St.James: more than just Montego Bay...

Undoubtedly St. James belongs to the most well known parishes of Jamaica. Montego Bay, the second town of the island and at the same time the capital of St. James is situated on the coast of this parish and many visitors make trips in the neighbourhood.
Certainly it is worthwhile as St. James offers, besides a splendid scenery and beaches many things worth seeing, visiting these things is really a "must".

We will not talk about Montego Bay here anymore, more information about this town can be found in the Montego Bay section.

Railway
Although bordered on together St. James clearly presents another view then Hanover. Especially in the interior the landscape is more hilly and the road to Sav-La-Mar gives a good impression of this.
Driving on this road (B8) one shall actually meet a piece of a railroad. Once a train from Montego Bay to Kingston was running here. This drive right across the mountains must have been fascinating. Unfortunately we never have been able to make this crossing.
The National Railway company was discontinued in 1992 but the track (for a large part) still remains there.

Great Houses
St. James has a number of splendid "Great Houses" Many of the inhabitants became rich by growing sugar-cane and the trade herewith and the many plantation houses are the silent witnesses of these golden times.

The most well known (or most notorious) one is of course Rose Hall. Seen from the road the building is rising stately above the surroundings, one cannot miss it. James Palmer, at that time administrator of St.James, had it built in 1770. Being on the top it is understood why the view over the plantation and the coastline will never be forgotten.
Rose Hall became famous thanks to the "White Witch of Rose Hall", a legend still fully alive. Several versions go round. The "White Witch" was Annie Palmer, the second wife of John. She did go for Voodoo and poisoned her husband. In the same manner she got rid of her second and third husbands. A slave, with whom she should have a relationship, underwent the same fate. At the end she herself was poisoned during a Voodoo ceremony by a lover from Haiti.
And up to today her phantom is haunting around in Rose Hall. Don't tell us we didn't warn you when you visit the place! ;-)

Barret
Greenwood Great House is another example of such a plantation house. Built by the family Barrett this Great House is situated a little more from the highroad. But the sight is perhaps more beautiful then that from Rose Hall. Greenwood Great House gives a good look on the life on a plantation in that time. The museum has an original library with old books and maps.
Besides these houses visiting Barnett Estates, Belvedere Estate and Good Hoop Plantation are surely worthwhile.


Colorful birds
For lovers of nature St. James is not a bad place to stay. Besides the wonderful green hills there is the Rockland Bird Feeding Station in this parish. Founded by Lisa Salmon Rockland it developed into an institution, which is zealous for the more then 120 species of birds living in Jamaica.
Thanks to Lisa as well hunting these unique birds is drastically limited.
Have a look over there during late afternoon, the tropical birds will eat out of your hands!

For a piece of history you can leave for Maroon Town.
Maroon town is hidden rather far in the hills.
This small town was mixed up in the bloody battle between the Marrons and the British. After finally peace with the British was closed the Marrons got assigned two territories. One was the area around Maroon Town (the other is situated in the Blue Mountains).
In Maroon Town the battle of the Marrons against the British is still commemorated.

Although Montego Bay as Jamaica's most important centre of tourism has a wealth of overnight staying and eating-houses you can stay first-class outside the town.
It is not necessary to drive a long stretch looking for and finding the "real" Jamaica.