MSC POESIA: Cruise from Miami to Aruba and Mexico

     When Christopher Columbus first laid eyes upon Jamaica he wrote in his logbook that it was 'the most beautiful island I have ever seen'. His words were not without good reason. The land of rum and reggae is a stunningly beautiful island of soaring mountains, lush hilltops, evocative swamplands and glorious tropical flora. The town of Ocho Rios sprawls along a magnificent beach and is one of Jamaica's major tourist destinations. The present bustling town was formerly a sleepy fishing village and along the coastline manages to retain some of its earlier tranquil charm. James Bond author Ian Fleming used to live in the vicinity, at Oracabessa, and references to 007 are littered throughout the town. One of its beaches is dedicated to the fictional spy and was reportedly the location for several scenes in the 007 film Licence to Kill, starring Sean Connery and Ursula Andress. The hills behind Ocho Rios are dissected by several waterfalls and not far from town are a number of plantations growing a wide range of exotic fruit. Also accessible from Ocho Rios are Dunn's River Falls, one of Jamaica's most famous sights, which plunge some 600 feet from top to bottom.
     The history of Jamaica is not unlike the rest of the Caribbean. After early Spanish occupation in the 16th Century, under which sugar cane plantations and slavery were a central factor, the island fell to the British. This period saw the expansion and development of local agriculture, including cocoa, sugar cane, coffee and tobacco. During this time the island became plagued by pirates, such as the infamous Blackbeard and 'Calico' Jack Rackham. By the turn of the 19th Century resistance to slavery was gaining ground in Jamaica, leading to a series of rebellions, the greatest of which was in 1831. Three years later, slaves in the West Indies were emancipated, heralding a gradual assertion of Jamaican nationalism, which culminated in independence in 1962. The years since have seen a huge increase in tourism to Jamaica, fuelled in significant part by its place as the home of reggae music, which has been exported all over the world by the likes of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Aswad and Big Mountain. The most important reggae event in the world and the biggest day in the Jamaican calendar is the annual Sunsplash Festival held on the island.

     The island of Cozumel is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting an estimated 20 million people a year keen to enjoy its unique mix of glorious beaches, superb diving and ancient archaeological sites. The town of Cozumel is the perfect place to relax in the tropical sun and the perfect gateway to the island's ancient treasures.
     The first evidence of civilisation on Cozumel dates back to the Mayans of 300 BC. Cozumel's importance to Mayan society came from its vantage point as a port and from its apparent powers of fertility. Mayan women would travel to the island in their thousands in the hope that the special properties of the area would furnish their children with good health and good luck. It is possible today to see the excavated ruins of San Gervasio, a holy Mayan monument, originally a temple built to honour Ixchel, the Mayan god of medicine, love and fertility.
     The Mayans' fortunes suffered after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1519 and many of its culture masterpieces were plundered. This beleaguered state, during which the island remained virtually deserted, remained for several hundred years until Cozumel's importance as a trading post in the gum trade and then as an American anti-submarine base during World War II revived its importance.
     On the south of the island, Chankanaab national park offers some delightful diving in a lagoon packed with a colourful array of tropical fish and turtles. It is also on this side of the island that the village of Cedral is situated, which includes a Mayan site decorated with ancient drawings.

     With a population of around 360,000, but almost 5 million in the entire urban area, Miami is Florida's most heavily populated city. It began to expand in 1896 when railway reached the city and Miami became a municipality. The pleasant climate and idyllic landscapes with numerous kilometres of beach propelled the city towards its first economic boom in the 1930s, although even greater development was to take place in the '50s.
     Thanks to the mild climate, particularly in the winter when the majority of major cities on the East Coast of the US are at freezing point, Miami quickly carved out a role for itself in the tourism industry.
      The city is also strategically located opposite the Caribbean and just 145km from Cuba: heavy Cuban immigration has consequently helped shape the identity of Miami in terms of culture and language. Indeed half of the city's population is now of Hispanic origin.
     The city is divided into distinct neighbourhoods, some of which have separate and independent local governments, such as Miami Beach. Biscayne Boulevard is the main attraction in the area around the port and is flanked by large parks such as Bayfront Park and the Bicentennial Park; to the south of the port lies the financial district.
     In downtown Miami, Flager Street is where to head to do a bit of shopping in the department stores and clothes, electronics, sports and jewellery shops. In the Metro Dade Center you can visit the Museum of Southern Florida, the city's main library, and the Museum of Fine Arts, which holds temporary modern art exhibitions. Coconut Grove is Miami's oldest district and has become, over time, an exclusive and refined residential area. Here you will find the local government offices, City Hall's home is an ex-1930s hangar. Other places of note in the neighbourhood include Peacock Park and the Dinner Key, Miami's tourist port.
     Little Havana is the Cuban district characterised by an almost Caribbean atmosphere where Spanish is spoken more readily than English. The main road Calle Ocho runs through the district, which is lined with shops and cafés, whilst other places of interest include the Museum of the Cuban Arts and Culture, the Museum of Science and the Máximo Gómez Park.
     Six kilometres to the east of Miami is Miami Beach, an island comprising a long, thin strip of sand connected to the mainland by a system of bridges. The southern end of Miami Beach is called South Beach and it is here that the city's recent rebirth began.
     Miami's image had been tarnished in the '80s by heavy crime, racial violence, and the drugs and gambling culture that has been synonymous with the city since the 1930s when it was one of the few places in the States untouched by Prohibition.
     The Art Deco Historic District, built up in the 1920s and noted for its pastel, rose, lavender and turquoise colour houses, has recently been restored and represents an excellent example of the urban restoration of modern architecture, attracting thousands of tourists each year. But Miami Beach also means the seafront and the famous Ocean Drive that separates the beach from the infinite numbers of bars and restaurants. An never-ending parade of bizarre cars, roller-skaters, skateboarders, and super-accessorised Harley Davidsons ensure that visitors remain amused.
     As with the rest of the culture in Florida, food and drink in Miami has a heavy Cuban and Caribbean influence: the fish and seafood caught in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico form the base of the most popular dishes.
     Florida is also known for its large-scale production of fruit and vegetables, and is one of the biggest producers in the States.