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Cocktails in Jamaica

junio 5th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in No category - (0 Comments)

It was the 1980s and kids were given a movie star idol who couldn’t be any greater: he knew how to fly a fighter jet, he’s adorable in a button-down and socks and was amazing making cocktails of every color and flavor. I’m sure that with that information alone you know I’m referring to Tom Cruise, who at the time was an established Hollywood star on the scene who made a huge first impact thanks to his good looks, making women fall in love with him on and off the silver screen.

I’m sure that in watching him win over Elisabeth Shue as a summer cocktail artist in Cocktail, more than one person was captivated, not only by the characters, but also by the film’s set: the always hospitable Jamaica where the warmth of the sun and the sound of the waves make everyone ecstatic, and even more so if the bartender making the mojitos is as easy on the eyes as Tom Cruise.

But, since those things only happen in the movies, perhaps we should focus on what the island has to offer, lest we run the risk of disappointment. It’s much better to visit as a couple, to be able to bask in the romanticism of the area from the very first day, but make sure the movie plot doesn’t happen to you and a coiffed know-it-all tries to take your girl, beware.

I should talk about Jamaica little by little since this island has so much to offer. But one of the things you absolutely must see are its incredible waterfalls, which will not only amaze you with their visual effect, but also deafen you with the sound of thousands of liters of waters pouring over the mountains in a natural freshwater paradise that makes you want to stay there forever. And, if you want to bring back memories from the film, we will leave that to you, it’s not included in the promotion.

Or, if you prefer something more historically and traditionally Jamaican, look back to the golden age of the sugar industry. It’s an unfortunate memory for those who were enslaved on the numerous plantations that made the island the largest sugar producer in the world in the 18th century. Today it is just a memory of one of the distinguishing marks of the history of the beautiful Caribbean island.

Back at the Iberostar hotel, stop at the bar, order a combinado and sit and watch the sea (or the waiter) and enjoy the crisp sweetness of this tempting destination.

Image: Cocktail (Property of Touchstone Pictures)

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The Spaghetti Western: A Taste of Italy

noviembre 21st, 2011 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)

 

Rather like the best 1970s disaster movies or the science fiction B-movies of the 1960s, the spaghetti Western still boasts a strong and dedicated following many decades after the last movie was produced and the dust, quite literally settled. And like these other genres, even those who look back fondly at the age of sharp shooters in dusty saloons remember the films not so much for their artistic merit as for the joy they brought to a whole generation of young movie fans.

What Were Spaghetti Westerns?

While the original westerns were filmed in the American Southwest, spaghetti Westerns such as the famous A Few Dollars More were shot in cheaper locations in Europe. The Spanish deserts of Andalucia were a popular filming location, as was Cabras in western Sardinia. The Italian film director Sergio Leone, known as the father of the spaghetti Western genre, had long been fascinated with the American Old West and in the 1960s embarked on his grand project of recreating the Hollywood western genre of movie but with a relatively tiny budget.

The tiny village of San Salvatore di Cabras was transformed into a Mexican desert outpost, complete with saloon bar and the obligatory swinging doors. Movies were churned out at an impressive rate, quantity clearly taking precedence over quality. It was reported that western Sardinia was the perfect location for Leone’s productions, not only for the arid landscapes that resembled the American Southwest but also for some of the shady characters that were known to live in this part of Italy.

The Legacy of Sergio Leone

Cabras now is a small sleepy town that is a pleasant drive south of the popular Sardinian resort of Alghero. A visit to Cabras will provide a flavor of Italy of course, but will probably feel a million miles from the American badlands of sharp-shooting cowboys.

True to form for an enterprise that was focused on low costs, most of the buildings put up by the movie makers are long gone. But look closely and you might still find one or two of those Mexican façades belonging to another time and another place. Perhaps the Wild West of Sergio Leone is still alive in Sardinia after all!

Photo | nicksarebi

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Y Tu Mamá También: Celebrating the Mexican Road Trip

octubre 17th, 2011 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)

What to do in Mexico? Movie y tu mamá también

Y Tu Mamá También: The Story

When it was released in 2001, few suspected that the Mexican movie “Y Tu Mamá También” would become such a worldwide hit. The story is simple enough: two bored teenagers try to impress an attractive twenty-something at a wedding with tales of a fabled beach. Although she isn’t interested in keeping them company at first, when she later learns of her husband’s wayward behavior she accepts the boys’ offer and joins them on their road trip to the coast.

