The Blue Hole, St. Ann and St. Mary, Jamaica

The Blue Hole is a place hidden up in the mountains with waterfalls and natural swimming pools, on the border of the parishes of St. Ann and St. Mary, at about 25 minutes from the town of Ocho Rios, in Jamaica. You can find two sections; the main Blue Hole and the waterfall of about 20 feet in height. You will find a path going along the river and you can walk from one to another. You can jump into the Blue Hole or just walk around if you prefer; the only thing is that you must be very careful because the rocks could be very slippery. The best thing to do, specially if you are there for the first time, is to hire a guide, he could tell you where it is better to walk or jump. Remember you are in a place that isn’t too commercialized yet and there’s no first medical aid nearby if something happens to you. On the other hand, the good thing is that you are really visiting a place in nature.

Tips

The site is open form 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM.

You must pay the entrance (15,00U$) and provide some extra money for your guide’s tip. If you are going with a group of 10 people or more, you can negotiate the price of the entrance.

Don’t forget to bring your water shoes, your swimsuit, a towel and a waterproof camera.

If you feel adventurous, there is a Tarzan swing you can use to jump into the hole.

Try not to visit the place when the cruise ships are docked in Ocho Rios, you’ll be better when there are a few people visiting the place.

Varadero, Hicacos, Cuba

Varadero is a tourist destination located on the Hicacos peninsula, on the north coast of Cuba, with a million visitors a year, reputed to have more than 20 km of white sandy beaches. It is 140km from The Havana. The peninsula has 1,200 meters at its widest point and is separated from the island of Cuba by the Kawama Channel, but a bascule bridge connects it to the island. Punta Hicacos, is the nearest point of the United States.

Tips

You will find all inclusive packages at any time even with discounts depending on the company or the chosen hotel. Compare quality-price. If you like natural areas, you have the reserve of Punta Hicacos. Here you will find caves like the Cueva de San Ambrosio with pre-Columbian murals, a lagoon, Laguna Mangon and desert beaches. There are also 23 dive sites. Visit the Casa Dupont reflecting the origins of Varadero in 1930. It belonged to Irenee Dupont de Nemours. Bring items you are used to, especially toilet items or medicine because you can’t still find all what you would like on the island. Take a day trip to The Havana it’s worth it, you’ll learn a lot of history of the island. If you like music you want, go out to discover the local groups with dance demonstrations. And if your desire is just to relax under the sun, nothing better than a delicious ‘mojito’ (sweet drink made with folded fresh mint, sparkling water, lemon juice and rum).

Mausoleo di Elena, Rome, Italy

The Mausoleum of Elena is a monument of Roman times, which is along the Via Casilina in Rome and is the third mile of the ancient Via Labicana; part of a complex of historic buildings from the late imperial times. Built between 326 and 330 in the time of Emperor Constantine I, it was supposed to be his own tomb, but it was eventually used for his mother Elena, who died in 328. This area was a cemetery of the Singulares Equites (cavalry corps of the Roman army). The monument has kept the grave of Elena until the eleventh century, when the coffin was carried into the church of the Lateran (now preserved in the Vatican Museums). The original height of the monument was 25 meters, but today it is only 18 meters; it is a building with a circular plan. There is a lower cylinder of octagonal shape with recesses; one of which was the entrance, and an upper cylinder, smaller, with eight arched windows and a dome that to lighten its weight, empty amphoraes were included in the construction(in Italian ‘Pignatte’) now visible due to the collapse of time and this is why it is called Tor Pignattara (meaning Tower of amphoraes) and the surrounding area is also known under this name.

Tips

You can get to the mausoleum by the street of San Marcellino (adjacent to the church of Saint Peter and Marcellinus in Duas Lauros).