One Year in Jamaica.

It’s already been one year since I moved to Jamaica. AND I’M STILL HERE!!! Haha I really did struggle for the first time with adaptation by moving into this country. There were a lot of changes I had to deal with. Anniversaries like this one often bring mixed feelings for me. I don’t regret a thing, I love being with Erik and I cannot imagine it any other way. Even through my darkest days, Erik was my daily dose of happiness and comfort. I will always be grateful to him making this all possible. This experience will always be a part of us. It is an unbelievable chance we have and our future will make this worth it. We still have a lot to discover here, a lot of memories to make. Jamaica will always be full of surprises! I still cannot believe what my life has become. We don’t know how much time we have left here, we don’t have any official plans but we know that life already has a lot of them for us and we have to appreciate this time of liberty. 

Tea Tree Crêperie

Fully loaded Brunch Crêpe

Erik and I are breakfast lovers. We feel that every restaurant should offer breakfast at any time of the day. We were a little disappointed with the lack of choices for breakfast options here in Kingston. Of course, there are the restaurants of the hotels in the area but they do not have the same feel as a little breakfast eatery. Thank god… or should I say thank Maree and Carrie for Tea Tree Crêperie! This spot is now a regular weekend stop for us. From sweet to savoury, you can even build your own crêpe, but trust the famous recipes and you won’t be disappointed! A must would be their number one seller the Smoked Marlin Crêpe and for a sweet delight our favorite is the Strawberry Cheesecake Crêpe. If somehow you don’t like crêpes, they also make omelets, quiches, salads, soups and more. Indulge your breakfast with a special coffee or a Magic Mint Limonade (Magic for adults only ;) ) and you wish all your mornings were spent at Tea Tree Crêperie! You can find this treat waiting for you at the top of the stairs at 8 Hillcrest Avenue. They are opening soon in Montego Bay and have other projects even in Toronto, Canada! I would rate this one 10 out of 10 for sure. 

http://www.teatreecreperie.com/

Bamboo Blu, Ocho Rios

We found a new spot to enjoy a day at the beach! Bamboo Blu is an oceanfront restaurant in Ocho Rios, who also offers the beach experience. Lounge chairs are 5$ each and for a romantic setting they also rent cabana beds from 20 to 30$! Wi-Fi is complimentary. The restaurant has a good menu although some items are kind of overpriced. The staff is fun and the service is great. The beach is remarkable. The blue water and the warm breeze makes you appreciate this relaxing time. I would definitely like to stay one evening just for the bonfire! But I know we will go back! To get there, turn right next to the RIU all inclusive where you have to go through the security gate of Mammee Bay Estate, a little bit further on your right you’ll find the gate of Bamboo Blu. Open every day from 10 to 10. I would rate this restaurant 7 out of 10. 

Café EITS

Café EITS (meaning Europe in the Summer) is a great spot to have lunch and escape the busy city on the weekend. It can take you from 35 to 40 minutes from Kingston through Papine and the mountains up to Newcastle, past Irish Town. Once you arrive and select your table, you can relax in the peaceful setting of the restaurant. The menu is always changing and offers different delicate and tasty food.  We never leave unsatisfied of our choices.  The food is absolutely worth the difficult drive to get there. If you see the Salmon Terrine, the Fish Tea or the Blue Mountain Coffee mousse on the menu, no need to hesitate, those are amazing choices that I completely recommend. The place also includes a guesthouse, an art gallery and a small boutique. I would rate this small restaurant 7 out of 10.

Tracks and Records

We really enjoy the Usain Bolt’s restaurant, Tracks and Records. It is the greatest sports bar in Jamaica for sure. I love the decor and the booths with the interactive touchscreen table! You can play games while you wait for your order, or even place your order directly on the table. We also have a favorite appetizer at T&R, it is the Jerk Chicken Spring Roll! This one is very spicy but it comes with a fresh and creamy sauce to calm things down. You MUST try it. Our favorite items on the menu are the Jerk Chicken Quesadillas, Red Peas Soup, Mac and Cheese Crusted Beef Stew, Gourmet Ham and 2 Cheese Toaster, Escoveitch Fish Sandwich and Crispy Chicken Sandwich. Service is always good. They also have a souvenir boutique if you want to bring home a Usain Bolt item. I would give this restaurant 8 out of 10.

