May Pen

Overview

May Pen is the centre of a large agricultural region west of Kingston. Travellers to Mandevill will pass through May Pen. Anyone with an agricultral bent will really enjoy the back roads of May Pen, As is usual in Jamaica, the hotels are third world, but gracious. The food is seasonal and is described by scarcity (goat scarce, mon; chicken scarce, fish scarce). Sometimes scarce items are "married" to plentiful items in the market, and that determines what's on the menu today. For instance, you won't be able to buy an onion unless you buy a bunch of bananas (i.e. onions and bananas are "married"). Don't complain. Be grateful for the huge pile of cheap bananas. Like everywhere in Jamaica, the history is endlessly fascinating. There are old churches and great houses. Car racing enthusiasts will love the Lada racing at Vernam field (Ladas are everywhere in the third world). It can be oppressively hot in May Pen; tourists can retreat to the south coast, Try to find the names of guest houses before you leave May Pen. Or you can retreat to the high, cool plains of Mandeville.

History