Ya Mon - Jamaica

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Montego Bay, Jamaica, is our last port of call.  Once on shore, our Jamaican guide informed us the locals call it Mo-bay. Most everything he said was followed by a Ya Man, which sounds like Ya Mon.  The words are part of an English dialect called Patois which is mostly English.  We were quick learners but we (mostly me) are having trouble leaving it behind in Jamaica.  Ya Mon

From the moment we docked, we heard Reggae music which actually  is a very pleasing background music to start a morning.  Our shore excursion was to a sugar plantation that is called Rose Hall which I got confused with the Royal Albert Hall due to the music.

About 3 centuries ago, a young woman named Annee was born in Haiti to an Irish mother and English father who had fled Europe for the new world.  In Haiti, her nanny taught Annee voodoo.  

After her parents died of yellow fever, she moved to Jamaica and managed to marry John Palmer, a very rich sugar plantation owner.  Above is the restored mansion where they once lived.  It is here I picked up on the fact the mansion was haunted.

Shari and I are waving good-bye as we enter the mansion of a ghost.

Shortly after entering the door above, this is where we are headed.

I will admit I wasn't paying complete attention to the dialogue of the guide.  As she started referring to murders and ghosts, she had my attention.

We got a tour of the mansion which by itself was interesting.  

Most if not all the wood used for the floors, staircases, and furniture was mahogany.  If I haven't mentioned previously, mahogany is a very expensive wood.

This unique indoor toilet was also made of mahogany.

This is the master bedroom.  By the time we reached this room, we had learned that Annee had murdered not only her first husband but also two other husbands.  All three for some reason were buried at the beach, not on the plantation grounds.  

The plantation had 200 slaves to operate the sugar cane and the mansion and anything else associated with the plantation.  The slaves were said to call her the white witch and finally put an end to her life. 

On the grounds is Annee's tomb.  Our guide talked of Annee leaving the tomb to haunt the mansion and was bravely standing on the side of the tomb that opens.  We are obviously on the opposite side.

BTW, in the background behind our guide is an interesting tree.

As a forester, I am always amazed when I see a red tree.  This is a red birch.

Remember early in the story I showed us entering the mansion.  As we left, the thought occurred that this mansion had not only survived Annee,  it managed to handle a few hurricanes over the centuries.  Walls this thick don't blow down easily.

Another big trip comes to an end once we dock in Florida early Friday.  We have been pampered so well by the ship's crew and staff, and the guides as well.  It was interesting at lunch with friends James and Effie that the topic of 'returning to civilization' came up.  We are not sure that is the right term anymore.

Hope you have enjoyed the pictures and stories. We have one last picture.