| Mention Jamaica to many people and the first image | | | | Jamaica's beautiful beaches, but they may be less |
| that springs to mind is probably a dreadlocked | | | | familiar with the Blue Mountains that form the center |
| Rastafari enjoying marijuana. In fact, less than ten | | | | of the islands. The mountains have caves that can be |
| percent of the nation's population adheres to the | | | | explored and provide places for the island's rivers to |
| Rastafari faith. Look past that image and there is a | | | | form waterfalls. One of the most beautiful places on |
| lot more to this island paradise than the stereotype. | | | | the island is the Dunn's River Falls. These falls are 900 |
| Jamaica was discovered by European Christopher | | | | feet high and surrounded by beautiful jungle |
| Columbus on his 1492 voyage, and he wasted no | | | | vegetation. Best of all, the falls are formed by |
| time in claiming the land and its people for Spain. A | | | | terraces of rocks that can be easily climbed by most |
| century and a half later, the British took control. | | | | tourists. |
| There were no Jamaica hotels at that time. The main | | | | Jamaica has been home to a few celebrities in its |
| business was sugar and the slaves needed to raise | | | | time. In the 1950's, Hollywood legend Errol Flynn |
| sugar cane. Another important part of early British | | | | made his home there. He loved rafting on the rivers |
| rule was the pirate paradise of Port Royal. The | | | | and helped encourage the growth of the tourist |
| pirates helped keep the Spanish from retaking the | | | | business. No doubt Flynn would thoroughly approve |
| island for several years before Port Royal was | | | | of the adult all inclusive resorts of today that provide |
| destroyed by an earthquake. Today the remains of | | | | tons of fun without the presence if children. Another |
| the city are an important underwater archeological | | | | famous resident was the novelist Ian Fleming who |
| site. Times changes as they always do and slavery | | | | moved there in the late 1950's. Fleming loved Jamaica |
| was abolished. Industry grew with bauxite mining and | | | | so much that he featured the island as the setting |
| increased manufacturing. The country gained its | | | | for five of his fourteen James Bond books. The Bond |
| independence while remaining part of the British | | | | films have been less faithful to the island with only |
| Commonwealth. Its long association with Britain | | | | the first movie having a Jamaican locale. After |
| means most of the population speaks English which | | | | Fleming's death, his Goldeneye estate was owned for |
| only adds to its allure as a vacation destination. | | | | a time by Jamaica's most famous resident, Bob |
| Tourism is now one of Jamaica's major industries | | | | Marley. Marley was just one of many great musical |
| employing a quarter of the population. The north | | | | talents to rise from the island along with Grace Jones |
| coast provides a large variety of all inclusive | | | | and Jimmy Cliff. Their music continues to influence |
| Caribbean vacations. The island is blessed with a nice | | | | many genres of rock and pop music today. |
| variety of landscapes. Everyone knows about | | | | |