JamaicaBy Ruth Fitzmaurice

Places I went to:• The Blue Mountain range, Kingston• Rio grande in Port Antonio• The Blue Lagoon, Port Antonio.• Dunn’s river fall in Ocho Rios• The green grotto caves, Discovery Bay

Map of Jamaica

The blue mountains• The blue mountains are the longest mountain range in all of the island.

The highest peak of the mountain is 225m.• I climbed up and down the mountain in one day. In total it took seven

hours. The trail is well marked and there is a lot of places to stop for water, shelter and there are bathrooms.

• Portland gap ranger station which is about three hours up the mountain you can see lovely views of the surrounding towns and villages.

• The blue mountains are famous for their coffee. I stopped at the Old Tavern Coffee Estate. On the northern slopes of the mountain.

• Grown in almost complete fog. The coffee takes much longer to ripen resulting in a more concentrated flavour. Said to be the nicest in the whole world.

The blue mountains

Rio grande in Port Antonio

• I rented a raft and sailed down the river. • While on the trip you can see banana, sugar cane, wild ginger, allspice

and orchids growing beside the eight mile river.• While on the three hour journey the guide told me stories about the

people who used to raft down the river.• According to legend, this tradition originated with actor Errol Flynn when

he organized races with locals transporting bananas on these rafts.• I also went to a town on the river called Nanny. It is where the national

heroine, Granny Nanny. • Leader of the Jamaican Maroons in the eighteenth century.• Her face is also on the 500 Jamaican dollar.

Rio grande in Port Antonio

The Blue Lagoon• They say that the lagoon is bottomless and that a sort of dragon is hidden

there• With its change of colours from blue to deep emerald, to sapphire and

turquoise.• Though originally called “The Blue Hole”, this place was made famous by

several movies, particularly Brooke Shields starred “Blue Lagoon” and was re-named as Blue Lagoon.

• In the day it is possible to take a dip from its platform or snorkle and get a boat ride. You can also go swimming and see if you can reach the bottom.

• The restaurant there is famous for serving their food on banana leaves.

The Blue Lagoon

Ocho Rios- Dunn’s river fall• The river fall has been described as a living and growing phenomenon.• The total height if the river fall is 600 feet.• It is an overwhelming series of waterfalls that send crystal clear water

flowing and emerging over layers of stone steps.• Human chain led by a fall guide who helped you up the river fall into the

caves.• Bordered by trees which shades the area from the sun. This kept the

area cool as I tried to climb the waterfall.• “Cocktail” starring Tom Cruise was filmed and where the James Bond film

“Dr No” was filmed.

Dunn’s river fall

Green grotto caves• 1,525 metres long and 12 metres deep. • chambers • light holes • lake.• James Bond movie was filmed film “Live and Let Die” in 1973.• The caves were used for villain Doctor Kananga's underground base

beneath a cemetery on the fictional island of San Monique. • It is most memorable for being the location where Bond kills Kananga by

forcing him to swallow a bullet of compressed air, causing him to float up to the ceiling like a balloon and explode.

• Walk down centuries old steps. The main highlight in the limestone Green Grotto Caves however is the huge lake that is 36m below the surface.

Green grotto caves• You are able to get a closer look at the natural beauty of the cave by

boat.• The tour of the cave is an hour. • The tour guide told stories about the pre-Columbia Arawaks and the

Spanish people who used the caves to hide from their British owners in the 17th century.

• The Jamaican government used the caves as a storeroom for barrels of rum after the second world war.

• Also in recent years the caves were used as a hideaway for smugglers taking guns into Cuba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS-0Q47BrWY

Green grotto caves

Jamaican Expressions• Backfoot- Expression of surprise

Blouse an skirt- Expression of surprise or wonderCa ca faat- Expression of surprise Cho/Cho man- Expression of angerGweh- Go awayKiss mi neck- Expression of surprise or wonderKu deh- Look at thatMove frah ya- Get out of here!Massi mi Gad/Lawd a massi- Lord have mercy!

Food

Breakfast • ackee and saltfish• seasoned callaloo• boiled green bananas • fried dumplings

Main courses• Jerk chicken• Curry goat and Curried Mutton• Jamaican pastries• Corned Beef and cabbage• Jamaican spiced bun

Food

Dessert• Coco bread• Bulla cakes• potato pudding • gizzada