St. Thomas: untouched and cool...

We are leaving the north and will examine the south part of Jamaica. We still are now in the east and follow the A4 in a southerly direction. For the first time since a long period the road turns into the interior for a short distance and we have no sight on the everlasting blue sea.

St. Thomas is relatively unknown to the tourist. It is situated rather far from the tourist centers and, seen from the north where most of the tourists staying, it is more or less hidden behind the Blue Mountains. Nevertheless there are many interesting sights to visit with Blue Mountain Peak -literally and figuratively- as culminating point. The highest mountain of Jamaica (2258 m) and her sisters, together forming the "Grand Ridge of the Blue Mountains", decide the field of vision very emphatically.

Morant Point peninsula
Shortly after the A4 leaves the coast the coastal strips this road splits up near Hordley in two roads. Driving to the left we go to Golden Grove and the right one to Bath. At the end both roads meet each other again near Port Morant. Which one of those two directions you finally select, both are worthwhile.
This time we keep to the left. On the left side the sugarcane plantations loom up. It is difficult to see but after these plantations the Morant Point peninsula is located, just south of Holland Bay.
Do you just like to lie down on the beach, Holland Bay is a very fine place to do so.


For the greater part the peninsula is a swamp. Where Morant Point meets the sea the Morant Point Lighthouse is built and you are now on the most westerly point of Jamaica. The road thereto is a bad and muddy one but it is worth the challenge.
The lighthouse is the oldest of Jamaica and was built in 1841. With pleasure a lighthouse keeper brings you up and from there you have a magnificent view over the swamp, the sugarcane fields and the Blue Mountains.

Back to the main road we come out in Golden Grove, a small village, not much more than a collection of wooden cottages surrounded by sugarcane fields and banana plantations.
Driving further to Morant Point the coast will be sighted again and from there we can either go back to Hordley or further direction Morant Bay.

Springs, gardens and rebellions
At first we drive a little stretch into the inland and arrive in Bath, a small village existing of one single street that shows two things to the traveler. Very first Bath became known because of her mineral springs. Just north of Bath we find the Bath Fountains. According a local legend they were discovered by a slave who ran away in 1690. The warm water from the springs contains many minerals and has a relaxing effect.
For lovers of flowers and plants there is another attraction in Bath viz. the Bath Botanical Gardens. Although hurricane Gilbert left her traces and the gardens are inundated regularly when the nearby river overflowed its banks many flowers and plants can be found there.
According insiders e.g. mango and breadfruit are planted here for the first time.

Once back in Port Morant we turn to the right direction Morant Bay. Much of interest cannot be find there, most of the buildings from the colonial period are burnt down during the Morant Bay Rebellion in 1865.

This rebellion is the most important event in Jamaica's history. Under the guidance of Paul Bogle a few skirmishes during a lawsuit developed into a complete revolt of the oppressed black population where by many fell or were injured. (See "a brief history" too.) The revolt passed into history as the Morant Bay Rebellion.
Right opposite the, after the revolt rebuilt, courthouse stand the statue of the National Hero Paul Bogle. Close to this statue stands the Anglican Church with a commemorative plate with all names of those who perished during the revolt.


The Mountains
We already mentioned it: the absolute height of St. Thomas are the Blue Mountains. A lot of villages situated on beautiful locations, coffee plantations and tropical rain forests make these mountains to a favorite destination for the nature lover. It is relatively cool and this can be a relief when you are used to the heat of the level.
A trip through the Blue Mountains is a wonderful enterprise. Everywhere in the villages you are given a warm reception and of course you cannot escape to taste the world famous Blue Mountain coffee. The villages Silver Hill, Guava Ridge and Mavis Bank form the center of the coffee region. The coffee plants flourish excellent on the slopes high in the mountains.

For the real walker a trip to Blue Mountain Peak is a must. To find good starting points you just cross the border with St. Andrew: Marvis Bank (from here it is a climb of about 6 hours) or Abby Green (a climb of about 4 hours). In both cases it means that you have to climb on foot a good part over the so-called Blue Mountain Trail. This can be done well but you need good walking shoes and some warm clothing (yes, it can be rather fresh up there) and have the disposal of a reasonable good condition.
Be accompanied by a guide, there are many by-paths and you will loose the right way easily. In above-mentioned villages sufficient reliable guides can be found.

The trip offers a wonderful view on the vegetation in the mountains. Up to about 500 meters under the top you walk through the primeval forests that covered the greatest part of Jamaica in former times.
Then, rather suddenly, the landscape changes in a wood of small trees, bushes, mosses and ferns. The Jamaicans name this landscape 'Elfin Woodland'. It looks a little bit like the landscape we know from fairy tales.

Of course you can make this trip during daytime but there is a big chance that clouds frequently extending in the course of the afternoon will hinder the sight. It is better to leave during the night.
Arrange this on such a time that you are on the top around sunrise and you will be rewarded for all trouble.
By no means you will ever forget a view such as on Blue Mountain Peak. Nearly the whole island can be looked over and, when the weather is good, you even have a look on Cuba.

It will be clear that Blue Mountains present a wealth of sights. Under "Sights" you find an enumeration of these sights, together with the remaining things worth knowing.
More about the Blue Mountains can be read in the the St. Andrew section.