Governor's Bench

When we lived in Jamaica we knew it as Governor's Bench, a long ridge in the southern foothills of the country's highest peak, Blue Mountain. A path, with precipitous drops on either side, ran along the ridge. This one followed to reach its summit, marked with a....

....triangulation point which served as a seat. From there, one could look almost straight down....

....to the capital, Kingston, and the long Palisados spit which enclosed one of the largest natural anchorages in the world.

It was this view which brought home the vertical character of Jamaica, the way the island rose, like some monstrous creature, out of the Caribbean Sea.

It was quite a walk to reach the summit but the children came too, the older one three, the younger - who, as far as I recall, was simply manhandled up the track - a tender few months old.

What a difference a few years make. These days one would be frowned upon for taking a child up a mountain kitted out in a t-shirt, pants, and sandals.