Jamaican Paradise – Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the second largest city in Jamaica. It’s mainly divided into two parts: Gloucester Avenue or the Hip Strip, as the marketing people changed the name, the main tourist strip and downtown, or the city proper, where most tourists don’t really venture. The Hip Strip has a prized asset that is Montego Bay lined with miles and miles of coral reefs and beaches.
The name Montego Bay is derived from the Spanish name Manteca Bahia (Lard Bay) due to the city’s lard manufacturing industry which is made possible by the wild boards that roam the area. The architecture of the buildings is a mixture of the gingerbread wooden houses and modernity. One of its most famous resorts is Doctor’s Cave Beach, which is said to be full of mineral springs and very clear and sparkling water. The Bay has a wide selection of hotels for accommodation ranging from well-established luxury hotels to small, intimate new venues.
There are also many shopping arcades where tourists can go to buy souvenirs. Holiday Village, across from the Holiday Inn, is known to be the largest mall there, with its extensive options of bond shops, craft and souvenir shops, and also has an art gallery.
Sam Sharpe Square, which is located in the center of the city, is buzzing with activity. There is the Cage, formerly a prison for escaped slaves and the Palace of Justice which was built in 1804 and was destroyed in a fire about 20 years ago.
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