One of the most truly Jamaican travel adventures is to explore the Long Road community where Zion Country Eco Beach Cabins are located.
Long Road is a small rural community full of interesting shops, schools, bars, and most of all the local people.To gain this unique experience all you need to do is walk out the the gate of Zion Country.
If you turn left you can start at Creamy Corners, and visit with Marvin and his family. You can stop and watch the locals enjoy a rousing dominoes game, often smacking down the tiles with great enthusiasm.
Two doors down is Henry's Guesthouse (everyone calls it Mrs. Lange's) where there are rooms available and they make a traditional bread called Bammy.
Concrete Construction YouTube Video
Just down Brown Avenue to the right lives Taban who can guide you around the island safely and with courtesy and skill. Taban's number is (876) 420-9713. You can buy an international phone card to call him from the States. Buy a phone card that has cellular access to save on this call.
Or, turn right and you can grab an ice cold Red Stripe from May’s shop on the corner. Maybe it will be time for school kids to go home. It is here that you can pick up a taxi north to Port Antonio or south to Morant Bay and Kingston.
May and her grandson, Zonny and Brian at the corner store
It was here that Portia Simpson's motorcade stopped during the election of the first woman elected as President of one of the parties, the PNP. This is a very big deal.
In the evening, you can go to Jennifer's store where they play Bingo many nights.
Turn left and stroll further and pick up the daily paper from the big store in the center of town.
Also here on the left you will find and excellent restaurant, affordable and offering vegetarian and meat entries, Pannarus & Mama Joyce Cook Shop.
Eric loves Mama Joyce's cooking
Further down Long Road is the Basic School, serving the 4 and 5 year olds of the community. They are friendly toward visitors could always use donations of basic supplies.
School timetable/Alice at school
Just before the school is a beauty shop, or you can get your hair braided by someone in the community (ask Tomar or Owen at Zion and they will steer you right).
Keep walking down Long Road and you will come to a beautiful fruit stand and Ennisis Bay. But before this turn left and you will skirt the coast and "Bockroad".
If you walk across the abandon lot and look over, you may see a hidden cove.
Incredible
The houses are surprising, much construction with a twist and character that is all Jamaica.
Backstreet garden and construction
And at the end you will find the blowholes! Nice neighborhood.
To play Jamaican dominoes you need a double six set. Double six starts first game, then the winner of the previous game starts. Play two sides, count how many of each number are left and try to block your opponents play. Remember to slam the dominoe hard on the table when playing!
