Jamaica me arie

Jamaica is really good, hot and I can't believe its nearly Christmas, the only thing to remind me is the random placed Christmas lights, in the American tradition, and the reggae Christmas carols occasionally played in the bars. Over the last week I have been travelling the north coast, from San Antonio to Ocho Rios. The highlights have to be snorkeling in the Carribean on coral reefs, with our guide Marvin, the paranoid android, (most Jamaican names are fantastically 1940s, Winston, Stanley, Ronald, Sydney etc.) Going into the Green Grotto caves, which have played a significant role in the creation of a Jamican national identity and having it brought to life. The food is really good and hot and spicy and sometimes the best places to go are the equivilant of greasy spoons in England, not the fancy restaurants, as the fair is less extravagant, but you get loads, and it is dead tasty.
Ocho Rios is a cruise ship stopover so every one asks, "are you from the boat?" and are surprised if you are not, but still try to sell you things. One of the downsides about being a tourist is that all prices are inflated especially for you and you are ripped off quite often, like being asked to pay for 'complimentary' drinks. Thank goodness we are not paying in US$ as the quoted exchange rate of Jamaican$ to US$ further increments the prices. Also interesting things to look at are not usually developed into anything to go around, like old forts, the old naval hospital or signififant buildings in towns, like 17th Century trading houses and great houses, thankfully there are exceptions, like Devon House which is marvelously used to great advantage for the local community. Oh well we are off to sit on a desert island and snorkel and swim. Happy Holidays.
We went on a strange Ex Pat tradition called a Hash on Sunday which involved running up and down mountains in the midday heat. Quite fun, we were half an hour late setting off as we had got lost on the way there, having been given directions that included a hotel which no longer existed, but finished half way through the field, not that its a race. After running all that way, the afternoon was finished off by drinking ceremonies and some food.