Seth, stream "The Mighty Quinn". I worked on it in Port Antonio in 1986. No tourists in Portland then for political reasons. That has sadly changed. Grateful I had the full immersion version when I was living there.
I remember that movie, and I was in Porty around that time too, looking for the ghost of Lorenzo Dow Baker. Great town, reminded me of Macondo in GG Marquez's "100 Years of Solitude." The Bonnie View did indeed have that.
...so many good memories of sunset rum cocktails at the Bonnie View. They had one of the only phone lines in Port Antonio! Imagine now the trouble we went through to make a phone call.
Yes though that is a deep mischaracterization of him, of his relationship to Port Antonio in particular, Jamaica in general, and what became the exploitive multinational United Fruit after he was forced out.
About 30 years ago, a couple of girlfriends invited me to join them for a week in an “all inclusive” adult hotel in Jamaica. I was uncomfortable with the term “adult”, and for good reason. I declined their offer. My instincts were spot on because apparently the adult hotel was for sex-crazed couples who tried to engage them in, let’s say, “unorthodox” activities involving chains and other questionable devices. They made an escape after two nights and thankfully were able to get into a smaller, but safer place. The stories would curl your hair!
Wow, while I have often had mixed feelings about enjoying all-inclusives, your article helped me understand why I was not super comfortable in their lavish settings. I too liked to escape into the communities and often felt a bit imprisoned in those resorts. When you compare those developments to what we have on Cape Cod, I feel even more grateful to be living here because we have chosen a different path. Thank you for, once again, providing insightful and thought-provoking perspectives.
Fifty years ago, when I spent three months hitchhiking around the UK and Ireland, I got exactly the same comments that you got from Jamaicans: they were surprised I was USian. I almost always stayed in youth hostels. I did my assigned "duty" competently and without complaining. This surprised more than a few hostel wardens. The response usually went something like "I was sure you were Canadian. Most Americans aren't like you." One USian I hiked a couple of days with had put a Canadian flag on his backpack; he thought it helped him get rides faster. (Women almost invariably got rides more easily than men, but once in a while we'd have to deal with the male driver who thought this entitled him to, uh, "favors.") I met many cool USians on the road and on the trail, but some of the uncool ones stick out in my memory to this day, like the two young women from Arizona who didn't know that Northern Ireland wasn't attached to the British mainland and had never heard of Wales.
Fwiw, I didn't know about these "all-inclusive" resorts but somehow they don't surprise me. They seem to be a direct descendant of "If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium" tourism of yesteryear.
Seth, stream "The Mighty Quinn". I worked on it in Port Antonio in 1986. No tourists in Portland then for political reasons. That has sadly changed. Grateful I had the full immersion version when I was living there.
I remember that movie, and I was in Porty around that time too, looking for the ghost of Lorenzo Dow Baker. Great town, reminded me of Macondo in GG Marquez's "100 Years of Solitude." The Bonnie View did indeed have that.
...so many good memories of sunset rum cocktails at the Bonnie View. They had one of the only phone lines in Port Antonio! Imagine now the trouble we went through to make a phone call.
Was Baker the "banana magnate"? of Wellfleet..
Yes though that is a deep mischaracterization of him, of his relationship to Port Antonio in particular, Jamaica in general, and what became the exploitive multinational United Fruit after he was forced out.
What a great history romp that would be...as a book *hint hint* Seth.
About 30 years ago, a couple of girlfriends invited me to join them for a week in an “all inclusive” adult hotel in Jamaica. I was uncomfortable with the term “adult”, and for good reason. I declined their offer. My instincts were spot on because apparently the adult hotel was for sex-crazed couples who tried to engage them in, let’s say, “unorthodox” activities involving chains and other questionable devices. They made an escape after two nights and thankfully were able to get into a smaller, but safer place. The stories would curl your hair!
Wow, while I have often had mixed feelings about enjoying all-inclusives, your article helped me understand why I was not super comfortable in their lavish settings. I too liked to escape into the communities and often felt a bit imprisoned in those resorts. When you compare those developments to what we have on Cape Cod, I feel even more grateful to be living here because we have chosen a different path. Thank you for, once again, providing insightful and thought-provoking perspectives.
Great article Seth.. thank you!
Fifty years ago, when I spent three months hitchhiking around the UK and Ireland, I got exactly the same comments that you got from Jamaicans: they were surprised I was USian. I almost always stayed in youth hostels. I did my assigned "duty" competently and without complaining. This surprised more than a few hostel wardens. The response usually went something like "I was sure you were Canadian. Most Americans aren't like you." One USian I hiked a couple of days with had put a Canadian flag on his backpack; he thought it helped him get rides faster. (Women almost invariably got rides more easily than men, but once in a while we'd have to deal with the male driver who thought this entitled him to, uh, "favors.") I met many cool USians on the road and on the trail, but some of the uncool ones stick out in my memory to this day, like the two young women from Arizona who didn't know that Northern Ireland wasn't attached to the British mainland and had never heard of Wales.
Fwiw, I didn't know about these "all-inclusive" resorts but somehow they don't surprise me. They seem to be a direct descendant of "If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium" tourism of yesteryear.