“The great thing about Port Antonio is that there is zero crime in and you can walk about without fear of hassle or grief, ‘ stresses Baker. ‘And there’s a lot to do: you can hike up the Blue Mountains, do a customised eco tour and see the most amazing water falls such as Nanny Falls – Nanny being the leader of the Maroons, the first guerrilla fighters or to the cascading Scatter, Reich and Somerset waterfalls. We can organise Jet Ski, kayaks, and a deep-sea fishing expedition with an experienced crew or a few days scuba diving. But Port Antonio is not a tourist location. You rent your villa with the staff included in the price and carry on as if you live there.” Another trip that can be arranged is a visit to Francesca Von Thyssen’s recently created huge marine conservation programme that part of her Alligator Head conservation scheme has had artist Claudia Comte fashion underwater sculptures that one might snorkel to see. Admirably, Francesca Von Thyssen has taken it on the job of fighting to preserve the sanctity of the oceans and its creatures and this is her base.
And of course let’s not forget the nightlife. Jamaicans love a night out and a jolly good dance.
“Although incredibly laid back, Port Antonio boasts a great nightclub called The Roof Club, which has been there for 40 years, and it’s definitely a scene from Thursday till Saturday, playing wonderful old school reggae,” informs Baker.
The main nightclubs are the above, Labest and Godzilla all of which feel like London dancehalls but without the hassle. There is however, an excess of ‘daggering’- a dance style that is basically explicit dry humping performed by girls whose rear ends seem to have a life of their own. Out of all the clubs I Iiked Godzilla the best. One enters through a tiny doorway next to a jerk chicken joint whereupon the sound of bass emanating from bass bins -4ft by 3ft – that dominate the tiny 100-foot room and slaps a fellow deep in the stomach. The place is covered with fluorescent graffiti while on the stage beneath the sign, Daggering Centre, dance a host of almost naked gals - some who would give Naomi Campbell a run for their money even at her height and others, a good 200 pounds naked, who’d run Beth Ditto ragged- while the crowd carries on rocking from side to side. And again the vibe is good, the music is great and the local crowd let you carry on regardless… no matter how bad you might dance.