Research is one of the reasons persons travel to Jamaica's capital city, Kingston, and Neita's Nest has had the pleasure of hosting guests who come to gather more on our history and culture. Over the years, this has included research on our track and field heroes, our international relations, our natural environment and even on their own geneology rooted right here in this country. 

This is what Miki Kidron saw when she sat for breakfast at Neita's Nest on her first morning in Kingston, Jamaica, having arrived all the way from Israel the night before.

It was Art Beat in a heart beat. Miki wanted a dozen of Nancy Burke's Art Beat line of placemats, but she was on her way to Treasure Beach that morning. I had to make it happen for her while pouring water and juice, describing the Jamaican breakfast being served, receiving other guests for an early check-in, serving them and their post-conference host some welcoming Jamaican coffee, and searching for the contact information for the artist before the JUTA taxi arrived to take Miki and Igal off to the other end of the island.

And, Voilà! Between the internet and contacts hosting the annual Liguanea Art Festival where I bought mine a few years ago, I was able to link Miki and Nancy by phone before Miki departed. By then, it was a done deal.

Here, Nancy, 
like Ruebens, puts the finishing touches on her designs before shipping them off for Miki in Israel.

How small this world can be!

If the organisers of the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant knew how much Jamaica has contributed to the world they would have given our representative, Kaci Fennell more than 30 seconds to answer that question.

With more time to ponder, even Dr Hume Johnson's well-researched and well-writen article 10 Things Jamaica has Contributed to the World has stimulated much discussion, with calls for additional inclusions. 

Yes, we are more than a beach, we are a country; a country with a history of thought-leaders who think globally and who act on it, a nation with the fastest athletes, finest rum, the coolest beer, best coffee, stimulating literary and artistic works, great dining experiences, arguably among the friendliest people, and certainly one of the most beautiful countries, with contrasting vegetation, climates and terrain to keep things interesting in even the shortest of vacations.

So, come spend a few days with us in Kingston. We will give you more than a taste of Jamaica. Then you will come to understand what it means when they say, wi likkle but wi tallawah!

Eloy was the first to express an interest in owning an oil on canvas by Ewan McAnuff of the view from Neita's Nest bed and breakfast in Kingston, Jamaica. The paint had not yet touched the canvas, let alone dried. 

That was during a special visit for Eloy when he came to share with his young family, including his seven year old son, the country where he grew up when he was that age. 

Still in touch with some of his childhood friends, it was on the recommendation of one of them that Eloy booked with Neita's Nest. Now, what are the chances of the view from our bed and breakfast being of the same mountainscape as that from his childhood bedroom window?! Serendipity.

Let's back up a couple years to circa 2011. This leading Jamaican artist had been inspired by photos of the view posted on our website, and emailed to ask whether he could come over to paint it. His visits had only just happened, and I was happy to tell Eloy of the plans to capture this amazing vista on canvas.

Eloy and Ewan are not the only ones in awe. The ever-changing moods from morning to sunset, on rainy days and in blazing sun, and the seasonal differences reflected in this landscape have inspired photographers, painters and writers of poetry and prose. 

Late last December when the paint finally did dry, I got a call for an appointment to deliver. Like Santa Claus, confident that he was going to thrill the hearts of many, Ewan arrived here on Christmas Eve with a proverbial ace under his sleeve. It was a year in the executing, resulting in an exquisite artist's impression of the view from our verandah; the view everyone gazes at, talks about and wishes they could take home.

Ewan delivered a masterpiece. The movement of light and air subtly captured in the foliage and wild life are true to his impressionist style. His detailed brushwork tells of the lush and dense forest with its varying shades of green. And the blues of the ever-distancing layered mountainscape did not miss this artist's eye.

As the story unfolds, on the first of February this year, Eloy, having seen a photograph of the painting, replied saying, "Ewan has done a great job! I would like to buy the painting..." and that, as luck would have it, his colleague would be vacationing in Jamaica the following week. Could we get the painting to him, he asked. 

That was no problem for Ewan. A smooth transition followed from Kingston to Ocho Rios to The Netherlands, followed by this update from Eloy, seventeen days after his first. 

"The delivery has also been successful on this side! The painting is just wonderful! I will be looking to have it framed this week. Will post you a picture once mission is accomplished"  

A delightful end to an intriguing saga, except to say that you too can own a giclée print on canvas or print on paper of The View from Neita's Nest.