I spent a hot, frustrating day in Black River yesterday waiting in many long bank lines, tax office, paying bills, etc. I then had to rush off to catch someone in Southfield and from Southfield on to Santa Cruz.

It was during this drive that I was reminded of how incredibly beautiful the hills of Jamaica are. I drove from Southfield to Malvern passing Munro, Hampton and Bethlehem Colleges where there was a great buzzing of activity surrounding the pending start of the school year.

Then in Malvern I turned down onto the road that would bring me to Santa Cruz. It was around 3:30 in the afternoon. The sun was going down and there was a storm off in the distance. The natural lighting was just incredible. The vegetation was lush and green (unlike the drought conditions in TB). The air was cool and fresh. And I had to keep letting cars pass me as I found myself driving slow and easy taking in the beautiful views.

The following photo shows the beautiful St. Elizabeth red dirt, the hills and the storm brewing in the sky.



Miraculously, my phones were silent during the entire drive. As I entered into the town of Santa Cruz the ringing started again and I had to force myself to enter back into reality.

What a lovely gift that drive was.

Thanks Tree Farmer for for forcing me to take the time to notice my surroundings.

Fancy!!!

Simple Beautiful...Lucky You

moment of reverie!

Rebecca I know just how you felt.I remember being on a bus and verbalising my thoughts about the sheer beauty of the hills and the mountains with everyone staring at me! What a privilege to live in a country where its physical beauty is taken for granted.

Beautiful - thank you for sharing. Makes me homesick.

Thanks for the beautiful pic. Helps me with my withdrawl from Jamaica. Can't wait to get back

Thanks for the beautiful pic. Helps me with my withdrawl from Jamaica. Can't wait to get back

That's why its called Jamaica the beautiful.

The best five years of my life were spent at Munro College. I LOVE THAT PLACE to death.

Thanks Rebecca. The view reminds me of my days at Munro when we used to sneak over to Hampton to hang out for a few hours.

I loved the trip up there when we went to collect Kevin's girlfriend from school. The old house in front of her dormitory was fascinating, such a shame that it was in such disrepair. There was a huge tree in the gardens which reminded me of the trees in Kenya. There were times when I thought I could have been driving around the windy roads of Bakewell in the Peak District if it hadnt been for the warmth and the odd palm tree. Truly beautiful scenery. It is so nice to get off the main roads and explore.

Rebecca, I know exactly how you felt. I lived in Malvern for a couple of years and traveled five days a week back and forth to Black River while attending my final high school years. Those winding. steep, rugged roads had the most beautiful view especially in the month of December/January when the dew on the grass looked like the beginning of early winter and the cold crisp air was so refreshing.

After graduating Secretarial College in Kingston I again found myself back in Malvern where I worked as Secretary to the Principal of Bethlehem Teachers College for a short while and sometimes would go down to Santa Cruz with my friend to do her week-end market/shopping.
So Rebecca, I can relate.
God Bless our beautiful Island.