The Island of Jamaica is in the North of the Caribbean Sea, and is about 90 miles south of Cuba.
It has a well documented history, Columbus arriving in 1494 and claiming the Island for the Spanish was the beginning.
He arrived in what is now called Discovery Bay and there is a statue to commemorate this.



The British arrived in 1655 and kicked out the Spanish in Ocho Rios. There are a crop of stones heaped in the sea which supposedly mark the spot of landing.


The main history of Jamaica is one of sugar crops and slavery.
Jamaica became independent in 1962.

One of the more famous landmarks is the Dunns River Falls located just outside of Ocho Rios on the north of the Island.
The beach at the bottom of the falls is surreal, the way the waterfall just cascades into the sea with a shop next to it!



The falls themselves are an image to behold, not something you can readily see anywhere.



You are allowed to climb up them, it’s about half a mile, and harder than it looks!!



But the imagery is well worth the effort.







There are pools where you can just immerse and cool off. It’s freshwater, and a lot cooler than the sea and very refreshing.



The birthplace of Bob Marley is another popular tour. The Marley family have retained the family property and turned it into a shrine, Bob is buried here, along with his mother and other family members.

So, all aboard the Zion bus!



The village where the Marley family live and grew up is called Nine Mile, that’s because it’s nine miles from the nearest town St, Ann! Hilariously the village before is called 8 mile. You’ll spot this because of all the American tourists there with the maps on the car bonnets. (There’s only the one road…;-) )

The journey gives you a chance to see the amazing greenery in Jamaica.



Entrance to the family home at Nine Mile.

You’ll be taken around by a guide, he may well claim to be a distant cousin of Bob, he might well be! Our guide called himself Captain Crazy and he was a scream, kept stopping all around and signing snippets from Marley songs, there was one obviously well rehearsed part where local children popped their heads up over the wall and sang the chorus.

Bob had a ‘thinking stone’ where he conjured up the lyrics to many of his songs, and we sat here and had our photo taken with Captain Crazy.



Part of the tour was going in Bob Marley’s bedroom.





This was slightly unreal as just three weeks before Myself and Mrs had been to Stratford upon Avon and had stood in William Shakespears bedroom!!

The South East of the Island is home to the Blue Mountains, where some of the world’s most expensive coffee is produced. It’s a long trip (3 hrs each way) as the roads are just single track, but the scenery on route is good. The beach where Ursula Andress came out of the water in James Bond film is here



And some of the houses near here are very expensive (film star league) and are in odd designs.



The final few miles up the mountain are perilous with extremely dangerous bridges!



We visited a coffee plantation and were given a brief guide and watched some coffee being traditionally roasted



We then went to the summit of the mountain and saw the rows of coffee plants on the sides of the mountains.

More spectacular scenery.

The idea then was that we cycled (freewheeled) down the mountain, so we got kitted up


And down we went! I couldn’t take any photos on the way down as it was too precarious!

At the bottom where we picked up the coach again there was a rock pool with waterfall where we all had a cool dip before returning.



It all sounds fun, and it was true enough, but daytime escorted trips in Jamaica are completely safe and enjoyable, but going out at night is completely out of the question for white tourists. It’s simply not safe, end of subject.
I wouldn’t go again, been there, done that, there’s always another Caribbean Island to see, but just because I wouldn’t go I wouldn’t put anyone off going.

looking forward to it....jealous..??? me......

yup !!

Thats another great review Mark, I have seen the waterfall on television where the holidaymakers are strung out in lines hauling one another up, your not supposed to run up it

Really enjoyed it thanks

Top review & photo's Mark, sounds like you & Mrs. Mark had a fabulous time.

Brilliant ,Im so jealous I would love to see where Bob Marley lived as I love his music, but isnt sad that its too dangerous at night as seeing the culture at night and sitting and mingling in the local bars would be great

You can do plenty of interaction with local Jamaicans during the day Daryn, and all the staff within the resort are Jamaican as well obviously, so you certainly feel like you've mingled.
On the way back from the Bob Marley birthplace trip the driver stopped in a local town (Browns Town I think) for lunch, it was a Jerk chicken centre, there must have been 60 chickens being spit roasted over an open BBQ pit, we had half a chicken each, with the local bread called Festival, and a bottle of Red Stripe beer, we sat on the grass with the locals and ate and was talking and having a laugh, no problems at all (it cost about £3.50 each lol) but at night... well, I dunno, I just didn't feel safe, simple as that really.
During the day we also walked in and around Ocho Rios town, went in shops and stuff, but there were kids following us from the moment we stepped out of the resort, pestering us for cigarettes or a dollar or for anything really.
The only reason I wouldn't go again though is because i've got other places on my list to see.

Once again on the mark . I have mixed feelings about the safety aspect, some of the resort owners like to tell you that you leave the resort at your own risk which is a ploy to keep you there spending money (unless you are all inclusive that is)

Forgot i'd done this. Can't believe how big I am, I'm 3 stone lighter than that now lol

rep for losing the weight then  

Begging for reps, how low can you get Mark?