Travel Eye on Kingston (Jamaica, Caribbean)

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Overview:

Jamaica's tropical-metropolis capital is a mixture of the best of all possible travel adventures and, arguably, the worst. The latter is fuelled by widespread poverty. Nevertheless, evenings in Kingston feature almost surreal scenes aided by musical magic. Kingston, after all, is the city of ska, limbo, Calypso and of course reggae, made famous by the late Bob Marley. Jamaica was also the boyhood home of Harry Belafonte, the singer of songs about Jamaican banana boats and such.

It is the largest English-speaking city south of Miami, lying on a wide plain with the world's seventh-largest natural harbour to the south, and the Blue Mountains behind.

Jamaica itself may have the image of being laid back and rather slow, but cosmopolitan Kingston moves at a fast pace, in keeping with its importance as the dominant force on the island politically, commercially and culturally.

Tourists tend not to stay in Kingston as such, generally heading for the northern and western beaches and resorts instead, but the city does have a wide array of historical and cultural attractions, not to mention a very sophisticated and sizzling nightlife.

Kingston was founded in 1692 after the demise of nearby Port Royal, the former capital, which was devastated in an earthquake. Port Royal was known as the 'wicked city', being the haunt of decadent aristocrats and swashbuckling pirates. Kingston has tried to be more dignified, but it is a little grimy and crime is rife. There are some neighbourhoods to avoid, like Trenchtown, a slum area alongside a drainage trench where drug-related killings happen regularly.

Kingston has a wide selection of world-class hotels and restaurants. It is one of the best places to try the specialities of island cuisine. Ackee, a fruit that looks like scrambled eggs, is an island staple. Breadfruit was brought from Tahiti to Jamaica by Britain's famed Captain William Bligh. It is now Jamaica's starchy alternative to bread and potatoes. Then there is "jerk," the highly spiced chicken and pork for which Jamaica is famous. In addition to being a gourmet paradise, Kingston is also a viable convention venue.

Locality:

Kingston can be found in the south of the island of Jamaica, it is on the eastern side of the south coast.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

For the best of Kingston, check out the ultra-modern commercial centre called New Kingston, and/or the mansions and villas that cling to Kingston mountainsides. For a look at the rich lifestyle of the late 1800s, visit Devon House with its louvred balconies, antique furnishings, and palm-patterned silk wall hangings. Then there is Jamaica House, built in the 1960s to house the Prime Minister, and Kings House, official residence of the island nation's Governor-General. The city's zoo and botanical gardens are also highly recommended tourist destinations.

Bob Marley fans will want to visit the Bob Marley Museum. The Mona campus of the University of the West Indies is another place worth visiting, as are the many art galleries. Kingston is ground zero for the nation's lively art scene. Jamaica produces some of the finest paintings and pottery in the Caribbean. National Heroes Park pays tribute to Jamaican political leaders Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamente. Also remembered is Simon Bolivar, liberator of Spanish South America. Bolivar spent time in Jamaica as an exile planning the liberation of his people in Venezuela, Colombia and elsewhere.

King Street, one of the capital's main shopping areas, leads to The Parade. That's where colonial soldiers used to parade, hence the name. The Parade serves as the main bus terminal, usually a scene of mass chaos with hagglers and hustlers by the score. The east section of downtown is somewhat rundown, many of the businesses having moved to New Kinston in the 1960s. Nevertheless, the area features many of the fine timber-frame buildings evoking Kingston's architectural past.