Lime Cay (Jamaica)

(Photo from Lime Cay!)

Civil wars have literally been fought and won since the last time Kingstonology made an original post.  Beg your pardon, I don’t like to publish while sober.  Happy end of summer and here’s to hoping it was one you never want your kids to find out about.  In memory of Summer 2011…a beach post.

Contrary to the mental image of laid back islanders schlepping around on the beach, taking a dip and doing the obligatory locks shake as they ascend from the sea  (i wish it were so), most Jamaicans don’t even know how to swim.  The beach, however, is the only legal place one is permitted to enjoy bammy, festival, fried fish and the likes, especially on public holidays.

(Photo from Lime Cay!)

If you’ve been to the beach in Jamaica but have never seen this tribal ritual, chances are you were doing a little schlepping of your own at private beaches owned by resorts.  Many of the best beaches, in my opinion, are known by and can only be found by locals, those who ask for directions often are led astray out of distrust and my life would in fact be in danger if I were to give away the location of a select few.

(Photo from Gerald Gentles Photography)

(Photo from Gerald Gentles Photography)

(Photo from Gerald Gentles Photography)

In my ungodly amount of hours spent watching The Travel Channel I have seen many a camera crew take the obligatory trek through the debris filled Hellshire Beach, “the beach of the locals”, in hopes of bottling untapped, raw, beach sources to no avail.

(Hellshire Beach)

Lime Cay is a short boat ride off the south east coast of the island and pretty much tops the list for most city dwellers I know, looking to leave Kingston in the backdrop for a couple hours in just a matter of minutes.  Most of the time its secluded but it has been known to play host to a couple (had to be there to understand the scope of it) type parties every now and again.  Its safe to say its the number one beach in Kingston.

(Photo from Lime Cay!)

(Photo from Lime Cay!)

(Photo from Gerald Gentles Photography)

(Photo from Lime Cay!)

(Photo from Gerald Gentles Photography)

(Photo from Gerald Gentles Photography)

(Photo from Lime Cay!)

(Photo from Gerald Gentles Photography)

(Photo from Gerald Gentles Photography)