdEutT1WsJkNi

Smells amazing.

The jerk I picked up was Mild as it has Scotch Bonnet peppers ground in with the spices.


 

Hopefully not too hot!

 

Until next time...