All About Bob Marley
Celebrating Bob Marley’s Legacy Through Music, History, and Cocktails.
Any trip to Jamaica that doesn’t include a thorough examination, reflection and, most of all, celebration of the life and times of Robert Nesta Marley must be considered a wasted opportunity. The land of wood and water’s most iconic son – apologies to current king Usain Bolt – passed away more than 36 years ago, but his legend only grows on the island with each passing year. Here are the best ways to get the most Marley out of your next Jamaica trip:
Marley in Pictures and Film
If you fly into Kingston, you must visit the Bob Marley Museum at 56 Hope Road, where the singer lived in his later years. There is a theater, photo gallery, and Marley memorabilia where you can learn all about his inspiring life. You can even see bullet holes in the wall, the result of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on the singer in 1976.
Jammin’ to Marley
Celebrating Bob Marley in Jamaica without enjoying the dulcet rhythms of “Stir It Up,” “No Woman, No Cry,” “Three Little Birds,” and more is like going to church and leaving before hearing the sermon. Fortunately, you won’t have any difficulty finding his music on the radio, in clubs, hotel lobbies and constantly played by cover bands at your resort. If you visit the island during the early part of the year, then find out about the litany of concerts that surround his birthday – February 4 – including the annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash.
A Shot and an Excursion
Bob Marley Shot (the Sheriff)
Even if drinking wasn’t the pastime Marley enjoyed most… we are talking about soccer of course, you’ll want to experience the Bob Marley cocktail. At Moon Palace Jamaica, the Bob Marley is served as a shot or frozen and made of grenadine, crème de menthe and 141 plus crème de banana – making it red, yellow and green like the Jamaican flag. They used to light it aflame, but that practice was doused as result of too many burnt lips.
A Nine Mile Excursion
Ditch the pomp and circumstance surrounding Marley – he’d like that – and visit his childhood home, it might be the best way to get to know the real Bob Marley. Most tours depart from Ocho Rios and you’ll see where he grew up, where Marley is buried, and walk through his hometown museum. The trip to Nine Mile takes a bit (1.5 hours from Ocho Rios) but you’ll get a sense of the interior beauty of Jamaica that helped convert him into an environmental activist ahead of his time.