Port Antonio continued - Nov 21

This lazy town is divided into two parts. Or no. It is rather like this: The town has been added a monstrosity of a vulgar marina park with lush green lawns carrying signs saying ‘Absolutely no littering’ all fenced in with guards at the few gates. Few people is seen on this vast theme park-like compound. Tied up at the pier are a few massive power- and sailing boats of the kind you see in the intro in Miami Vice.The prospect of us persuading an owner of one of these floating gated communities to take us to Guantanamo Bay does presently not seem likely. But we will be much wiser in a few hours time.

Meanwhile, yesterday, we engaged upon a minor parallel action of boat hiring in the part of town, which surrounds the marina. Halfway through a nice, ethically tainted meal of dolphin, an old cruise ship cook, who goes by the name of ‘Tony’, approached us and told that he could get a boat for us if we wanted to go to Cuba. He left without leaving behind a number, but I found him again later that day. By that time he was quite plastered but I managed to get his phone number and he seems to be quite serious about everything.

I’ve successfully enlisted an indigenous Jamaican to the cause of Europe. After some experiments, Ive found out that “money” seems to be the most efficient means of mobilization. He goes by the name of ‘Lion’ and does all sorts of errands for us. Leaving our journalist behind at the hotel at midnight, he took me to the darkest of darkest night clubs yesterday on the outskirts of Port Antonio – the Mandela – where a local weed they call Ganja is smoked in great quantities and washed down with white 63% rum. I was a sole pink, tall beam in a sea of delirious dark faces. Luckily, I had had 6 Red Stripe beers which made me feel in perfect control.

At breakfast this morning, Lion promised me to supply us with some fearsome war music to back up Beethoven. He’s going to bring us a cd with the “coolest ‘reggae’ music ever”.