Jamaica and Senegal

Avoiding Jamaica’s resorts, we got a car and headed to the boonies and were struck by how much this place reminds us of driving across Senegal.

Cities and towns built by past colonials crumbling into disrepair, yet still functioning to some degree. Shacks made of sheet metal and cast off lumber where someone has set up a shop. Transportation centres like the gare routieres where too many people are cramming into route taxis that resemble newer sept places. The Jamaican patois is loaded with African words. Rastafari are a lot like the Baye Fall.

A lot more rain and vegetation here. We can converse better in English than our broken French. And we’re not scared to smoke weed like we would be in Senegal.