Kingston, Jamaica: How to Experience the Culture

*As a small tribute to the legend, each heading is a Bob Marley song title*

“Soul Rebel” Culture

“You can’t entertain a man who has no food”.

I’m almost positive the honorable Robert (Bob) Nesta Marley was referring to nutritious substance.

I want to expound or look at the quote in another light.

As a solo traveler, my number goal is to enjoy myself wherever I go.

Enjoyment looks differently to each journeyer.

I’m no ‘adventure traveler’ and I read somewhere that my blogs needed to be risky and a little dangerous to succeed.

I understand that point. But my blog will always reflect authenticity.

For me, a successful trip has to involve culture!

“Stand up for Your Rights”

I believe that my audience will be like-minded individuals.

Most likely I won’t be blogging about jumping out of parachutes or hiking up the highest peaks. I can’t even promise that I will eat the grossest foods imaginable.

I am a solo traveler who loves culture.

• 

• 

• 

“Satisfy my Soul”

Back to the quote.

I believe that no trip is complete until I’ve learned something about the location, people, or way of life.

Culture is my food. You can’t entertain me unless that hunger has been filled.

This is the alternate meaning I’ve chosen to apply to Marley’s quote.

Fortunately, there were times when culture and entertainment have gone hand in hand in my travels. Those trips rank very high in the “best trip ever” category!

I did not want to go to Jamaica (Kingston to be exact) and leave hungry or unfulfilled.

“One Love”

Culture fills and expands my heart. That may be one reason why I describe myself as one who ‘fell in love’ with Jamaica.

Have you ever been in love?

It gives you a deep propensity to see into another and lay your own interests aside, however temporary.

There’s a time and place for everything but this was not going to be a ‘lay on the beach and sip on margaritas’ type of trip.

“Jamming”

Throughout this website, I’ve left pieces of myself. I wanted viewers to get a glimpse of me.

I show my love of quotes, music and make references to those who have impacted my life in some way. ABOUT

Bob Marley is one of those people.

From youth, I’ve been called “an old soul” or “old lady”.

Marley died about a month before I was born. Age/time is never a factor for a melophile (lover of music).

I have enjoyed his meaningful and smooth vibes since I can remember.

This year, I dubbed my birthday trip to Jamaica “The Marley Tour”, in his honor.

“One Drop”

Name a culture and I’ve probably been fascinated by it. Jamaica was no different.

The melting pot I grew up in (Miami) may also be responsible.

I wanted to do ‘all things Marley’ and totally immerse myself in authentic Jamaican culture.

Zip-ling and getting mud-soaked on an ATV just weren’t gonna cut it for me.

I used Google and Trip Advisor to search for excursions that would speak culture. I found a Jamaican tour company called Jamaica Cultural Enterprises.

They had tour packages for every day of the week and covered most of the bases. You could choose from full or half-day options.

“Time will Tell”

I must return to take some of the other tours.

The guides were prompt in picking me up from my Airbnb. 

Marley Museum was the first stop.

My tour would be personalized since it was just me, the guide and her trainee.

I felt special.

I was in awe and in a trance-like state as I walked the same grounds as the legend. We entered the place where he laid his head…the recording studio where he poured out his heart.

The feeling was indescribable!

• 

• 

“Africa Unite”

Most of the guides at the museum were Rastafarian and their passion was palpable.

This was not someone just ’doing their job’.

All these years later, you could see the love, passion, and respect they had for Bob Marley.

This tour is a thorough dive into the life and legacy of the great one. I learned a few new facts but I won’t spoil them for you.

A group of school children came shortly after us and it made my heart happy. Who better to tell our history to than the youngest among us?

There is an on-site vegetarian restaurant. Try a shake, mine was delicious.

“Them Belly Full”

Next, we made our way over to Devon House.

If you’ve never heard of Devon House, its a refurbished mansion owned by the first Black millionaire in Jamaica (Gorge Stiebel).

It’s neatly manicured grounds is where locals and tourists gather alike.

• 

• 

The house is open for tours. But we stopped for the famous patties. ( Lunch was optional).

Seafood was not in season so I chose a beef patty.

I must note that the Jamaican patties in the U.S. tend to give me an allergic reaction. Yet I was just fine after eating this one. It was mildly spicy and generously filled with meat.

The area has a few restaurants and shops to buy souvenirs. Many people sat among the shade of tall trees and appeared so relaxed.

“So Much Trouble in the World”

This was not something I was used to seeing in America.No one seemed hurried.

It was as if time had slowed down.

In a sense it had.

Island life is not as fast-paced as the Miami I’ve grown accustomed to.

Other benefits were the preservation of things in their original state, including food. This brings us to the second treat Devon House is known for.

As an ice-cream lover, of course, I read the reviews online before visiting.

I know sometimes we humans tend to exaggerate. But honestly, I don’t recall reading a single negative review.

“Judge Not”

Devon House’s ice-cream took me back to my ‘prehistoric’ childhood days when GMO was a foreign concept.

From the first lick, the natural creamy vanilla essence sent a quick message of approval to my brain.

As God said at creation: It was good.

No popular American chain can dare to compete!

Needless to say, I didn’t decline a second visit on my other tour. Almond pistachio was my favorite flavor.

Afterward, we drove through the busy outdoor markets in downtown Kingston. If you’ve never been to one, I would recommend a stop there with a local.

“No Woman, No Cry”

This route led us to Trench Town Culture Yard; also known as the birthplace of “No Woman, No Cry”. Through the tour, I gained knowledge of many great musicians that came from this area.

Most government travel sites advise against visiting Trench Town. I found many places online that shared the sentiment.

It’s a poor area with a high crime rate.

I’m from Miami and in Travel Tips, I briefly cover the dangerous ways predominately Black neighborhoods can be portrayed. Yes, there is some truth to the statistics but that doesn’t mean I will avoid visiting.

I felt like my trip would be incomplete without going. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it.

If you’re a Marley fan, I say go for it!

“Buffalo Soldier”

Trip Advisor’s reviews had spoken highly of one tour guide in particular: Blackie.

As fate would have it, he ended up being my guide. His patois (Jamaican dialect) is a little on the heavy side but I was able to understand. I hear it all the time in Miami.

He “knows his stuff” and is serious about the abundant history of Trench Town.

The Trench Culture Yard tour is room to room of an actual government housing where Marley resided.

Charts and graphs show the progression of the area by decades. A music history lesson is also included.

The shell of Marley’s VW Beetle is on the property. A picture inside of it is a must! (See mine on this blog’s cover photo).

There is another tour available of the surrounding neighborhood.

• 

• 

Don’t miss the Marley statue at the back. (Shown above)

I left Jamaica full and satisfied. A lavish buffet of cultural experiences will forever feed my soul.

I end as I began: “You can’t entertain a man who has no food”.

~Poof…Bee Gone

© 2019, Poof Bee Gone, All Rights Reserved

Please free to like/follow my social media platforms, leave me a comment, share blog posts and subscribe to get timely updates.