restoring classic luxury cars. For villa guests, there
is a small fleet of classic sports cars including a
1978 Alfa Romeo Spider, a 1967 Mercedes Sports
pagoda, and a 1978 Rally Fiat 124, available upon
request, “continued Baker. “Whether you prefer to
drive yourself or have one of Geejam’s experienced
drivers chauffeur you, it’s an excellent way to take
in Port Antonio’s depth of character and
exceptional history.
“ But if your funds don’t stretch to a villa, there are
hotels and guesthouses in the town which are also
great options, he continues. “A Neapolitan called
Fabio who claims to have gone to the only pizza
university in the world runs San San Tropez. There
are just 10 rooms, it’s the Faulty Towers of the
Caribbean, is just 100 metres from Frenchman’s
and is reasonably priced and fantastic. Another
alternative is Jamaica Heights, a guesthouse that
is owned by another eccentric, the German Helmet
Steiner and is right on the hill allowing a
panoramic view of Port Antonio.”
And yes Port Antonio is very affordable. I ate some
of the best jerk conch from a hole in the wall
takeaway I have ever eaten for a couple of US
dollars while a meal amongst the locals in one of
the many little cafes wont cost you more that $10
for two. And you could stay in a B n’B such as the
De Montevin Lodge or the Holiday home on the
rather wonderful Titchfield Hill might cast as little
as £40 a double room including breakfast or rent
a beach hut at Great Huts for about the same.
Most nights, for entertainment, my son and I would
mosey on down to Drapers a little community at
the bottom of San San and he’d go off and play with
his new gang of dirt poor Jamaican kids climbing
trees and running around .I’d hang out with the
locals, listen to the fantastic reggae sound system
(I DJ’d for them on night playing my collection of
old seventies dub on my lap top) in a shack made
of found bits of wood and rusty corrugated iron
and drank beer at a dollar a pop and rum at `50
cents a shot while they consumed more weed than
I ever thought possible. They dressed in rags and
had nothing compared to us, but they smiled all
the time and were HAPPY.
But what I really like about Portland is that it’s all
a bit hokey, total un-manicured and really rather
dishevelled. It’s not fancy pretentious over
developed crap – its low-key underdeveloped
excellence. That great wonder of the world The
Blue Lagoon is treated like a riverside watering
hole with simply an old concrete battered platform
to sit on and jump off surrounded by virtually
derelict buildings. Indeed, everything looks as if
it’s falling apart in that ever to chilled Jamaican
way. There are no chain stores, only one fast food
eatery chain -KFC- while almost every restaurant
and shop is a family run slapdash crazy mish mash
of eccentricity that makes a fellow smile. It seems
that the people here have very little and, as such,
possessions seem to take a back seat with most
people (although I am sure many dream of riches
but it isn’t a preoccupation) while, what is
important is family and community. We in Europe
could learn a lot from Portland.
As for my son, he felt totally at home. He didn’t go
on his phone. He didn’t play video games. We didn’t
go to amusement parks, water parks, fun fare rides
or shopping malls, we just spent a lot of time
together and apart from that, he made some
friends local kids who were happy playing chase
and so was he. It was a very special vacation for
both of us.
Accordingly, it’s all -good in Portland as all are
catered for and all muck in together no matter the
budget as, once there, you are all treated like
honoured guests. Maybe this is because its due to
its distance from both airports Montego Bay and
Kingston, so is really not at all on the tourist map.
I like to think its because they are basically very
nice, very accommodating folk.
Thus, Port Antonio is a very special place that can
provide an adventure holiday, a gastronomic
vacation or just a few weeks of intense relaxation,
which we all need from time to time.
The best time to visit Port Antonio is January
February but, that’s in school term, so we are
planning another visit Easter 2020. Fin says it’s his
favourite place in the world.
Chris Sullivan and his son stayed at Geejam
www.geejamhotel.com
They travelled on Virgin Atlantic to Montego Bay.