Touch Down Jamaica

Posted byJanice ReidPosted inBlogsTags:, , , , , , , , , ,

After almost 10 months of staying with us, my parents decided it was time to go home to Jamaica. I guess it’s only fair, we will miss them, but they have their own lives to live, and they had never planned on staying that long anyway. Of course, being one who never misses out on a chance to go home, I invited myself along.

So, on Tuesday morning, a few hours after Valentine’s Day, I said goodbye to my Valentine, and in the wee hours of the morning, we boarded a plane to Jamaica. I always prefer landing first thing in the morning so that I can take full advantage of the rest of the day.

It was a little after 9:00am when we finally touched down and after we cleared customs with little effort, it was time to take the trip home. After leaving the Norman Manley Airport in Kingston, there is a beautiful stretch of road, Palisadoes Road. It features a stone-paved walkway along the side bordering the Kingston Harbor. The walkway is a popular spot for walking and running or for simply enjoying the view and taking pictures like I did. On the other side of the highway is the ocean.

Stone-paved walkway along Palisadoes Road

View of Kingston Harbor

The highway is sandwiched between Kingston Harbour and the Ocean

I’m a country girl, and I hail from Morant Bay, St. Thomas on the Eastern Coast of the Island. St. Thomas boasts beautiful rivers, mountains, bath fountains and waterfalls. We have the best and sweetest mangoes on the island, and I dare anyone to contest that! Our beaches are secluded, raw and beautiful, but I must admit that sometimes we’re often forgotten because we lack that “touristy” feel. For a long while, our roads and bridges were almost non-existent. Yes, there I said it! In the last few years however, after years of potholes and indifference to our little parish, construction of roads for St. Thomas has finally begun, fingers crossed!

Coastline in Pamphret, St Thomas

Roselle St Thomas – Road construction in progress!
Roselle Waterfall, used to be the sight back in the day, now a little unkept and surrounded by road construction. Hopefully its beauty will be restored
Roselle, St Thomas

Soon, within an hour after leaving the airport I was home in Springfield, to the comfort of where I grew up from the tender age of 2 years old. The house looks a lot different, but the memories are the same.

Mango trees loaded with blossoms and young mangoes

Some of my parent’s orchids, a little worn after 10 months of neglect but still beautiful.

I drove by the Primary School that I went to, and I stopped for a few pics. I remember walking those corridors and climbing those stairs. I spent 5 years of my life there and when I left, I never looked back. That should change. Seems we always devote all our efforts and resources to the high schools we leave behind but what about these schools where our primary education began, aren’t they the ones that set our basic foundations?

Morant Bay Primary School

By the end of the day, we were exhausted, tired and hungry. We ate saltfish and yams and it never occurred to me to take a picture until the food was all done. As you can tell from our plates, it was delicious!

First day at home was great, one down 18 more to go. Look out for me, sharing more of my trip directly from Jamaica!

Sincerely Jan!

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28 thoughts on “Touch Down Jamaica”

  1. OMG, first of all, thank God you all made it safely! Secondly WOW those pics are absolutely breathtaking and make me nostalgic!! Why yuh a duh dis to me Janice??? Mi jealous! Can’t wait to be home myself. Enjoy to the max! Keep those pics coming . Totally agree with you re “What about our primary schools?”
    Certainly played a pivotal role in our formative years. As far as friendship goes too (ours) , all age school years remain extra treasured memories for me always!Thanks for sharing!💟🥰

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  3. LOL!! Of course, who wouldn’t invite themselves along to beautiful Jamaica?! Those pics made me want to come to Jamaica even more and made me homesick too!! Sooooo jealous – Enjoy every minute!!

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  5. Janice,
    So glad to hear that you and your parents are here in Jamaica. I haven’t seen them in a long time.
    Hopefully I will get to see you before you leave and catch up with your parents.
    Gordon Lawrence

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  9. Great article, I do feel the same way about that “all age” we both attended. Please note at the time we were there it wasn’t primary school yet lol even though I am not sure of the difference. But yeah this story feels like my story.

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    1. Lloiid, I didn’t even know it was switched from one to the other, I thought we just used both interchangeably 🤣. But yeah, we certainly just dropped that school like a bad habit.

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  11. Oh this looks wonderful! Admittedly, St. Thomas is a parish I should explore more of. I’ve been to Hagley Gap, Bath, the botanical garden, Reggae falls + Lyssons, and I’ve driven past Roselle falls but never stopped. Looking forward to reading about your trips. I have the river by Sunning Hill, Cunha Cunha Pass/Bowden Pen, Old Pera windmill + beach and Stony Gut amongst others in the parish on my list.

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  12. I am so glad you are all home safely to the best place ever..JA. Great blog and absolutely beautiful pictures. I have never been on that side of the island. I would love to visit St. Thomas on one of my trips. I hope you will get some mangoes😊. Enjoy your vacation to the max!!!

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  13. Love the pics and all the connections. Thanks so much!! I now have a picture of the waterfall. I received a painting from my cousin as a wedding gift.over 28 years ago. Just love all the vibes. Thank You!

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