Jamaica > The historic town of Falmouth

Breakfast is at the poolside restaurant. From the first floor, I can see the water nearby. Calm has returned after the party. The music equipment has been cleared away. I eat toast with scrambled eggs. Here and there, there’s some grumbling about the volume of last night’s music. In Jamaica, they aren’t too strict about noise regulations. Today I travel to Negril. It feels a bit like saying goodbye to Jamaica, even though I’m only halfway through my trip. The next few days I will stay on the beach in Negril. At exactly nine o’clock, I get on the bus for the last time. I fist-bump Kelly, the driver, and shout “respect.” Our daily ritual. What an enthusiastic man. The coastal road is noticeably busier, with large hotels on both sides.

Jamaica - Path through the palm trees to the beach

I even have to get used to seeing more tourists again. After about an hour’s drive, I arrive in Falmouth. Falmouth has an old town center with typical Georgian houses. Around the central Water Square, the houses feature traditional balconies. I stroll through the streets and order a fruit juice at a terrace. At eleven o’clock, I meet Sanya. She guides me through the town and explains the history of the houses. She talks about the courthouse, Market Street, and the church. She’s remarkably enthusiastic and tries to give as much of her explanation as possible in the shade. After Falmouth, I continue to Montego Bay. I recognize the hotel from my first night and the airport as I pass by. Officially, I’ve reached the end of my tour around the island. In Montego Bay, I visit the Strip. The Strip is the boulevard along the beach, full of shops, restaurants, and bars. I order a chicken pattie—a fried pastry filled with chicken. I walk along the boulevard and the beach. Then I prepare for the final leg: the journey to Negril. Negril is a resort town on the west side of the island. The beach, hotels, and restaurants stretch for kilometers. For many tourists, Negril is the only destination they visit in Jamaica: beach and sun. My hotel is within walking distance of the central roundabout in the village, considered the heart of Negril. I have a great room less than fifty meters from the beach. At the hotel, I say goodbye to Patricia and Kelly; they’re heading home. A colleague of Patricia, Ellen, will arrive in the afternoon to explain the excursion options around Negril. I decide I want to go snorkeling for a day, visit the Mayfield Falls, and maybe even swim with dolphins—who knows? In the evening, I walk along the beach to restaurant Kuyaba. In this cozy restaurant, I have a chicken salad and fries. When I return to my hotel, the bar is already closed—it’s half past nine.