The tale follows the unlikely threesome as they make their way through the Mexican landscape. Boastful tales of conquests soon spill over into emotional outbursts and an inevitable series of sexual liaisons. The ending is poignant, sad even, but fits perfectly with the overall mood of the movie. I won’t spoil it any further for those who haven’t yet seen it.

“Y Tu Mamá También” is set in Mexico City and along the western coast of the country, but I challenge anyone to take a road trip in Mexico after watching the movie and not think back to the scenes of the three lead characters drifting along the long straight highways.

Traveling in Mexico

For many folks who come to the Riviera Maya on vacation, the experience of traveling in Mexico is all about taking a rental car from one of the main resorts along the Yucatan coast to the major Mayan sites.  The drive to Chichen Itza from Cancun is an easy two to three hour slog along a modern highway.

If you have time and are looking for a bit of adventure, it’s well worth turning off the main road and taking the slow way through the villages, stopping along the way for a bite to eat and a drink. It’s here where you’ll find the rural Mexico that is depicted in movies such as “Y Tu Mamá También” – and you may even find two not-so-young men looking for something they lost and have yet to find…

Photo | borderlys

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James Bond Movies and Jamaica

septiembre 2nd, 2011 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)

Jamaica James Bond

James Bond has been a childhood hero for more than one generation of young (and not so young) boys. The glamorous lifestyle full of  fast cars, private jets and beautiful girls has provided the perfect escapism for fans around the world. There is another important element of spice to all of the 007 movies, however: Whatever life-or-death situation the different James Bonds have faced they are invariably in a glamorous part of the world, lined with palm trees, yachts and luxury villas.

James Bond Movie Locations

If you’re one of the millions who have admired the backdrops of many a James Bond scene, then you may be surprised to learn that much of the filming has taken place in Jamaica. Remember the famous scene in “Dr. No” where Ursula Andress emerges bikini-clad from the ocean? That was filmed at Laughing Waters, close to Ocho Rios on the north coast of the island. And the mangrove swamp where Bond (Sean Connery) and Honey are captured by the dragon tank? That’s a little west of Ocho Rios.

Ocho Rios also features in “Live and Let Die” with Roger Moore as Bond; it is the location of the voodoo nightclub scene with Baron Samedi. The bus chase that follows, in which an old London bus is used, takes place on the northwest highway between the popular Montego Bay resort and Lucea.

Ian Fleming in Jamaica

So why the fondness for Jamaica as a filming location for these movies? You need look no further than Bond’s creator Ian Fleming to understand why the island is James Bond’s second home. Fleming was so enamored of Jamaica that he built his own home on the island and spent around 20 winters here. It was during this time that he went from being a writer for British newspapers to gaining international fame for his James Bond stories.

The Real James Bond

Even the name of James Bond can be traced back to Fleming’s life in Jamaica. Who was the original Bond? It turns out that he was an ornithologist who lived on Jamaica and whose parents allowed Fleming to stay on their property. The name was chosen as it was considered to be completely ordinary. Little did Fleming (or Bond) realize at that time just how famous it would become.

Photo | EON Productions/Danjaq

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Against All Odds: Football, With a Maya Twist

agosto 26th, 2011 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)

Maya Ball Court at Chichen Itza Iberostar

An out-of-favor football player turns up in Cozumel in search of a girl. They fall in love amid danger, dirty deals and murder. Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward add the necessary sparkle while a soundtrack featuring the well-known Phil Collins title song ensures worldwide success.

But it may be the spectacular locations on the Yucatan peninsula chosen for “Against All Odds” that really steal the show. Chichen Itza, recently listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, forms a spectacular backdrop for the movie’s pivotal scene, where modern-day football is compared to the ball games once played at this ancient site.

Maya Ball Games, Anyone?

You thought American football was rough on the players? Maya football was a brutal game with a particularly gruesome finale and is considered to have been an important part of Maya culture. The game was played on a T-shaped ball court, examples of which can be found at sites across Mexico and Central America. Players would wear heavy leather padding across their chest, arms and knees, along with a stone belt with which they would make contact with the ball. The aim of the game was to keep the ball (similar to a soccer ball but far heavier) from touching the ground and this was done by using the elbows, knees or hips. Points were scored if the ball was hit against a stone ring on the side of the court (above right, in the picture).

