Kingston
Overwhelming and fascinating in equal (1) ... , Kingston is quite unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. (2) ... its troubled reputation, it's hardly surprising that few tourists visit, and while the scare stories are absurdly exaggerated, Kingston is certainly not a place for the faint-hearted. In the 1950's, Ian Fleming called it a "tough city", and that still (3) ... true today. Jamaica's capital is rough and (4) ... , a little uncompromising, but always exciting and absorbing. With just under 600,00 residents, Kingston (5) ... with life, noise and activity, and if you venture downtown, you'll see the (6) ... edges. Nonetheless, the capital offers a look at a side of Jamaica that couldn't be more different from the resorts. As well as being the seat of government and the island's administrative centre, Kingston is Jamaica's cultural heart, the city that spawned Bob Marley, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and countless other reggae stars. If you do decide to visit – and it's well worth the effort for anyone with even a (7) ... interest in Jamaican culture – you'll find that not only is it easy to steer clear (8) ... the troubled areas, but that there's little of the persistent harassment that bedevils parts of the north coast.