Virtual Jamaica: St. Thomas~ Albion Sugar Plantation Ruins

 

But first...cooking with Anai...

Whom has shared recipes for traditional Jerked Chicken with Peas and Rice.

 

 

 

During my cooking session with Anai...I was grateful to find realize that there was a way to decrease the "heat" of The Jerk for this non-Jamaican palate, as well as learning that the "peas" in the fore-mentioned rice dish were small red kidney bean or black beans.  

 

 

The secret to the Jerk was to simply omit the Scotch Bonnet Peppers.

 

                              The Beans and Rice was made with coconut milk.                                                                                                         

 

 Now, on to The Ruins!

 

 

Tour

https://youtu.be/Amp0LRflxZI?si=kq8Nb5eZw1pV7a-A

 

 Existing from the 18th Century or before

Slavery was banned here in 1833.

 

By 1923 the plantation produced its last sugar.

This was in part because the (free) slave labor was gone,

but mostly because it was impossible for the cane

sugar to compete with the much cheaper beet sugar

being produced elsewhere.

 

Today the rain forest, weeds and jungle has

taken over the ruins and you must hack through 

with a machete to see a lot of what is left.

 

See everyone next week!

 

 

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: St. Thomas~ Morant Lighthouse

 

But first...as we resume our exploration of Virtual Jamaica...a word about Paul Bogle...

Born on a plantation as a slave in 1822...he became a National Hero leading the 1865 Morant Bay Protest.

History

https://youtu.be/Cu6S71G-EmE?si=bEra-mTupqsI6s5h

Not only does his face grace some Jamaican money and the name of several prominent buildings in St. Thomas ...but it is also the Memorial Highway we will use on today's journey.

 

This coastal highway runs the length of St. Thomas.

Drive

https://youtu.be/BWMkhpvFnsQ?si=SURlSqGtX2wTOl6p

So...come along and we will check out the Morant Lighthouse.

Erected in 1841, it is the oldest lighthouse in Jamaica.

Tour

https://youtu.be/c8NgTfSZ8ws?si=_xEnFW7BMWLIVCJ2

It is also the first cast iron lighthouse in the Western Hemisphere.

100 feet tall!

It is located on the tip of Jamaica (Morant Point) on Morant Bay.

Heading back to Jay's Guesthouse, now...where the cook has promised to teach me a couple of local recipes to share!

See everyone, Friday!

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: St. Thomas Parish

 

And we resume our virtual adventure in St. Thomas Parish...

 

Our first concern, of course, is a place to stay.

St. Thomas is filled with Air BNB's...guest houses and cottages for rent. No Sandals..no 5 star hotels...No all inclusive's. 

 Given that, the best is 

 Where the views are spectacular...

 sitting at the foot of The Blue Mountains.

The food is plentiful and amazing...

 and the hotel itself is...

 honestly underwhelming.

 The room...even less so.

 

But after seeing what is offered in this Parish...the sparse room above seems like luxury...and how much time are we really going to be staying in the room, anyway.

At 68 USD a night...it will do.

Jay's Guest House

https://youtu.be/4Z7K0JRZyI8?si=fvR6EMFjx8Df2J5u 

And you have to love the view.

 

 Everything we want to see is nearby...the mountains...the rain forest...the beach.

 This will do.

Checking out what St. Thomas has to offer.

https://youtu.be/E_3VyoPVrYI?si=3s0V_uDnnr_nyrxY

See you, Wednesday! 

May...40 Degrees...and Forget Gardening

 

Okay...maybe not this bad...but still pretty bad...

 

It is May...and it's still 30's and 40's at night.

Barely cracking 50's in the daytime.

I'm freezing and putting pinto beans on to soak tonight...but only because I don't have chili making ingredients, right now.

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo tired of this cold.

 

 I have beautiful flower seeds...mostly in pinks...sitting waiting...and waiting...and waiting...and waiting...

Tux has basically given up the outside.

"I have indoor plumbing, Mom"

and rarely goes out unless Ginny comes over...or I sit/garden/read outside.

Right now, heat and comfort food seems the most important.

Stacked three quilts and a throw on the bed.

With the addition of my 22 pound furry cat it keeps one almost toasty.

This, too, shall pass.

Love,

Carla

...send heat... 

 

Virtual Jamacia: Portland~ Waterfalls and Beaches

We're back to our Virtual Jamaica adventure...

Today, we will be exploring what Portland is known for...its beautiful beaches and waterfalls!

And they're everywhere!

All through the rain forest from subtle dripping to magnificent cascades the sound of falling water.

Tour

https://youtu.be/_G-_wMxr3Ww?si=il5oS5m-j62vhsDA 

 

Then, there are the beaches!

 https://youtu.be/YGqj6jvWwpY?si=Uik0KD3fMHMB5WBY

 

Concluding our stay in Portland...with some fun in the water...sand and sun.

Next week, we will check out St. Thomas!

 

Virtual Jamaica: Portland~ Nonsuch Caves and Athenry Gardens

Back to Virtual Jamaica...

Today we explore Athenry Gardens and Nonsuch Caves.

https://youtu.be/LKzeQS0wOmg?si=mrYyBeUw_lNsi7F-

Once a beautiful coconut plantation...now spectacular gardens...lush rain forests and caves.

...the caves were a nice surprise...I never realized how much Jamaica had down under...it is literally riddled with a labyrinth of honey-colored limestone beneath your feet...

The gardens are lovely.
 

Dotted with flowers and waterfalls.

 

And the opening which will lead you to the 9 caves below...

 

Embedded in its walls, the shells...fossils of life from thousands of years back when the cave was forming.

Lanterns lighting the way...and the quiet chittering of the omnipresent bats, which we have come to expect.

The cool dampness contrasting with the humidity of the outside world.

Catching a brief glimpse of ocean and sunshine as we near an inlet.

All too soon, our under-the-earth tour is over and we stand blinking into the hot tropical sun filtering through the canopy.

I'm thinking a fossil in this yellow-tan limestone is a must as a souvenir of Nonsuch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And found one!!!