Port Royal and Lime Cay

Today was absolutely amazing!  We made the trip to Port Royal.  Port Royal is a small fishing village with a lot of history 

Here's some history on the site borrowed from the Jamaica National Heritage Trust website (http://www.jnht.com/site_port_royal.php)

"HISTORY

Port Royal was once called "the richest and wickedest city in the world". When only a sand spit, it was first used by the Tainos as a fishing camp. When the Spaniards arrived in Jamaica, they used the spit for cleaning, refitting and caulking of their sailing vessels.

When the British invaded Jamaica in 1655, immediately realising its strategic importance, they started to put fortifications in place.

During the 17th century, it was the virtual capital of Jamaica, and also a headquarters for buccaneers and pirates who brought in much of the treasure they looted on the Spanish Main. Chief among the buccaneers was Henry Morgan who sacked Camaguey, Port Bello, Maracaibo and Panama. Morgan was later knighted and made Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. He died at Port Royal in 1688.

By 1692 Port Royal had become an important economic centre, but on June 7, of that year, it was destroyed by an earthquake. A large portion of the town sank into the sea, while about two fifth of the population-died either in the earthquake or in the plagues and pestilences that followed.

Almost immediately the houses and fortifications were rebuilt on what by then was an island separated from the rest of the Palisades, but in 1703 a fire destroyed the entire town which had been rebuilt mainly of wood. Hurricanes in 1712, 1722 and 1726 ensured that Port Royal would never again rise to its former glory, as all the merchants shifted across the harbour to settle in Kingston, a less healthy, but safer site than Port Royal. However, Port Royal did not decline entirely, as in the 18th century, it enjoyed renewed fame as a British Naval Station. Among those associated with it were the illustrious Horatio Nelson and the hard-fighting admirals Benbo w, Vernon and Rodney.

After the Napoleonic wars Port Royal declined in importance. The Naval Dockyard was closed in 1905 and moved to Canada; the 1907 earth¬quake damaged the town while the garrison left in the 1950s. Hurricane Charlie of 1951 swept over Port Royal leaving only a few buildings of its historic past.

Today with the warships and the soldiers gone, Port Royal has become a quiet fishing village, but it is one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in Jamaica-let it never be forgotten that for over 200 years, Port Royal was England's biggest naval base in the Caribbean, so strong and powerful, that no enemy dared attack it."

From Port Royal we headed out on a small motor boat to the deserted island of Lime Cay.  The island is about 2 miles from the coast of Port Royal in the middle of the ocean. The place was AMAZING!!! There was only one other family on the entire island.  We had the beach to ourselves.  The water was so warm and clear we didn't want to get out.  We stayed on the island for a couple of hours and then the boat returned to get us and the other family.  

On the boat to Lime Cay... my mom not to thrilled that I'm taking her pic

A view of the island from the boat

 

Enjoying the wonderful water

Taking a stroll around the island

My mom exploring (that's Kingston in the background)

Nathaniel's footprints in the sand

A pic of my feet just to show how clear the water is

 Once back in Port Royal we had to try Gloria's, the restaurant known far and wide and famous for their brown stewed fish.  We ordered one place of brown stewed fish and one plate of fried fish with the intention of sharing.  I'm so glad we did, each plate was filled with 3 huge fish and festival on the side.  The food was so wonderful. We all left saying we completely see why people come from far and wide to enjoy that fish.

View of the village as we coasted into shore

sign at Gloria's

Averie waiting patiently for our food to come

Gloria's resturant

I forget to take a pic before we started eating *oops*... so this is some of the fish half way through our meal 

On the way out of Port Royal our driver was gracious enough to stop and let me explore the old Naval Cemetery.  The gate was open so we just went right in.  I was able to get some work done today afterall!  What an interesting site.  Here's some photos:

Sign at the entrance of the cemetery

Naval cemetery

More of the Naval Cemetery

 

Even more of the Naval Cemetery

 After the cemetery visit we really headed home.  The kids were exhausted and all three sleep in the car.

Two exhausted kids asleep in the van