The idea for Jamaica was born after we met a family from Gothenburg in Cuba. We liked each other and decided to take the next trip together.
They chose Jamaica. It sounded so exotic and alluring.
White-sand beaches, reggae music, cocktails, and parties. Oh, and Ian Fleming, James Bond, Usain Bolt, and coffee.
Montego Bay Vacation: The Clash Between Luxury and Reality
We booked a two-week stay in Montego Bay at a nice all-inclusive hotel. They chose it. We just joined them and left enthusiastically.
The hotel was huge, luxurious by my standards, and full of American tourists. The only Swedes there were us. And it was as if we didn't exist as guests. The Americans were showering the staff with dollars – bartenders, waiters, receptionists, even though everything had been paid for in advance.
We waited patiently for our turn like well-behaved Europeans, but nobody noticed us. On the 6th day, I got fed up and calmly „exploded.“ I told the bartender that he didn't need to see me among the others, as I didn't have dollars to give him.
All the Americans around me who had thrown their money at the counter fell silent, and I proudly retreated to our table.
I was never forgotten to be served since then.
At the edge of the hotel grounds, there were guards who wouldn't allow Jamaicans in. We walked over there and saw the misery that existed alongside the luxury of the hotel. Shacks, toothless people, and the smell of marijuana.
My overall impression was that the whole of Jamaica smelled like marijuana. On their roads, there were small stalls everywhere with the sign: „JOINT and BEER.“.
Since we are not tourists who lie on the beach all day and indulge in drinking and eating, we decided to rent a car for 3 days and hit the roads of the country to see it, beyond the hotel walls.
Easier said than done.
The Life and Legacy of Reggae Icon Bob Marley
The first day we decided to go to the Bob Marley Museum in Nine Mile. Mile. In the village, you can see how the famous reggae singer lived and where he is buried, as well as the famous stone where he smoked and wrote his songs.
Jamaica is closely associated with Bob Marley and reggae, and for anyone who likes them, visiting the musician's museum is a must!
Robert Nesta „Bob“ Marley, born February 6, 1945, in Saint Ann, Jamaica, died May 11, 1981, in Miami, Florida, as Berhane Selassie, was and still is the greatest reggae artist of all time, perhaps the most famous musician of the genre in the world, with millions of fans across the globe.
Bob Marley He began his career in the 1960s as the lead singer in a popular and talented vocal group in Jamaica called The Wailers. The group consisted of 3 men and one woman. All three in the group: Marley, Neville Livingston (Bunny Wailer), and Peter Tosh, would later invest in solo careers and become world-famous stars.
Around 1974-75, Marley became a dominant reggae star who attracted the whole world, even though his group, Bob Marley & The Wailers, was not always the most popular in his native Jamaica. Some of his most famous songs include „No Woman No Cry,“ „Three Little Birds,“ „Buffalo Soldier,“ „One Love,“ „I Shot the Sheriff,“ „Exodus,“ and „Jamming.“.
What Bob Marley Died From: The Story Behind His Illness
In February 1977, Bob Marley injured his toe during a football match with friends.
The injury, which is partly under his toenail, is healing poorly. Although this is a relatively simple wound, it soon becomes clear that the situation is deteriorating. This is due to the fact that cancer had previously developed in his toe and has metastasized throughout his body. If Bob If Marley hadn't been injured during the game, the cancer likely would have developed unnoticed.
Reggae icon dies of brain cancer in Miami hospital.
His last words were directed at his son David (Ziggy Marley): „Money can't buy life.“.
With his music, Bob Marley influenced other musical styles as well.
Marley earns significantly more money after her death than she did during her lifetime.
Despite his untimely death from cancer in 1981, Marley continues to gain new fans. He paved the way for new reggae bands – both Jamaican and foreign – and is recognized as one of the most famous musicians in the world.
On the Road to Nine Mile: In Search of Authentic Jamaica
And so, we headed to Bob Marley's house.
It is located on top of a hill, nestled amidst the jungle greenery.
Meeting local customs and unexpected experiences
When we got to the parking lot, two or three locals headed towards the car.
They directed us where to stop and asked if we were going to Bob Marley's house. After receiving an affirmative answer, they told us to follow them to see Marley's private plantation and house.
And like lost sheep, we followed them. We found ourselves among marijuana plants.
They told us it was Bob Marley's personal garden and offered us a taste.
There were a few young tourist couples in the garden who were already smoking.
We refused, we are not smokers.
Afterward, they showed us where they boil sage tea. They drink it to mask the smell of marijuana. They tried to push a bottle of tea on us each. We started to feel awkward and somewhat threatened. We asked them several times where the house was because we had read that it closes at 4:00 PM.
From the beginning, we asked them how much the museum entrance fee was and where to pay. They kept answering: later.
Exotic Trap: How an Adventure Turned into a Nightmare
Finally, they directed us to a small shop. Six to eight men had already surrounded us and started talking about money: about $20 per person. We asked what they wanted the money for, and my husband got angry and started to leave. I ran after him, but our friends obviously didn't dare to leave and paid something.
Suddenly a downpour, literally – a pounding rain, came out of nowhere, and we were forced to take shelter in a so-called „Cafe“ in a wooden shack.
We were really scared here. We found ourselves surrounded by drugged-up addicts. Come what may, we decided to run to the car. To hell with the house and Bob Marley. We just reached the car when the guy who was „guarding“ it for us appeared out of nowhere and started talking about dollars. We quickly got into the car and my husband drove off immediately, as fast as he could.
We experienced a nightmare and didn't see what we came for.
Now, after all these years, we laugh about the incident, but we also admit how scared and deceived we felt. And how could we have fallen for it.
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