The Caribbean country of Jamaica has long been a favorite vacation spot for European and American tourists. People come here primarily because of the good weather, incredible beaches, and always smiling people. The local atmosphere is fascinating from the first minutes of your stay on the island, and the loud festivals and street musicians will stay in your heart for a long time. But there are so many things that foreigners still don’t know about. This needs to be corrected urgently.
- The name of the country comes from the word “Haimaka,” which means “country of springs” in the language of the Arawak Indians. This name did not arise without reason. Generous nature has rewarded the island with an abundance of forests, reservoirs, incredible beaches (there are more than 70), and always summer weather. Even in winter, the air temperature here rarely drops below 25 degrees Celsius. Thanks to this, tourists come to Jamaica all the time. By the way, most foreigners choose hotels near the Alligator Pond beach for their vacation. Despite the name, there are no alligators here. There are just hills here that resemble the backs of these animals.
- Jamaica was a Spanish and then a British colony for a long time. However, it was the first Caribbean country to gain independence. It happened in 1962. And although the state now manages all issues on its own, it is constitutionally ruled by the British monarch. But this is a formality that has long had nothing to do with reality.
- This country has a long and interesting history. In the 17th century, it was ruled by pirates who set up their capital, Port Royal, on the island. Even the ships of large countries with their own navy did not dare to approach here. The city was destroyed by an earthquake. The Spaniards, who suffered the most from pirate attacks, believed that this was God’s punishment and that God himself had destroyed the “nest of vice.”
- Jamaica has a lot of athletes. Despite the small size of the country, it actively participates in the summer and even winter Olympics. It is also home to the fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt, whose name is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
- Representatives of Jamaica annually participate in the Miss World contest. They rank fourth in the total number of victories in this tournament. They are ahead of girls from the UK, Venezuela, and India.
- An amazing fact: more twins are born in this country than anywhere else in the world. Scientists have been trying to find the reason for this phenomenon for a long time, but so far without success. By the way, the island has the highest percentage of large families in the world.
- The islanders are very religious. Most of them profess Christianity in its various forms. It is quite common here to pray before meals or at the beginning of school. It is not surprising that this country has the largest number of churches per capita. Be sure to visit at least one of them during your trip.
- Jamaica is home to many musical styles. This is due to the fact that Spanish, British, and African cultures are intertwined on the island, which influenced the life of the local population. Soul, dub, ska, calypso, and reggae were born here. The latter was made popular by Bob Marley, a native of this country. You will see murals and posters with his image here at every turn. He is rightfully considered the most popular person in this country.
- At the age of 18, Jamaican citizens become adults, but this does not open up all opportunities for them. For example, you can get married here only after reaching the age of 34. But there are no restrictions on alcohol consumption. So don’t be surprised if you see a 6-year-old boy drinking with adult men in the middle of the street.
- The frivolous attitude to alcohol may be due to the fact that Jamaica has been making money on the export of this product for a very long time. Thus, the local rum was bought by colonizers for a lot of money many centuries ago, and now the country is the main post.
- Jamaica is a very friendly country. This is confirmed by the local army, which has only a few dozen soldiers, a couple of helicopters and airplanes. 100% of the country’s military have never been in combat.
- Despite all the friendliness of the local population, Jamaica can be very dangerous for tourists, who regularly become victims of robbers. Do not forget that this country is quite poor and has many economic problems.