I Shaved My Legs For This

Monday, July 10, 2006

You're in Jamaica Mon....

Half way between Chicago and Jamaica I start to feel the beginning of the UTI........But I still have no idea what it is because it's been years since I've had one.......besides I am too excited about this trip and all my eyes are about to behold.....I see paradise in my head, but most importantly something tells me I am not going to be disappointed.

As shown in the previous entry the Island itself is gorgeous but I'm telling ya.....where the ocean meets the sand is my sanctuary! What I loved about sandals is that most of it is exposed to the outside, very few walls.....open.....airy.........breezy by mid morning....and this time of year a little humid for me, but I tried to remember I'm in JAMAICA!!!!!!!I have NOTHING to complain about.

The lobby is the main building but really only has one wall around it....the rest is views of the pools, the swim up bars, the palm trees and the ocean.....most of the dining area of the main dining room called 'Bay side' has only a back wall (hiding the kitchen) the rest is open and airy......like your sitting on a balcony.........loved it!!

Beach side has all the ocean views, the palm trees, the beach, the ocean breezes, the view of all the water craft, the heavily thatched cabanas to enjoy the ocean view but not the mid day sun....most importantly the sound of the ocean.......I can never give it justice by trying to describe it....just close your eyes and you will hear it.

A few picture for your view pleasure..........lol

The first three are from my Daughters balcony.......

kmh 2006

This shot is taken from my cabana that I pirated almost every morning after Jim and I took our morning strolls on the beach....hand in hand.....half way in and out of the ocean.

kmh2006

All around the resort were beautiful views........from the oceans to the gardens and with most being exposed to the outside the sun dappled pretty much everything.....truly a beautiful place without being over the top gaudy.....The woodwork is crafted mainly of dark mahogany.......I love mahogany! And painted all the color of the tropics.....I tild Jim when we get back I am turning our bedroom into Jamaica....I have already been into wrought iron and distressed woods and I pretty much already have the billowy sheath drapery....I just have to spruce it up with a raised canopy bed made of mahogany and throw in a splash of caribbean colors! lol

Piano Bar..... light and airy......love it!

kmh 2006

I'll post more later..........Ü

Sunday, July 9, 2006

Touring the Island....fast and the furious!

First please excuse the quality of the photo's, I'm afraid my camera that has been picture perfect is about on its last leg, it's been faithful and brilliant but it's getting old and please take into consideration I am flying by ( about 75 miles an hour) in a mini bus for 8, through hair pin turns and driven by a man who's country has no right of ways on the open road...........not only do you have to avoid other vehicles and pedestrians but at anytime you may have to dodge a wandering goat, steer, donkey or run away rooster! lol

On of the many coves along the way.....

kmh 2006

This is the actual color of the ocean..........see all the subtle hints of blue and turquoise?? I love this COLOR!!!

kmh 2006

Some more remnants of the hurricane that blew through the Island in 2004 I think......Ivan

kmh 2006

Limos, airplanes and lil buses.....Oh My! lol

I figure the best way to remember everything I wanted to share was to start from the beginning........

Jim and I decided to hire a limo to take us to the airport since we had to be there very early in the morning, We picked up Tony and Melissa on the way. The limo was a white stretch limo and it was nice to sit back and enjoy the ride before the coming of all the different players. When I booked the limo the person who answered the phone asked if I wanted a town car or a stretch and when I said "stretch" he asked if I was sure because there was only 4 of us...........this is when I mentioned that one of the four was a bride to be and they understood perfectly that meant lots of luggage......Tony had his Tuxedo to bring along with his Brothers.... so we needed the space! lol

The Airport and the coming of the families was blessedly uneventful..........The 1st Wife and I did all the small talk and the 2 DH's that we brought with us did the ignoring........I think Jim and the 1st Wife exchanged one complete sentence between the two of them and then polite avoidance......That made Melissa VERY happy! The airport scene will be classified as part of the many "Weird" moments I'm sure we all felt but kept to ourselves.

