This island is always brought up when people talk about the fairy-tale vacation. Sand beaches, cocktails, home made pot :) I was personally so disappointed with Jamaica since it turned out to be far worse than I have imagined, I’d say most people do not find what they expect. This island has 2,7 million inhabitants, ravishingly green. Cruisers usually come to the place called Ocho Rios, two hours drive from Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. Locals like to show off with the fact that one of James Bond movies was filmed here... Nothing has really changed ever since. The view does not exactly loot.

Few steps ahead of Jamaica’s streets, street vendors begin their solicitation with various things, souvenirs, pot. Sex at very favourable prices is also at disposal. Sometimes you just cannot but notice that almost every second man drives a taxi, because they offer ride to town, to the falls (biggest local tourist attraction) they come from all around. If you don’t want a cab, simply kindly say no and you won’t be bothered again. In the beginning this way of offering services seems a bit funny, but 20 minutes later it becomes tiring. Cars pass through dirty, non often cleaned streets. Taxis that drive in the opposite direction has no problem to let sound in order to check are you having a ride or not. I don’t get it.

Ocho Rios isn’t exactly the place to spent some time in. Always hot, the only thing you can think of is finding a shop with A/C. Downtown, as in the Caribbean, is full of jewelleries, goldsmiths, souvenir shops, this and that. Low rusty buildings, usually dirty. By the coast there is a shopping centre common for Jamaica. At the entrance you are again bothered with street vendors, cab drivers, people of questionable morality. Within this centre there is also the Margaritaville, well-known chain of bars where typical American loves to party… I don’t think it’s special, however… Certain things will remain strange to me, I guess. However, this I one of the rare places where you can relax and really get some rest. Jamaican and American Dollar ratio is a bit higher, so keep your breath after getting a bill for e.g. three beers. Take it easy.

Ocho Rios has a lovely sand beach, and you have to pay to get in. Believe it or not. Net determines the space that you can swim in what comes down to couple of hundreds of meters. Obviously people don’t like to swim but to soak… I still don’t get it. There are cut little places by the coast, where you can enjoy your summer joys all by yourself, but it’s not that close. You have to pick a cab to do that. Since the place is full of showbiz villas, things can even get interesting.. If you have enough money to afford yourself a villa, feel free to visit, enjoy and let me know on your impressions in an e-mail…

Locals are most proud to the river falls that end in the sea. It is simply incredible that every tourist excursion includes visit to the falls. I must admit they are not quite common, but nothing exquisite really. Cool experience for every tourist is walking uphill in the river itself. Take a look at the pics and you’ll get it…

People here are friendly, especially when trying to sell something to you. Those who sell pot and other similar „stuff” are easily recognizable, and seeing cops dressed in bullet-proof shirts tells me that security situation isn’t that fabulous either. I had a chance to hear other tourist complaining and not hiding disappointment with this place, so I guess I wasn’t the only one… Just take a look at the photo gallery and you’ll understand better what I was telling you all along. I am not sure this would be worth of seeing more than once…