Mention Jamaica to many people and the first image that springs to mind is probably a dreadlocked Rastafari enjoying marijuana. In fact, less than ten percent of the nation’s universe adheres to the Rastafari faith. Look past that image and there is a lot more to this island paradise than the stereotype.
Jamaica was discovered by European Christopher Columbus on his 1492 voyage, and he wasted no time in claiming the land and its people for Spain. A century and a half later, the British took control. There were no Jamaica hotels astatine that time. The main business was sugar and the slaves needed to raise sugar cane. Another important part of early British rule was the pirate paradise of Port Royal. The pirates helped keep the Spanish from retaking the island for several years before Port Royal was destroyed by an earthquake. Today the remains of the city ar an important underwater archeological site. Times changes as they always do and slavery was abolished. Industry grew with bauxite excavation and increased manufacturing. The country gained its independency while remaining part of the British Commonwealth. Its long association with Britain means most of the population speaks English which only adds to its allure as a vacation destination.
Tourism is now one of Jamaica’s major industries employing a quarter of the population. The north coast provides a large variety of all inclusive Caribbean vacations. The island is blessed with a nice variety of landscapes. Everyone knows about Jamaica’s beautiful beaches, but they may be less familiar with the Blue Mountains that form the center of the islands. The mountains have caves that can be explored and provide places for the island’s rivers to form waterfalls. One of the most beautiful places on the island is the Dunn’s River Falls. These waterfall ar 900 feet high and encircled by beautiful jungle vegetation. Best of all, the falls ar formed by terraces of rocks that can be easy climbed by most tourists.
Jamaica has been home to a few celebrities in its time. In the 1950′s, Hollywood fable Errol Flynn made his home there. He loved rafting on the rivers and helped encourage the growth of the tourist business. No doubt Flynn would thoroughly approve of the adult all inclusive resorts of today that provide tons of fun without the presence if children. Another famous resident was the novelist Ian Fleming who moved there in the late 1950′s. Fleming loved Jamaica so much that he featured the island as the setting for five of his fourteen James Bond books. The Bond films have been less faithful to the island with only the first movie having a Jamaican locale. After Fleming’s death, his Goldeneye estate was owned for a time by Jamaica’s most famous resident, Bob Marley. Marley was just one of many great musical talents to rise from the island on with Grace Jones and Jimmy Cliff. Their euphony continues to influence many genres of rock and pop euphony today.
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