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Ocho Rios & Dunn Falls
Ocho Rios is a town on the northern coast of Jamaica, located in the parish of Saint Ann. It is a popular tourist destination of cruise ships, well known for scuba diving and other water sports.
If someone expands this article, someone should write about the name. The name Ocho Rios means Eight Rivers in Spanish, which would imply eight rivers somewhere, but in fact there aren't eight rivers. I understand it's a corruption of Los Choreos, Spanish for The Rapids. An other translation for that is: “Fed by springs located in the hills above”. Meaning the Dunn Falls I presume. |
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It is a pity that, like so many other things in life, this also has become a commercial attraction. Using the stairs going down to the bottom of the fall it felt like we were walking at a tropical amusement park. We even joked about it while we enjoyed at the beautiful flora around us. |
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It was warm, the humidity was high.
And then there was the picture book blue sea!! |
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We considered a refreshing dip before we started to climb.. But that wasn’t needed… the fall was soooo cold! |
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Part 1. the start |
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With special shoes in the sooo cold water we started the climb here. Not like so many others hand in hand but each on his own!!! |
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The view looking down… Beautiful.. I had enough but kept going..
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Can’t believe I am doing this!! But it feels great and so refreshing … it’s difficult sometimes and… yes... climbing makes u sweat!! |
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The guys in the blue shirts are guides. They know the falls inside out and can walk it with their eyes close which they don't coz they hold the camera’s for the climbing tourists. |
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Everywhere this blue colour is popping up. When I see that colour at home I become homesick for Jamaica!!
Coming from the mountains going towards the sea, the country side changes… it’s flat!
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with it’s nice streets, botanical gardens, colourful shops and creative murals, with churches and schools and beautiful buildings on every corner. |
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Entering Ochi... |
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The streets seem wider than Mobay and the colourful shops also have bars on their windows too. There is more security walking around, sending the native people away who ask for a small donation. But they didn't not bother me at all, it’s normal if you know the background of the island and the economy they have to live in. The average person works for US$35 per week, just enough to pay the bills!! |
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After asking for permission for a picture and giving a donation i got a nice serenade and a smile too. Then security came and send him away in a brutal way…. Doesn’t everybody deserve Respek Mon?? |
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Great murals, colourful shops, crafts market and kind people!!! Ochi got it all!! |
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And yes…… they got some great food too!!! |
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Juice Patties…. the patties are available in all flavours even a veggie one which was great!! There are different recipes available on the net, so you can try them too! It’s something you have to try next to the national breakfast dishes and all the jerk flavours… I wish I could bring some home!!!!!!!! |
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Just about two miles (3km) west from the centre of Ocho Rios is the popular beach and waterfall attraction of Dunn’s River. The waterfall cascades down 600ft (183m) forming cool pools among slippery rocks, and a favourite tourist pursuit is to climb to the top of the falls, enjoying being splashed by cold, clear mountain water en route. There is a restaurant on the beach below. |
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There where nature is at its best!! |