Falmouth, Jamaica...

For a very long time, Jamaica and its cruise ports, in particular, have a very bad reputation for being aggressive, pushy and even harassing the tourists trying to sell any and everything…tours, taxi rides. jerk chicken or red strip beer and, of course, drugs (specially ganja as marijuana is called in Jamaica).  We were pleasantly surprised how civil and hospitable the local population is in Falmouth by comparison with some other Jamaican ports we have visited. The Falmouth Cruise Port is located between two piers with a large retail shopping complex housed in brick buildings designed in the style of British Georgian architecture that recreate the colonial ambiance found in the Town. We took a stroll through Falmouth's Historic District and Water Square to explore the town. From small wooden houses to brick Georgian mansions to plantation complexes, many of the buildings are still intact. We made our way to a makeshift fishing village on the outskirts of town that I had visited on a previous trip to Falmouth. We were glad we ventured into town to see the architecture and get a glimpse into the local life. While we stayed in the main areas and busy streets close to the town, the townspeople were friendly and welcoming. We had a pleasant day in Falmouth. The remainder of the day was spent in the Retreat. Luckily, the weather held off until late afternoon so my sister could work on getting her tan….  It was a wonderful day!!!  It’s great having family here with me…  Tonight, we have dinner in the Pinnacle Grill with the Hotel General Manager René and his wife Judy.  It promises to be a fun evening!!!