Jamaica: Cities

Kingston and St. Andrews

Kingston is the heart of Jamaica, Home to the University of the West Indies, birthplace of that infectious reggae music that you can now here played all over the world and popularized by the man himself Bob Marley. Is the capital city of Jamaica and is said to be a combination of history mystery and ancient ruins, the largest English speaking city in the Caribbean with a population of 688,400. It is located on the southeast coast of the Island. It is home of the Norman Manley International Airport, and is the intellectual, cultural, political and commercial seat of the Caribbean. it is a city that has a blend of botanical gardens , golf courses, conference centers, upscale hotels. Home of the Kingston Harbour a deep sea harbour that facilitates cruise ships. Gordon House on Duke Street is where the Jamaica Parliament meets. The Archaelogical Museum, located at Port Royal, displaying artifacts salvaged from the underwater ruins of a historic town where Sir Henry Morgan and his fellow pirates plundered and then partied.

Montego Bay

Is a resort city that never sleeps, with stretches of beaches populated with an array of hotels, restaurants and nightspots. It is a bustling, busy city, known for its beauty, a place where history and legend come together to give the most exquisite attractions. Tour Rose Hall's Great House and hear the tales of the white witch Annie Palmer that still haunts the walls, and what measures she adapted to rid herself of her many husband.

Located on the north coast, it is the second largest city in Jamaica and is a resort town. It has a modern cruise ship pier, not far from the Sangster International Airport. Here this city has a wide range of hotels and guest houses from the super luxurious to the standard. Doctor's Cave Beach known for its healing powers, craft markets, Georgean architecture and coral reef with protected marine life. This resort town has it all bird sanctuary, music festivals, golf tournament, or a ride on a bamboo raft. This place has it all. At night fall there is a phosphorescence at a nearby lagoon called Oyster Bay is so thick, it glows like the embers of fire at a distance.

Negril

One writer described it like this: "Imagine a stunningly beautiful ribbon of white sandy beach. Seven miles of it. Imagine honeycombed cliffs and crystal-clear water. Imagine carefree days and fun-filled nights. Imagine Negril".

Negril is to the western tip of the island going slightly south extending from Bloody Bay in Hanover to the Negril Light House in Westmoreland. It has a carefree atmosphere that makes your todays totally auxillerating and distances you from your past some of life's rare pleasures. With the endless beaches there is an innumerable amount of watersports activities. After dark entertainment is mesmerizing, watching the twinkling stars replacing the sunset that has just vanished over the horizon, then listening to the intoxicating beat of live reggae music. Every now and then you remind yourself not to think but enjoy this piece of heaven on earth for as long as you can make this last.

Ocho Rios

This is the place where it is said that Heaven spills over into the seas and Christopher Columbus describes as "The fairest land mine eyes have ever seen." There are white sand coves meandering in and out off the rolling grassy mountain slopes. The warm spectacular cascading waterfalls of Dunns River is the scene for picturesque postcards, Shaw Park Gardens and Coyaba taunts you with all its tropical splendour. There is a myriad of fern trees, aptly called "Fern Gully" because of the many twist and turns in a three mile roadway, under a conopy of fern trees that provides a wonderful sight as you drive through this forest of trees. There is "Nine miles" the birthplace of Bob Marley.

Ocho Rios is in the middle of the Island but a little to the north. It boasts of it vast visitors accommodations, architectural furnishings, a golf course, and cruise ship facility.