This was my first official day in Mandeville, Jamaica. It was a strange day and a spur of the moment plan but it turned out to be a fun day….and quite the group of people to hang out with!

I was staying with a friend for a few nights up in Mandeville and he owns a bar just outside of town. He decided to take me there in the middle of the day on a Sunday, Mother’s day…I guess that’s not odd considering any time is a good time to party in Jamaica. We rode in a route taxi with a bunch of ladies coming home from church. I felt a little guilty that I was going to a bar instead of church LOL.
When we arrived at the bar of course we didn’t do what normal people would do and go inside the actual bar. Instead we went around the back of the bar, to the basement where a few people were gathered doing various chores. One was washing some pots and pans, another was preparing fried chicken. And there was a laptop and computer speakers set up with the music in full effect. This was definitely a basement and they were ready to party!
Check out the following picture and then scroll down to read what I find interesting about it.

Now don’t pay attention to my butt or the bottle of rum. Instead, look at the surroundings. First of all this bar was surrounded with professional artwork on the walls. What I don’t have pictures of are the walls upstairs inside the bar…I left those out because this is a strip club and the pictures are pretty explicit. But at the same time they were awesome paintings, very artistic! The basement just had half finished sketches on the walls, but they look good!
Notice the lame shelf bolted to the concrete wall with computer speakers on top. That was the sound system we used all day! It appears the place is under construction although my friend never really said that. He just said it’s where they chill out when the bar is dead. And notice one more thing…the car seat on the floor. There were a couple of these and a full car bench seat against a wall, which is where I actually had a nap later in the afternoon.

That little guy was the highlight of my day! He is the son of the man who was cooking the chicken and for the first hour he wouldn’t even come near me. As soon as I offered him my sunglasses he was my best friend! He entertained us all afternoon with his dance moves which can be seen in THIS POST.
Throughout this day the rum was flowing, the music was playing and we all just danced and had a great time! Not exactly what I had planned for Mother’s day but it worked!
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Comments
7 responses to “Basement Party in Mandeville”
I have always wanted to see Mandeville, i once took a bus from Kingston and Montego Bay, i should have stopped of there on the way!
It looks like a nice place. I didn’t stay long so didn’t see as much as I wanted to but I figure I’m gonna go back for a few more days of exploring.
Report back if you do go there again, friends from Kingston always rave about how nice it is there..i was wondering how true it is about people being about to leave their doors unlocked in Mandeville? Thats unusual for anywhere these days!
Hmmm I’d have to say that I personally wouldn’t do it LOL. But I got a totally different vibe in Mandeville. No one tried to sell me anything, no one tried to hustle me and when I walked in the street alone I was left alone. That’s a big switch from somewhere like Ochi where everyone wants to talk to you and sell you something. Mandeville is just NON-tourist. I liked it.
I’ll be doing another post in a couple days about the house I stayed in.
To be honest i’ve never really been involved with the touristy parts of Jamaica , but i have heard all about it….my experiences have been mostly in Kingston City and in the Blue Mountains.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469957@N07/sets/72157624002385903/
Thanks, I’ll check back on your next post..i’m missing it there its been a couple of years now.
I’m gonna check out your pics!
Next trip in 3 weeks I will be spending some time in Kingston and parts of St Andrew…Irish Town. Can’t wait for the new experience.
elam, love your pics. especially like the one of the senior jamaican lady. I have a soft spot for senior people. JC I spent a day in Irish Town, loved the wide open spaces with homes on lots of land space. reninds me of home in canada…..i gotta have space or i feel like the walls come tumbling down on me.