Exactly how the game was played is largely unclear, yet perhaps it’s the gruesome ending of a Maya football game that is most disputed. Many believe that the losing captain was beheaded and his life offered as a sacrifice to the gods. Others suggest that it was in fact the winning captain who was sacrificed; after all, it was important to offer the most valuable gift to gain favor with the deities. That someone was killed at the end of a game is the one thing that’s not in doubt.

Visiting Ball Courts at Chichen Itza and Tulum

Apart from being an admittedly high-risk sport, the ball games were also an integral part of religious observance during the centuries of pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Every community of significance had a ball court, and easily accessible examples can be found in both Chichen Itza and Tulum. Trips to both sites are within easy reach of the resorts along the Yucatan coast, and make for a great day trip from Playa Paraiso or Cancun.

Photo | Andy Jarosz

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Capture the Magic of Adventure Films in Morocco

agosto 12th, 2011 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)

What to do in Morocco

When you think about films associated with Morocco, your mind can’t help but shift to black and white, as the faces of Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart appear along with the soundtrack of “Casablanca.” However, this mythical movie was shot entirely in California, though it has left us with the memory of a romantic, but dangerous, Morocco.

Many movies have been filmed in this African nation, which prides itself on its own version of Hollywood or, as we Spaniards would say, its own Almería in the age of Westerns. One city in particular stands out for its popularity amongst American film productions which frequent the famous Atlas Studios: the city of Ouarzazate. This city is unique in that it combines its location in a valley with its proximity to both mountains and desert, with photogenic adobe houses that have acted as the set for a variety of films, including “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra.” The film crews for other productions such as “The Sheltering Sky”, “The Mummy” and our beloved 007 in “The Living Daylights” have also wandered these same streets.

Set in the south of the country, this city is a must-see for film lovers who, in addition to recreating scenes from their favorite flics, can enjoy the spicy Moroccan cuisine and delicious mint teas (just be careful not to fall into the pot like Obelix!).

As in many other movie towns, visiting the studios is a tourist attraction in itself, and though it doesn’t have the typical attractions you may find in other movie-themed parks, lovers of classic cinema may evoke their silver screen memories and imagine Elizabeth Taylor dressed as Cleopatra exiting the temple in the luxurious recreation of Egypt in Joseph Leo Mankiewicz’s film, which was also shot here.

As with any city so close to the desert, summer is not really the best time to visit. But since we can’t always choose our vacation dates, just remember to load your suitcase with light, white clothing and end your day with a refreshing swim at any of the beaches you’ll find only a few kilometers away on Morocco’s gorgeous coast.

Image | Universal Pictures

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Why Tom Cruise Chose Jamaica for His “Cocktail” Bar

agosto 1st, 2011 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)
Beach Bar Tjeerd on Flickr Creative Commons License

Jamaica Cocktail Bar

Remember Cocktail, the 1988 movie with Tom Cruise as a New York bartender who follows his dreams and sets up a beach bar in Jamaica? No great classic there, but this beach flic with a twist (so to speak) belongs to that elite club of movies that, despite a lack of any obvious artistic merit, are remembered fondly for decades.

But I’m not here to trash the movie. Why did Cruise’s character choose Jamaica as the location for his perfect bar? It should hardly surprise: The lush island south of Cuba is known not only for its abundance of sun, sea and sand, but also for the production of rum, one of its most important exports. So what is the story with Jamaican rum, and why is it such an important part of the island’s culture?

Jamaican Rum

Jamaica’s links with rum go all the way back to the 17th century. Slaves working on the sugar plantations discovered that the molasses that were a by-product of the sugar refining process could be fermented into alcohol. By distilling this mixture a pure liquid was produced: the first rum. The color of the rum depends on the amount of time the molasses are allowed to ferment and Jamaican rum is traditionally considered to be a dark rum.

Rum quickly became the drink of choice for the Royal Navy and its influence spread far and wide. The demand for molasses would be a critical component of the slave trade throughout the 18th century, while distilleries were soon established in New England and became the region’s most important industry. Rhode Island rum was even considered a legal currency in Europe for some time, on a par with gold.

Jamaican Beach Bars

In a modern cocktail bar, rum is only one of many spirits on offer. Even so, a bottle of Jamaican rum does still enjoy a strong association with the Caribbean and with the laid-back beach lifestyle that holidaymakers travel to the island to enjoy. Take a stool by any cocktail bar and you’ll be able to choose from a bewildering range of rum-based Jamaican recipes. And if the bartenders are anything like Brian and Doug from the movie Cocktail, you can sit back while your drink is being prepared and watch the show.

Photo | Tjeerd

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