Monday 24th March 2014

Turn left out of the Global Villa Hotel,

 

walk a few hundred yards, turn right at the sign that points to Bulls Bay Neighbourhood Watch,

walk past a very littered outcrop, become disappointed and disillusioned with what is supposed to be the closest beach, decide this could not possibly be a public beach, walk on further, ask a man where the beach is, take his advice and walk another few hundred yards, come across a secluded bay with water so clear you could make your tea with it,

marvel that there are only two people in it at 6.30 a.m., walk on a little further to a second bay, only one person here working out and getting into the water, know that this will be your spot each morning for the next two weeks, know that you have found a personal piece of paradise.

Continue your walk of discovery past flowers opening to the rays of the sun, revel in the caress of the wave’s constant whispers, stop and have a chat with a man who tells you that if you continue you will come to a fishing village called Lances Bay, take a detour past Pedro,

a community of mansions guarded by palms and broad leafed almonds, rejoin your route into the slowly awakening Lances Bay, say hello to the man walking by with a huge fish on a hook, listen to the morning noises coming from the house built on stilts,

walk past the fisherman repairing his boat along the long crescent beach, have a chat with the man doing press-ups to impress you, thank him for sharing his knowledge of Lances River which runs into the sea, and his tales of swimming in it as a boy before becoming too afraid of the crocodiles Know that you have found a personal piece of paradise.

Walk back to your hotel in time for a cooked breakfast of ackee and salfish, roast breadfruit, boiled green bananas and yellow yam. Know that you have found a personal piece of paradise.