08-03-2013, 10:59 PM
<P>ok..driving into Kingston you notice the shanty towns on either side of highway-this is where things get dicey cuz neither one of us are sure where exactly to go -lots of turnoffs, and roads..We just want to get on the highway to st thomas-thats all-we know the road is east and south of us but we have no idea how to get to it..Kinston is huge and spread out with huge round-abouts and busy streets, lots of traffic and lots of one-way only roads, with other drivers not too patient with first timers-not to mention my partner aka co-pilot.. I'm sure there are some women out there that can relate,not easy having a male co-pilot and you driving and you both don't know where the heck you going..stress-ful would be an understatement (LOL)..we must have asked no less than 5 people where the road to st thomas was and asking a jam for directions is sometimes like trying to figure out the hardest level of a cross-word puzzle-it just isnt easy..<BR>Would i drive back to kingston....yes, with my map and little more patience-would love to explore it..after what seemed eternity we finally got on the right road and were off to the parish of st thomas..<P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace446.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace447.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace448.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace449.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace450.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace451.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace452.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>Finally, the road thru St Thomas...<P>We plan on spending a few days in St Thomas area- I've never been (only far as machineal)My partner lived there in the past and had a some good friends he wanted to see. Our home base was Golden shores resort in Lyssons (between Morant Bay and Port Morant)It wasnt the easiest to find-its on a little residential road off the main road-but if you blink you miss the sign..at the very far end of the road (among residences) you come to the main office and down below is the hotel and parking area..It seemed to be a place that lot of locals come to from kingston etc, when they want chill on the ocean..Nothing too fancy-but clean with a nice very natural type of beach-that had locals playing soccer at the far end and lots of kids swimming everyday..They have a restaurant but it is a made- to -order- type place-no real menu-you tell (far in advance,as they warn you) what you want,they go get food and cook it up-it closed at 8pm..not to far away in Morant bay they have pattie places, cook barrels etc.. there was a wonderful shop near the entrance by the side of main road- had anything and everything (not cook shop) met alot of nice people in the area-in fact i will go so far to say some of the most genuine nice people i've met so far in Jam have been in that area..none of the fake tourist -friend- you- up- nonsense..no one asked for anything and lots of people offer us rides, etc..just real friendly ...We had a room with A/c on the very top floor (3rd floor) for 69.US a nite...totally worth it..and after my long day of driving all i wanted was a stiff drink,and some RR ,etc,,-(yes they have a bar there)this place more than fit the bill..<BR><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace453.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>one part of the hotel<P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace454.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>restaurant area<P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace455.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace456.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>view from our balcony area<BR><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace457.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace458.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace459.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace460.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>entrance to beach<BR><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace461.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace462.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace463.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace464.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>lyssons public beach-rasta friend lives in that structure on the rock area.<BR><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace465.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>lyssons public beach<BR><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace466.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>very natural type of beach setting-opposite of 7mile<BR><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace467.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>bay of port morant<BR><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace468.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>back on the main highway to Port Antonio..<P>we had planned to go to the blue mts-but I decided i had enough of taken on new driving challenges this reach(i would have to go back to kingston area to get there) save it for next time, when we will just concentrate on that area ..decided to take the familar and the longest route back home-going around the very eastern side thru port anotnio-a place i never get tired of..green paradise for sure...we didnt stay over nite-just leisurely drove back on the main highway ..stopped at boston bay for the best jerk on the island (and the birthplace) over priced but worth it.. then thru all the beauty of PA, and the other eastern and northern areas..some of the best road starts outside of PA and goes all the way to Mobay (the main highway)..I will say we noticed lots of cops in st thomas and PA area-pulling people over ,etc..so keep that in mind-I've been pulled over in PA area in the past and that was whole other story ($$) for doing nothing..and we got pulled over in Ochi and searched our car, etc..we have nothing to hide so we dont worry-just go thru the motions...<BR><img class="refimg" src="/webbbs/images/main/picsuzengrace470.jpg" border="0" alt=""><P>Trelawny was done with mango season but not PA area- nice bag over different kinds from roadstop...nice treat to take bag to the yard...<BR>Hopefully someday i will master the art of turning off side of road and or turning around without worry...thus i can get out and really take more pictures like i want..<BR>maybe 6th time will be the charm ...lol.