St. Ann: home parish of Bob Marley...

And still there is discussion......! Did Christopher Columbus land on Jamaican soil in Rio Bueno on the border between Trelawny and St. Ann on May 4th 1494? Or was the landing place, like the local population claims, 5 miles further in Discovery Bay?
No idea, we were not there at that time.
But certain is that we enter St. Ann near Rio Bueno.

And it is evident that the first village we meet is interesting immediately. The coastal strip of St. Ann underwent a stormy development and many villages changed into a tourist- resort with Ocho Rios as the most wellknown.

Lobster
However, during many centuries Rio Bueno was a characteristic fishing-village and still it is today.
But the fuss here is not caused by tourists but by fishermen sailing every day to catch fresh fish. And it goes without saying that you can eat fine fish here.
The Lobster Bowl Restaurant in Hotel Rio Bueno serves local dishes on the balcony with a view on the sea. Whether Columbus landed here or not, remainders from the colonial period can be found here anyhow. The ruins of Fort Dundas, built in 1778, are on view nowadays.

Discovery Bay
On the first view Discovery Bay looks not very special. The big Bauxite-terminal with a jetty that stretches far into the water leaps in the eye immediately. The terminal is still in use as bauxite is one of the main export-products of Jamaica.


As the official version tells that Columbus really landed here millionaire Kaiser, owner of the bauxite-terminal let lay out Columbus Park here. It is an ode to Columbus with wall paintings of the landing in 1494 and a presentation of objects from those times.
But when you close your eyes and forget the terminal Discovery Bay turns out to be a most charming piece of Jamaica. The rocky coast with her tropical plantation is a feast for the eyes and on the easterly top of the bay is Puerto Seco Beach situated.

Runnaway Bay is such a village living of tourism. This long-drawn village mainly exists out of all-inclusive resorts where many spoiled beach lover can satisfy his or her heart. It is an excellent place to be idle or practise water sports.

The Bay of St. Ann
St. Ann's Bay just is a village where the tourist industry did not predominate too much.
Nevertheless some very fine beaches such as Roxborough Beach and Alterry Beach are in the immediate neighborhood.
St. Ann has her historical worth too: during his last voyage to Jamaica Columbus vessels grounded here on the coast. The wrecks should be still here but nobody ever found them.
Columbus had to stay on Jamaica for a year and his son founded Sevilla la Nueva, the first Spanish settlement on Jamaica some 800 meters west of the present St. Ann's Bay.

National Hero
There where King Street changes into Main Street the Marcus Carvey Statue is attracting attention immediately. The founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) was born in St. Ann's Bay on august 17 1887. With the UNIA he tried to protest against the bad conditions of the black people all over the world.
He became a popular politician, but unfortunately with changing success. He died in 1940 and became one of Jamaica's National Heroes.


Leaving the coast
Going from the coast into the interior the landscape soon becomes mountainous. The always green woods give the surroundings a beautiful view. And in the middle of all that green we find, hidden in the mountains, Nine Mile the native- and resting-place of Reggae King Bob Marley.

Of course a visit to the Bob Marley Mausoleum is a "must". Only the drive thither is an experience. From the coast the road winds through the mountains. You pass Browns Town, a lively village where it is good nosing on the market. This market is an important part of St. Ann and it is worthy of a stop.
Near Alexandria the small and meandering road plunges into the green woods and at the end you will arrive at Nine Mile, it cannot be missed because it is well marked.
You are now in the Mecca of the reggae where every Rasta can tell you the story about the man who made Jamaica's problems universally known.

All together St. Ann have to tender enough, more then mentioned here.
We put them in a row for you, completed with a general view of hotels and restaurants. If you wish to have a good time it certainly is possible in St. Ann.

For more about Ocho Rios, see the Ocho Rios section.