Downtown Tour, October 18

As per your request at the September meeting, Ruby Martin, Beth Hyde McDonald, and Hazel Robinson have arranged an exciting tour of interesting places to visit in the downtown area of Kingston.

When: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Meet at 9:30 am; bus will leave at 10 am sharp

Where: Meet at the home of Su Nakash, 6 Carmel Ave., Kingston 8. A bus has been hired to take everyone to the different places as sometimes it is very difficult to find parking.

Cost: JA$500.00 per person (to help defray the cost of the bus)

Reserve your place by Sunday, Oct 17 so we will know what size bus to order........

To reserve: e-mail Hazel Robinson: brandythree@gmail.com

The tour should last about 3+ hours and we have NOT arranged a lunch. BUT, you can bring a snack and eat it between visits

Beth thought we should spend about ¾ hours at the synagogue, ½ - ¾ hours at the Cathedral, ½ hour at the Ward Theatre and about 1 ½ hours at the Bank of Jamaica).

Here is a brief description of where you will be going........

The Synagogue "Shaare Shalom": Jamaica boasts one of the oldest synagogues in the Caribbean. The original synagogue was built in 1885, but was partially destroyed in the 1907 earthquake. The rebuilding was competed in 1912 and is the only remaining synagogue in Jamaica. It also houses the Jewish Institute, where some historical artifacts can still be seen—they include a 300-year-old Torah and photographs.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral: This church is the only one in Jamaica with a copper roof. It was built in 1911, and the beautiful stained glass windows are of that vintage. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust declared this Catholic church a National Landmark.

The Ward Theatre: A testament to Jamaican architecture and philanthropy, the Ward Theatre was a gift of Colonel C. J. Ward , C.M.G., to the citizens of Kingston in 1912. Declared a national monument on January 7, 2000, the Theatre has a long history encompassing the nation's social, cultural and political lives. Located in the heart of Kingston, the Ward is the only theatre of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The Bank of Jamaica is the central bank of Jamaica located in Kingston. It was established by the Bank of Jamaica Act 1960 and was opened on May 1, 1961. It is responsible for the monetary policy of Jamaica on the instruction of the Minister of Finance.