Speedy Gambling

This time we spent our summer in Jamaica .We had heard so much about it, the beaches, the water sports, the fishing trips, the music and of course, the heavenly food and drinks. But what appealed to us was the weather – warm and sunny, with a gentle breeze all day long, ideal for trekking on land or windsurfing. The water is so clear that we found the snorkeling and diving amazing – thanks to the high visibility. We found Jamaicans to be truly hospitable, during our interactions with craftsmen, boutique owners and of course, the staff at our resort. These amicable, pleasant, good-natured people who helped us make the most of our vacation in Jamaica.

A sunny climate and lovely long stretches of beaches blessed with find sand and abundant trees makes Jamaica an unparalleled tropical haven. People from all over the world choose to travel to Jamaica to enjoy the wonders of the marine world in the Caribbean Sea and experience the joie de vivre that is part of this island’s culture. From the vibrant beats of reggae and soca to the melodies of Jazz, visitors hear several different kinds of music on the beaches, in the bars and night clubs. Jamaicans have living the easy life down to an art – everything here is laid back, there is no hurry and people can spend hours at a bar on the beach enjoying the landscape and the breeze or just people-watch. For the action oriented, there are plenty of water sports – from jet skis and Hobie Cats to scuba diving, snorkeling or windsurfing. Our resort had a wonderful spa with outdoor pavilions for open air massages and while I spent the day pampering myself at the spa, my husband was happy teeing off with some friends at one of the many golf courses that dot Jamaica’s landscape.

We visited Kingston, the capital of Jamaica and also traveled to other tourist hot spots like Montego Bay and Negril but we loved Ochos Rios where we spent most of our vacation. Sure, Rose Hall and Fort Charles and Bob Marley Museum were interesting to visit. But my favorite part of the travel was the trip to Dunn’s River Falls. We enjoyed the rafting trip down White River too

Jamaica is one big party with its foot-tapping music played by reggae and jazz bands in hotels, bars, and on the beaches. We were in Ochos Rios towards the end of the Jazz festival and heard some of the world’s best performers in free concerts and sunset performances on the beach.

If not for anything else, we will definitely travel back to Jamaica again for the heavenly food that we tasted there. It was our first taste of the fiery jerk dishes that the island is well known for, and we loved it. We picked up some local rum and several gifts when we went shopping one evening in Ochos Rios.