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| Canons at the entrance to Fort Charles in Port Royal, Jamaica || Mwahaki King Photography |
Fort Charles was built in the port city of Port Royal after the British captured the island of Jamaica from the Spanish in 1655. Pictured above are the same canons that have existed at the site since the 17th century.
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| Old Gaol of Fort Charles || Mwahaki King Photography |
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| Fort Charles exterior || Mwahaki King Photography |
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| Inner Courtyard, Fort Charles || Mwahaki King Photography |
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| Feeling giddy. "Giddy House", Port Royal || Mwahaki King Photography |
Built in 1888 as a Royal Artillery House for the adjacent Fort Charles, this building is now known as The Giddy House. This is due to the dizzy, disoriented feeling one gets when they go inside. On January 14, 1907 Kingston and Port Royal were rocked by a devastating earthquake. Given that Port Royal is situated on a sand spit, the process of liquefaction led to significant damage. This is where loose, saturated sand acts as a liquid during intense seismic activity. In the case of the Royal Artillery House, the ground beneath sunk and actually tilted the building to a 45 degree angle.
Nowadays, adults and children alike try to make it across the room without stumbling, falling or holding onto a friend for help. I don't know anyone who's been successful at that, but it's always a good laugh and a fun activity attached to the tour of Fort Charles.
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| Canon perspective, Fort Charles, Port Royal || Mwahaki King Photography |
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| Old Fort Charles Gaol with hills of St. Andrew in the distance || Mwahaki King Photography |
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| Hogshead benches inside Fort Charles || Mwahaki King Photography |
The business of Sugar is the oldest continually operating industry in Jamaica. It generates the third
largest foreign exchange earnings, after tourism and bauxite, and employs more than 50,000 workers. Historically, before granulated sugar was shipped out for export or distillation into rum, it was stored in wooden barrels known as hogsheads. Such barrels have since been repurposed at the modern day Fort Charles site as chairs and tables for visitors. It's truly fascinating to see old meet new.
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| Black sand beach in Port Royal || Mwahaki King Photography |
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| Black sand beach in Port Royal || Mwahaki King Photography |
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| Black sand beach in Port Royal || Mwahaki King Photography |
