The Antlers - Two

Just listen and get lost in it.

Two Years in Kingston Town

     Two Years in Kingston Town is a book of a couple's journey into Jamaica. The book is composed of Jeff Koob's memoirs of his Peace Corps work in Jamaica. Koob and his wife Marie were stationed in Jamaica in the early 90's. They were then sent to  Kingston, the countries capital, after several weeks of training. They stayed mainly in Kingston, but they also traveled to places such as Montego Bay, Spanish Town, and the Blue Mountains. They learned a lot about Jamaican culture and traditions. Koob and his wife stayed in Jamaica for two years before heading back to the states. This blog focuses on the places mentioned above. Enjoy.

Jamaica and Me

Jamaica offers many things to many people. It has many tourist attractions along with many native people. There is a lot of vegetation, beautiful mountains, bustling cities, and wonderful people. It is a very unique place in the Caribbean and quite a sight to see. It may be hot, but it is worth it. A person can meet a variety of people just walking down the street. Jamaica is responsible for the creation of reggae music, a genre even I listen to. It is home to many famous men and women who have made great contributions to the world. I want to travel there myself, and if I did, I'm sure it would be an experience that would change my life.

The Blue Mountains

     The Blue Mountain range is the longest in Jamaica. It also contains the highest peak in Jamaica, Blue Mountain Peak at 7402 feet. On a clear day, you can see for miles on the top of this peak. The many trails up the mountain  are welcomed to tourists. However, many marijuana growers grow up in these mountains, so tourists should be warned. But, as long as you stay along the trail, no harm shall come to you. Also, the Blue Mountains are home to a very good coffee, called Blue Mountain Coffee. It is brewed from coffee beans found up in the mountains and makes a delicious drink. In my book, it is the best cup of coffee he ever had. The Blue Mountains have many species of trees, plants, and animals. These mountains make a great place for a tourist to travel.

Spanish Town, Jamaica

Spanish Town is the capital of St. Catherine Parish in Jamaica. It is a small town, but it is the largest city in St. Catherine. It is home to about 160,000 Jamaicans today. This town is very traditional and dates back to the 16th  century. The city itself was founded as the settlement of Villa de la Vega. After an earthquake, the city was renamed and made the capital of St. Catherine's. Spanish Town represents the start of Jamaican history. It is home to many traditional buildings. The street names are historical and ties in the the history of Jamaica. This town may be small, but it is the third largest city in Jamaica.

Reggae Music in Jamaica

     In the 1960s, Bunny Lee made the shift from rocksteady music to reggae music in Jamaica. The reason why reggae music is a key part of Jamaican culture, is because it was created there. Ever since, Jamaica has been known for their reggae music. Reggae has now traveled to countries outside of Jamaica as well. However, reggae stars come from Jamaica. A star well known for his reggae music is a man named Bob Marley. He has created famous songs such as One Love or Jamming. Another famous reggae song came from an American, Bobby Bloom. He made the song Montego Bay, a song about the Jamaican city Montego Bay. There are many subgenres of reggae, such as dancehall, shank, lovers rock, and reggae fusion. These subgenres make up the well known main music genre of reggae, created in Jamaica.

Montego Bay, Jamaica