where R U ronny d

Arrived Kingston to find no pick up driver; OK, go to Plan B. Contact with accommodation person was greeted with a no answer. Plan C - wing-it with local taxi; all good in the end. Like most Caribbean places, homes/buildings are heavily protected with security grills, steel fencing, razor wire and the like. I have seen no evidence of crime in travels so far but the amount of security guards suggest otherwise. Main attraction was the visit and tour of Bob Marley's place. Tried the roasted peanuts from the street vendors pushing trolley type boilers whistling with steam - very good. Jamaica gets my vote as having the best mangoes; extremely juicy and fleshy. They have a slightly stronger flavor and rival our home grown Bowens. ... read more

Arrived late (plane delays) to our quaint B&B on the fringe of the French Quarter of New Orleans. New Orleans is loaded with history and the French Quarter in particular is very vibrant with there being many competing restaurants and bars with live music and they celebrate almost everything due I suspect to their diverse cultural heritage; and I thought Australia was multicultural. This week there were celebrations for the running of the bulls in Pamlona with simulated staged action in the streets. Took in a number of tours, French Quarter, Mississippi river boat cruise on last stream driven paddle boat (albeit diesel fuelled) and a grand plantation homestead in the style of a Gone with the Wind movie. New Orleans is very flat and swampy with the Mississippi river cutting a very deep path through ... read more

Our B&B was perfectly positioned to take full advantage of the incredible views of Montego Bay and the cruise ships that slide by, but alas, no picture perfect sunsets presented. We were lucky enough to get a room upgrade as we were the only tennants during our stay and we were well looked after. The accommodation was the best of our trip and the fruit platter entree to breakfast was outstanding. Re my earlier comment about mangoes, I've found the best mangoes in the Caribbean; probably the world; they hang from a tree in the backyard of the B&B at 13 Cornish Road Montego Bay. Attraction: Proximity to Hip street and it's restaurants and bars and Dr. Caves beach. Doctor Caves beach is only a couple of hundred metres long but has a deeper and more ... read more

Port of Spain is basically closed on weekends but took advantage of low crowds to tour city centre; Brian Lara Promenarde and Queens Park, Savanna, a huge green space that dominates Port of Spain. Tried the local foods, Roti, Doubles and reputedly the best Bake and Shark from Richards at Macarus Bay. In retropect shouldn't have sampled as many of the sides/sauces on offer; hot hot, hot; but very good.... read more

Accommodation on the beach; again. A little more rustic but management great; very accommodating with their computors/internet etc. managed to arrive on another public holiday like Antigua and very busy for first day. Weather still holding; there are tropical showers but these are a bessing to cool things down. Discovered Pigeon Point (right next door) the last day of our stay - just as well as we may not have ventured further. Pigeon Point is another picture perfect beach place; part of the Bucco marine park. Next day (travelling day) engulfed by wet weather and thought we might not make our short flight to Trinidad. ... read more