East Japanese.

Our favorite restaurant remains East Japanese. We LOVE sushi. We tried a lot of sushi places back in Canada and none of them compares to the quality of East Japanese at the Marketplace. You can see the Japanese Sushi Masters making your food with amazing skill. We usually always take the same appetizer and sushi. For starters, the Fried Spicy Tuna is a must. It is so spicy I have to drink 2 glasses of water, one beer and take a first sushi to put out the fire in my mouth haha. I keep ordering it just because it is SO good. For sushi, try the East Rock N Roll, Spicy Philadelphia Roll, Fire Roll, Andrew Special Roll and of course the AC Roll is a classic. The service is always perfect when we have our favorite waiter who knows us so well we don’t have to order beers and appetizers since he already did as soon as we walk in. This restaurant is our treat once a month and we crave it all the way until the next visit. I give it a 10 out of 10.

Jamaica and its beautiful people.

I love taking photos of random people on the streets. I always think it looks amazing to catch them in their own moment. Here are some of the shots I took on one of our road-trips.

Little boy dancing

Old age and youth

Rick's Cafe diver

Famous Ciiiiigarette Man in Negril

One day visiting Kingston.

Every time I have a friend or a family member visiting us in Jamaica, I take the time for them to discover some of Kingston’s attractions. It usually takes one day.

I always start the journey with a visit to Hope Gardens and Zoo. I love this place; there is something about it that makes it special. Even if you are not into flowers, plants or nature, I think it is impossible not to feel good in those gardens. The official entrance to the Gardens is now closed so it is a bit confusing but if you continue on Hope Road about 2 km after, there is a green sign on your left and this is where you can access the parking.  The entry to the Gardens is free but there is now a small charge for parking. It is open every day from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. The Gardens also hosts events such as weddings, yoga sessions, live music shows and more.

Up the Gardens, you will find the Zoo. The entry for a visit is 500$JAM (5$US). The Zoo is expanding and so there is some construction and renovations, but it does not come in the way of the experience so much. The Zoo has a good variety of animals: find the Spider Monkey, he is quite a performer! The Zoo plans to welcome more animals when the time comes. The site also has great installations for lunch breaks and group visits. This beautiful place is perfect for kids (or kids at heart :P) but also for any animal and bird lovers. Bring comfortable shoes and bottles of water because it is HOT and you are walking a LOT.

 

Another must-visit in Kingston is the Devon House. This Heritage Site and national monument was built by Jamaica’s first black millionaire George Stiebel. You have the option to pay for a tour of the mansion furnished with antiques and learn more about the fascinating history of this property. But there is more to Devon House; you can relax in the park and gardens or shop and dine in the commercial complex. 

This is where you will find the famous Devon I Scream (ice cream), a bakery, some cool bars and restaurants. Try the wine and cigar bar - Bin-26. Unfortunately, their greatest restaurant for fine dining, The Terrace has closed since last December or January without any notice. Great little boutiques are also selling souvenirs and arts, I recommend the Starfish Oils shop for its popular Blue Mountain coffee candle.

Another great attraction to stop over in Kingston would be the Emancipation Park. It is like an oasis of nature in the New Kingston area. It is somewhere safe where you can run on the jogging track, or just walk, relax under a tree, enjoy solitude or make friends. The Park is also well known for the glorious bronze sculpture representing a naked couple looking at the sky, it is called ‘’Redemption Song’’. This is why the Emancipation Park is one of Kingston’s significant landscapes.

Erik and I always take our guest eat dinner at Kingston Marketplace since it has a great number of restaurants with a large variety of different cuisines; Italian, Chinese, American, Japanese, Asian fusion, Indian and of course Jamaican. You can always satisfy everyone’s taste. My next visitor is coming next month, I hope she will enjoy her stay, I know I will. :)