THE EDITOR, Sir:
AFTER HAVING read a letter titled, "Advertising for the Jamaican Tourists" and the rise of the all-inclusive vacation in Jamaica over the past few years, I am prompted to write a letter on behalf of ecotourism in Jamaica.
I have spent wonderful vacations in and around Port Antonio and up in the Rio Grande Valley. I live with local families, go hiking up Cooper's Hill, take herbal baths at Sister Ivey's in Cornwall Barracks, take showers under the gentle waterfalls a horseback ride away, attend Community Night in Moore Town experiencing traditional Maroon drumming, and take long raft excursions from Berrydale on the Rio Grande river.
This is my kind of vacation... with real people. We sit around in the evening talking about Shakespeare, the Transcendentalists, the weather, Bob Marley, etc. We go to bed early and rise with the rooster's call. This is the kind of vacation many Americans I know would love to experience. We need to get the word out.
Other than Unique Destinations in No. Scituate, Rhode Island, I know of very few others who specialise in ecotourism. I give slide/lectures at various venues on the Windward Maroons of Jamaica and get several converts after every talk. The photos I show illustrate the areas mentioned above with an occasional beautiful beach thrown in just to show that the ocean is not far away.
The greens in my photos are very lush and I remind people that this area has about 500 inches in rainfall a year... which, I guess, adds to the best tasting coffee in the world.
A vacation with "real people" is memorable. I find it hard to believe one "all inclusive" resort is any different than any other...how boring.
I am, etc.,
BOB CALLAHAN
gaellad@optonline.net
Stamford, CT, USA
Via Go-Jamaica
