Happy Birthday, Jamaica!

Today is Independence Day in Jamaica

Jamaica ~ Vintage Travel Print 

by TheEclecticImage

Oh, Jamaica.  For those of us who cruise the Western Caribbean, it's at least somewhat familiar.  But, how much do you actually know about Jamaica?

For instance... today is Jamaica's Independence Day.  August 6, 1962 was the day that the island nation, which had been under the rule of Great Britain, gained full independence.  As such, it was the first Caribbean island nation to do so.  Happy Fifty First Birthday, Jamaica!

Being such a special day, it's also a good one to pass on a few random facts about the country.  So, here are a few things you'll be able to impress your cruise mates with the next time you're fortunate enough to enjoy Ocho Rios, Falmouth, or Kingston as a port of call.

Jamaican Lighthouses

 Plumb Point Lighthouse,
via Wikimedia Commons

There are eleven lighthouses in Jamaica. Nine of these are on the Jamaican mainland, and two are on small cays out in the Caribbean Sea.

The country's port authority reports that the lamp in the Plumb Point Lighthouse, near Port Royal, has gone out just once since the structure was erected in 1853.  That one outage was during an earthquake that struck the area in 1907.

Other Random Facts about Jamaica

• The land mass we call Jamaica is actually the third largest island in the Greater Antilles.
• Kingston boasts the seventh largest natural harbor in the world.
• Not surprisingly, rum is the national drink.
• Reggae music originated there in the 1960's.
• The movie Cool Runnings, about a Jamaican bobsled team that had no snow to train on, yet made it to the Olympics is actually based on fact.  
• Last year on August 6, 20125,  one U.S. dollar was worth about 86 Jamaican dollars.  This year, it would be worth about 99.  
• That right now, means their $20.00 coin (yes, there is one) is roughly equivalent to an American nickel. 

Here's a page where you can enjoy a few images of Jamaica, and vote for your favorite.

Happy 50th Birthday, Jamaica!

Happy Birthday, Jamaica!

Ocho Rios, as seen from the
Aft Pool Deck of the
Crown Princess

Have you cruised to Jamaica? If so, you know it's a beautiful place! I have   enjoyed visiting there several times, and would go back in a heartbeat.  If you haven't, you might enjoy a selection of pictures of Jamaica that I've put together on Squidoo.  Join me in saying "Happy Birthday, Jamaica!"
 
There are a few facts about Jamaica included in the article that you might enjoy learning, too.  It really is a cool place!

The images are mostly from folks who display their art, photos, and designs on Zazzle, and they are worth a look... 

My biggest piece of advice if you take a cruise that calls at Jamaica is to use a guide!  I am usually happy to 'go it on my own' at most ports of call in the Caribbean, but Jamaica is an exception to that rule.  IMO, a good guide is a MUST there.  Just a word to the wise.

Happy Birthday, Jamaica!

Thursday of this week, August 4, is Independence Day in Jamaica.  The island country, located west of the southern tip of Haiti and south of the eastern end of Cuba, has been fully independent since 1962.

Here is a little article I wrote:  Pictures of Jamaica.  As the name indicates, it focuses on quite a few pictures of Jamaica.  Some of them are really beautiful, and others are just kind of fun images. This week would be a good time for you to enjoy them!  The pictures are collected from selected artists and photographers who show and sell their work at Zazzle

Some day, I'd love take a cruise that stops at Kingston, the capital, on August 4, just to see for myself  how Jamaicans celebrate their country's birthday.   My daughter and I visited Grand Cayman on that crown colony's birthday, and enjoyed a very special day in the midst of the celebrations in Georgetown.

Falmouth Finally Opens!

The Port of Falmouth, Jamaica, has finally received its first ship. It's been a long time coming. The Voyager of the Seas called there yesterday.

Falmouth is on the north coast of Jamaica, to the east of Montego Bay. Find it on the above map by tracing down from the tail of the J in the word Jamaica. (Some great Maps of the Caribbean are avaiable at AllPosters.)

Although the real GRAND opening of the "Historic Falmouth Port" port won't be until March 22, when the huge Oasis of the Seas calls there, other ships will actually be visiting in the meantime.

Among the things to do there are riding a bamboo raft on the Martha Brae, and paying a visit to Great Hope House, which offers a variety of activities, and the Appleton Estate, where you can learn a little about making rum. The Dunns River Falls area, with which many cruisers are already familiar, is not far from Falmouth, either.

As more ships begin to call there, Cruising Musings will be interested to hear the reaction of cruise visitors to this long-awaited new port of call.

DUNNS RIVER FALLS PERSONALIZED NOTECARDS and MAGNETS, available at TropiCards: