Today we took a trip to the top of the Blue Mountains and then biked all the way down to thunderous waterfalls. The Blue Mountains, clothed in lush green trees and shiny tropical plants, are named after the soft mist that crowns them permanently.
These majestic mountains, Jamaica’s longest range which includes its highest peak, remain relatively untouched on account of the narrow, winding roads that few are bold enough to navigate. Yet they are studded with tiny yellow and orange houses, folded neatly into the greenery, with what must be vertiginous views.
On our way to the top, we passed through Charles Town and I saw a sign for the Maroon Museum. Jamaican Maroons are the descendants of African slaves who escaped and established free communities up in the mountains. Jamaican slaves revolted and fled with such frequency that the British were forced to free them in order save their sugar business from constant disruptions. “The forests offered the Maroons everything they needed for their survival. They developed strong spiritual connections with the mountains, still manifest through the intangible cultural legacy of religious rites, traditional medicine and dances.”
We were shown a house where Obeah is still practiced, a belief system similar to Haiti’s Voodoo. It has been criminalized by law for hundreds of years as the Church considers it black magic. However, many Jamaicans are trying to get these anachronistic laws repealed. They see them as a throwback to the country’s colonial past.
After a busy day, we were lucky to come home to delicious beef curry, vegetable rice, potatoes and plantains all prepared for us by the lovely Marlene. Port Antonio has been full of charm and comfort. Tomorrow we’re off to Montego Bay.