Sumfest 2026

 Thanks to the destructive hurricane Melissa which wrecked everything in its path in Jamaica in 2025, Sumfest this year had to be moved from Montego Bay to Plantation near Ocho Rios.

This is the same venue where Rebel Salute used to be held annually, but I understand it is not being held any more and other events there are discouraged. 

I actually like this venue better but everyone who uses the main road or lives nearby, object to events being held there because traffic congestion makes life frustrating and even dangerous for them. 

 So the authorities don't normally give permission for things to be held there. But I guess they agreed to allow Sumfest this year because of the situation. 

Maybe they should have postponed the entire thing though, for this is the worst Sumfest I ever attended.

Why? 

Because for the entirety, they had no live bands but only recorded music!

 And for the first three hours or so, they used no artists but just screaming DJ's. 

I must admit though, the female Magnum dancers were extremely talented.👍

Queen Ifrica

When the live artists started to perform, the only one who was really impressive was Queen Ifrica and when the big stars, Vibes Kartel and Movado came on, only Movado had been worth  the wait, in my book.😡

 It was extremely well attended though so maybe the young people liked that crap, but I didn't.

We went, we listened but we were really not well entertained this year.

Still celebrating June 19-28, 2026

My 80th birthday was on May 20th, but for weeks I was able to have family in and out and celebrated at every turn🙃.

 

With Jason from Ocho Rios.

This delicious Lychee cake my friend Mitzie gave me in mid July, brought the celebrations to a close I guess.😁

Hope I can get one for every birthday from now on.😋

El Yunque

 El Yunque is a rain forrest in Puerto Rico and when we visited recently,  that's where we went.

With our guide Nelson.

It's on 28,000 acres of land, the highest point being 1975 above sea level. It has over 200 species of trees, however less than 70 are indigineous.

To develop the Park to what it is today, the federal government bought up  land in the surrounding areas from residents, but three families refused to sell and they are the only people still living  there.

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This tiny 'waterfall' is 86 feet high

There is an observation tower from which you can see much of Puerto Rico, but we were there on an overcast day.

It's 91 steps to the top.

View from the top.

In September 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. The memorable event to outsiders however is prehaps the picture of President Trump throwing paper towels to some devastated survivors😡.

However the damage on the ground was real as 2,975 people died, most roads in Yunque had to be reconstructed and even now, many hiking trails and picnic areas are still closed and many bamboo trees are just springing back.

The river below is named after the nearby town

During Maria, its waters rose almost to the height of the road!

After we finished exploring the forrest we headed back to San Juan.

The streets of Old San Juan are cobblestone and the architecture Spanish. 

Columbus fort

Columbus' statue