Jamaica is a big surprise for any visitor. The warm welcome of its people, its idyllic beaches, the hotel facilities well inserted in the landscape, the historic buildings and its sun settings, make of this country an experience worthy of being told.

I arrived in Kingston on August 1st, Emancipation Day, this is a festive and great day for Jamaicans, they appraise freedom in a special way since most of them are slaves’ descendants, now they celebrate the feeling of being born free by law, they render homage to their ancestors and their old struggle for freedom. Kingston has one million inhabitants, of the three million living in the whole island, the other important cities after the capital are much smaller as Spanish Town, 96,000; Portmore, 88,000 and Montego Bay 73,000. Jamaica’s capital is on the South in the midst of a large natural port and the Blue Mountains. It is so far from the tourism resorts located on the North that barely has suffered the influence of many visitors, I started walking in the heart of the capital and I see nobody that looks as a tourist. The center is the area of Parade. In the big square is a bus station where busmen or ticket sellers make everything possible to convince passengers to get up their buses. In the nearby market of Orange Street a large amount of products are sold, the clothes of strong colors are abundant. Reggae is heard well aloud in many sales points. They set music equipment with earphones that weigh more than all the items to be sold together. Rarely sellers are alone, groups of friends surround them, that more than selling are chatting and listening to music. It is true that Africa is always present and alive everywhere and many ladies that are in the mass rally for the Emancipation Day are wearing African attires, but Anglo-Saxon tradition can be seen and even Latin American. Jamaican culture is the result of an alliance between the Americas and Africa. I’m lucky! Musicians like to be photographed as everybody in Jamaica. The flag gala dress is prominent during the mise-en-scène, as soon as he realized that I’m focusing him, he stands very proud of carrying the symbol of this young nation that has won its complete independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. In five days, they will have to wear their gala dress since Independence Day is to be commemorated and the celebrations will be more extensive in all the towns, dances, performances and protocol ceremonies. Usual visits are made to Devon House, a beautiful mansion from the 19th century within an evoking garden and Bob Marley’s Museum, the star of reggae. His memory still helps his country since international tourism regards Kingston as a must and I have observed that across the National Stadium is a statue of the late singer and though the surroundings are not well preserved, still tourists visit the place and take photos while standing besides the statue of the singer who is playing his inseparable guitar. It is inconceivable to visit Jamaica and not to carry some allegoric items of Bob Marley. He was born near Montego Bay in the North coast.

Towards Puerto Antonio From the capital I headed to Port Antonio located in the northeastern coast. To reach the place travelers have to go across Blue Mountains; this is the heaviest rainy season in the island. The landscape is abrupt and attractive. The road is narrow, steep and twisted, a splendid panorama is seen, though no place to park or stop for a moment is available and the traffic is heavy though smooth while the weather changes very fast from sun shining to a cloudy sky and vice versa.

Puerto Antonio It is said that Puerto Antonio was the first tourism city in the island. Now it is a peaceful place in the mountains and a magnificent port. The few wooden houses are rather abandoned. It is stated that in the 1950’s this was the most exclusive place of Jamaica, frequented by personalities and actors as Bette Davis and Errol Flynn, whose house is now a hotel. Still some good examples of Georgian-style architecture can be admired in town. I kept on heading East along the coast and I see that John Crow Mountains extend their sides toward the shore making it rough. The landscape is very green, nature claims what belongs to it with energy and telephone posts are covered with vegetation.

Blue Lagoon Blue Lagoon is a cove linked to the sea by a narrow mouth, the tall hills are fully covered by vegetation, thus the water surface, protected by waves and winds, serves as a mirror thus reflecting a circular crown of green colors thus surrounding the blue stain of the sky. This is a magnificent place to practice snorkel, waters are crystal-clear and in complete calm.

The view makes me experiment a voluptuousness, caused by the grandeur of the whole, then a feeling of quietness since you have already integrated to nature, because the silence of the site has grasped the sky for itself, i.e. a slice of sky. From the shore I look at the water, it’s so clear that I can see a shoal of fishes. The sun is setting but I continue engrossed in the natural breath-taking view when some small fishes came out of the water surface, showing on their heads like lighted antennas in the dark of the night which marks on the water a luminous wake as if swimmers with a hanging lamp.

Dragon Bay From the thickness of the forest emerges a little river that spills its clean water into the sea, thus crossing the beach. Tall trees almost touch the seashore so that in small space, visitors can enjoy a large variety of natural options. They can choose between the sun and the shadow, the warm waters of the Caribbean, to touch with the feet the freshest waters of the river. Also we can add the facilities provided by Dragon Bay Beach Resort Hotel, with a beautiful swimming pool opposite the sea and the possibility of practicing water or land sports linked to the sea environment as beach boley.

Ocho Rios Ocho Rios’ population has been benefited for having the most spectacular natural attraction of the country, I’m referring to Dunns River Falls, the most celebrated falls of the whole Caribbean. The largest cruisers of the world stay at Ocho Rios for several days with the only aim that passengers enjoy the view of these falls. Adventure starts at the very end. I want to explain that Dunns River Falls save a limestone outcrop of almost 200 metres, thus forming some stepping water falls, leading directly to the beach so almost everybody starts from below going up the current in the midst of a jungle-like vegetation, so to carry a bathing suit is indispensable as well as comfortable walking shoes. (At the entrance of the resort, there are rental points and changing rooms). Ocho Rios is the second tourist resort in Jamaica—hotels are scattered several kilometers at both sides— now is very frequented by Kingston locals.

Runaway Bay In my trip along the island I head toward the West, go by the historic bay of St. Anns where Columbus wrecked in 1502, after exploring the shores of Central America in his fourth voyage. Arawaks who populated Jamaica took care of explorers but they abandoned them after they had an argument. Columbus knew that a full moon eclipse was soon to occur and took advantage of this knowledge to predict the phenomenon before the natives and thus gain their confidence again. As no ship appeared to rescue—Columbus at that time was not popular—two sailors rowed in a canoe until landing at Hispaniola from where they returned with a ship. Luckier than Columbus, I finally arrive at Runaway Bay where I expect to stay at Breezes Golf & Beach Resort Hotel. The sunset is starting and I feel like having a ride along the beach, the color palette that emerges in the horizon promises a splendid sunset.

Action and Romanticism Breezes Hotel has a large golf course... the sight usually outlooks to the well-preserved plateaus and far beyond the sea horizons. We could say that with this surroundings one reaches full relaxation. Regarding water sports, this resort offers a vast range of options for both beginners and experts. Palm trees in the midst of the beach of white fine sand, turquoise waters of an ideal temperature, sunsets only seen in dreams, superb gastronomy, highlighting the succulent Jamaican cuisine. This and other things allow me to state that Jamaica is a guaranteed therapy and a dream come true.