Having Fun in Jamaica

    The next stop on my journey turned out to be Kingston, Jamaica. I had been there before with my family, but this time I wanted to be closer to the city and really immerse myself in the culture. I flew in on September 8th and headed to my hotel, the Labrish Guest House in Kingston before doing anything else. The first place I visited within Jamaica was Devon House, the former residence of Jamaica's first black millionaire. I soaked in some of the Jamaican history and culture represented by the house and also grabbed a cone of devon stout ice cream from the famous I Scream shop.

A board with all the unique flavors offered at I Scream

    Other than Devon House, I also visited Port Royal to give me more insight into Jamaican history. It used to be known as "the wickedest city in the world" for being the pirate and shipping capital of the Caribbean in the 17th and 18th centuries. While in Port Royal, I was also able to catch a ferry ride out to Lime Cay, a small little islet off the coast of Jamaica. The beaches and the clear blue water were beautiful there.

    I also spent a few days away from Kingston hiking through Blue Mountain National Park, which was very serene and a nice experience. I love hiking so it was great to get out there once again and explore Jamaica's natural environment. Another thing I did a couple nights to meet some friends was bar hopping. Kingston had a pretty lively nightlife and it was fun just going around meeting and hanging out with different people.

Entrance gate to the Bob Marley Museum

    The best part in Jamaica, however, was definitely the Bob Marley Museum, located at Marley's very own home. I don't think I expected to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was very charming and fun. Bob Marley is revered in Jamaica as a national hero for spreading Jamaica's culture, specifically reggae music, to the rest of the world. It was very interesting to me how important he is to the people living there as well as his importance in the general history of music.

Further South to Panama

    I caught a flight further down south to Panama City after my two weeks in Costa Rica and took a shuttle to my new hotel, Hotel República. The first thing I absolutely wanted to check out in Panama City was the famous Panama Canal. It obviously isn't flashy or exciting, but it was still pretty neat to actually see it in action and realize its great importance to international trade.

Aerial view of a huge cargo ship heading through the Panama Canal

    I was able to get a good view of the locks as well as the ships heading through them by going into the Miraflores Visitor Center. It doubles as a museum and gave some good information regarding the Panama Canal and its history. Overall, I was glad to have the opportunity to witness it at least once in my life.

    Another quaint little feature I enjoyed exploring in Panama City was Casco Viejo, or the Old Town. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, Casco Viejo held a lot of life in its mix of old ruins and architecture and was a very pleasant experience. Some of the attractions I visited within Casco Viejo included the Iglesia y Convento de la Compania de Jesus, the Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo, the Paseo de las Bovedas, and the Plaza de la Independencia.

100-foot observation tower overlooking the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center

    Always looking to experience the natural side of things in these beautiful Central American countries, I took trips to the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center and Parque Nacional Soberania. Both were beautiful spots of wildlife and great for hiking. The observation tower at the Rainforest Discovery Center was an excellent sight, but I still think I preferred the far more extensive hiking trails present at Parque Nacional Soberania. These highlights concluded my trip to Panama as I prepared for the next country I'd travel to.