Jamaica

Last port today - Montego Bay, Jamaica.  We've never been to Jamaica before, but we didn't get much time to explore the island because we went zip lining.  Here's what we did learn about Jamaica from our guide on the drive up to the zip line area:  Jamaica is about 150 miles wide by 50 miles wide.  There are fourteen parishes on the island and three major "cities" - Negril, Montego Bay & Ocho Rios.  About 2.7 million people live on the island - most of them in one of the cities.  Their main industry is tourism, but they also do big business in rum, citrus, tobacco & coffee production/export.  They accept almost any foreign currency in most shops, but they have a local currency (the Jamaican dollar).  1 USD = 118 Jamaican dollar.  Just in case you were hoping to relocate, the minimum wage in Jamaica is about $60 USD/week.  Ugh!

We've done zip lines in numerous other places - Mexico, Roatan, Belize, and at least one other place that I can't remember.  The best one was probably in Roatan - long traverses and way up high in the air.  This one was pretty because it was in the jungle, but the zips were quite short and there were only 6 of them.  Regardless, we had a good time.  The guides were great and really made the time enjoyable.  No pics of us on the zip lines.  They wouldn't allow cameras.  They said "for safety" but it was really because they had their own photographer who would sell you photos after.  :)  

Calabash "fruit" - which are really not fruit at all, but a type of gourd.  They use these to make moroccas - who knew?!

At this same location, they had a river tube excursion.  The first line went across this little river.  

Can you see the line?  

Now can you see the person in the blue shirt going across? 

Another portion of the river

Lots of huge trees and bamboo.  The bamboo grows several inches/day.  Once the bamboo reaches about 100 feet, it falls over and dies unless it is in a large cluster, as it can't support its own weight. 

Pretty water.

From what we saw, we liked Jamaica.  It looks like there are a lot of outdoor activities, such as river tubing/kayaking, ocean sports, and hiking.  We may think about coming back here for a land vacation, although we didn't see a reef and we really, really like a reef right off shore.  

Two more sea days left and then we'll be in New Orleans on Sunday morning.  Keep your fingers crossed for nice sunny weather!