MJ Musical Journeys

Since it's freezing outside I'd like to take you someplace warm. Let's go to the amazing island of Jamaica!

 

The view of Hyatt Ziva from room 1517

 

Jamaica was the island that Christopher Columbus first discovered back in 1492, which he called Hispaniola. People believed that he landed at what is now Discovery Bay on the northern coast. That began many years of Spanish rule. The Spanish gave way to the English, who ruled the country for a while, building enormous plantations to farm the rich crops of bananas and sugar cane. You can still see many of these plantation houses today, and some like Good Hope, offer tours of the building and grounds through the marvelous and amazing CHUKKA tours.

 

Good Hope Plantation, Falmouth, Jamaica

Jamaica gained its independence from Britain in 1962 and since then it has been a haven of beautiful landscapes and even more so, beautiful people. Jamaica has this infectious laid-back attitude that just sinks into you and forces you to slow down and relax. Everyone is incredibly friendly in a genuine way, even when they are serving your next bottle of Red Stripe beer. I think this is the best island in the Caribbean for interacting with the local people, learning their stories, and sharing laughs. 

River tubing party with our awesome tour guide Bananaman!

There are 6 major areas of Jamaica, and I will describe each area in a separate blog post. They are Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Kingston, and the South Coast. Each is distinctive in their style, feel, and culture. I highly recommend checking them all out! 

Remember you can email me if you want more info about Jamaica or are looking to travel to your own version of paradise. I hope to hear from you!