Another pleasant surprise is that we were all seated very far apart from each other. Melissa and Tony up front, Tony's family "Right Center" Jim and I " back left center" and 1st wife and her family back of the plane. This gave us all time to sit and breath the same air but not have to interact with one another. The other two couples that were friends of M and T were already on the Island.

Ahhhhh now the Island......incredibly beautiful, incredibly lush and green and incredibly colorful, nothing soothes me faster the colors of the Caribbean.........turquoise, coral, muted yellows and oranges...........just lovely. The one thing I wished I would of thought to do before taking off to Jamaica was learn more about their beliefs and customs. I'll do my homework a lil better next time I fly off to a new country........RESPECT is a huge part of their culture. So consider is a huge compliment when a Jamaican say's "Respect" to you and remember to answer with "Respect" back to them and look them in the eye when you say it.

Another thing that I'll remember about Jamaica was the very wealthy and the very poor just live a few steps away from each other on the Island. Across the road we weredriving on (the resort was 1.5 hours away from the Airport which was located in Montego Bay and we were staying in Negril.) on the Island side were some really beautiful Island stucco homes and then on the ocean side were these very small shanty's maybe the size of a one car garage, with corrugated steel roofs and walls held together with plywood and cardboard, they looked like little fishing shacks and if it wasn't for the laundry drying out on the line near them you would never think somebody lived there.......Some didn't have any indoor plumbing or electricity...Hurrican Ivan really did a number on this Island a few years ago and part were never rebuilt.

We could of taken a short plane ride (10 minutes) on a smaller plane to Negril, but I was looking forward to the 1.5 hours on the tiny little 8 passenger tour bus......Did I mention no one has the right of way in Jamaica??? lol It's a free for all!!!!!!! lol lol lol

kmh 2006

Here are a few shots of the scenery on the way to Negril.......I'll post a follow up entry with just photo's and a lil bit of info maybe later today and then devote tomorrows entry to an account of our first day on the Island and more photo's of the resort.

kmh July 2006

Ya Mon.....My Jamaican Prologue Mon......No Problem Mon!

I haven't had to time to sit and sort all the moments and memories from our Daughter's wedding in Jamaica yet, so bare with me.....I'm flying by the seat of my pants and since I don't want to leave anything out, I might be jumping back and forth and for that I am sorry...........I can talk about the beautiful moments, I can talk about the strange moments and I can talk about the times that tempers flared a wee bit, but what I will find extremely hard to share are the time that hurt my heart and there were a few of them.......I'm not sure if it was just the situation, or just me, or just an over sight....but I'll share what I can.

By the way........I was to have left for Jim's families reunion this morning but because of an UTI (urinary tract infection) that reared it's ugly head....Oh, I'd say somewhere above the clouds in the plane over Georgia I have to see my Doctor on Monday morning......So no road trip for me, thank you very much! Now if I was a man I might tempt it, I could stop and pee every half hour on the side of the road, but since I am not equipped to stand and pee that is out of the question on the side of the road! lol

When a man stops to pee on the side of the road it could look like many things, maybe he sees something where he's looking, maybe he just needed to stop the car and stretch his legs for a bit, maybe he's in a deep thought or taking in a great view..........but when a woman stops to do that.........it's very apparent to everyone in view of her exactly what she is doing.......no wondering what she is doing, no way to make it look like anything else.....it is/was a road side emergency! lol lol lol

Another by the way........did I tell you I have been coffee free for 8 days??? I pick the weirdest times to give up chit! lol lol lol

Saturday, July 8, 2006

More teazer shots.....MY BAD! lol

This is where we stayed...................

kmh July 2006

And this is one of the many gorgeous views from inside the resort! This is one of the two outdoor swimming pools that are only a stones throw away from the beautiful turquoise colors of the Caribbean.......lovely isn't it?

kmh July 2006