So we have returned from Jamaica. Let me just advise you now, there are a LOT of pictures to follow. I went a bit crazy, but don't worry, they aren't ALL on here. Let's begin at the beginning duh)...
We left for St. Louis last Wednesday after dinner. We ate with Luke, Ruthie and Aidan before heading to Mark and Rebecca's. The stay there was a short one as we had to be up and leaving their place at 3:30am to catch our flight. Our first flight took us to Dallas-Fort Worth for a couple hours. I snapped a picture of Chad checking the flight status outside lol. Actually, there was a giant cloud of black smoke and fire out near the runway. It turned out to be a fire training center but it was quite crazy looking from first glance.
From Dallas, we flew to Montego Bay, Jamaica. We arrived about 2pm. Once we figured out what time zone we were in, things went smoothly. I could have sworn that Jamaica would have been Eastern time zone, but clearly they know what time it is in their own country, so yeah, it was Central time. At the airport, Sandals has a great lounge with Red Stripe and treats. We helped ourselves of course.
Ocho Rios is about 40 miles (kilometers possibly?? Can't remember. They use km there) so we had to get on a big ol' bus to our resort. Everyone loaded up with their baggage and beverages and we were off on our scenic tour of Jamaica. They don't lie when people say they will try to sell you a certain illegal smoking substance everywhere there. Just on that bus ride alone, the BUS DRIVER tried to sell it to Chad THREE TIMES?! Poor Chad, so polite, had to keep nicely declining the man...
By the time we made it to Ocho Rios is was 5:30 and then we found our room. We had been upgraded as a returning guest down to the Riviera building on the ocean. It was gorgeous. That evening we ate at their Italian restaurant, took a short tour and headed to bed. By then it was 9 o'clock and we had been up since 3 that morning. Party animals I tell you.
The next morning we were up and at 'em by 8 and up to the pool. We decided to spend the day by the main Manor pool. It was BEAUTIFUL. We were there from 8 in the morning until 5 or so in the evening. We did get breakfast at the yummy buffet before we left and took a quick lunch break too. Other than that, it was us, drinks and the pool all day. Which brings me to my first point, Prince. In this photo you will see the most delicious, wonderful, glorious concoction ever given to me, the Purple Rain (I can hear Chad singing this to me now). They couldn't make these fast enough for us. YUM. The only down side, my dear husband serenading me with his rendition of Purple Rain ALL WEEK LONG.
Clearly with the non-stop flow of free alcohol, things were livened up by mid afternoon. Enter: pool volleyball. We were quite the players. I sucked because I was not tall enough and the silly water came up to my chest. Clearly I was not the MVP of the team. Though we were not the worst so high five to us!
At the end of the day, we were beat and hungry. Chad couldnt leave without making a friend of course...
Here is a shot of the Riviera building where we stayed from the front. The back faced the ocean. Our room was on the third floor facing the garden and pools.
I don't think I have any comments for this picture LOL
That evening we went to the Reef Terrace, a Carribbean restaurant for dinner. We stopped by of course to check out the shuffle board and talking parrot, Skippy.
The view from our patio in the evening...
Just some random photos from the first night...
At the Reef Terrace...
The Riviera bar...
On Saturday we headed over to the Dunn's River Waterfalls. It was beautiful. The falls span up some 600 feet. It was an awesome sight. You can hike/climb/shimmy/slide up the falls. It was quite the task to undertake, well for me. It was a really great time. We started to head up with another couple we met from North Carolina when this guy comes out of nowhere and tells us he will guide us up the falls. Sure, okay. So he gets us up safely, and what do you know, wants a tip/fee for it. Sheesh, we will begin to see a pattern here. We decide that we definitely need to do it again. The "guide" took us up on the speed tour in 25 minutes. The next time, we took our time, stopping to swim a bit and it was great.
Us at the beginning of the Falls. It empties into the ocean. This waterfall is why they call the town Ocho Rios. It is where eight rivers come together to the ocean.
Us and our new friends at the Falls
Looking down the falls from near the top
Yay! We made it!
Sunday we did a whole lot of nothing again. This time we went down to the smaller pool next to the ocean. It was a great view. We had lunch at the little "Sand Trap" next to the pool. Again, we were at the pool until dinner time. Yes, we are very productive.
View from our lunch table
At the Riviera pool
View from one of the bar decks
That evening we ate at what ended up being our favorite, Arizona's. It had a Soutwest/Tex Mex theme. This ended up our favorite since we figured out the night before that Jamaican Jerk Chicken and me do not mix. The spicy-hotness about killed me LOL
Getting ready to go to Arizona's by hanging out at the bar at the Riviera
Arizona's beachside dining. It was breathtakingly beautiful
What do we do during the day in Jamaica? Oh right, sit at the pool!!!
...or maybe handstands
View from the top of the Manor, back of the pool area
Manor pool area
Here is another shot of our room from the outside. It was really pretty in the room. Everything was mahogany and tile floors, big 4-poster bed, awesome patio with French doors...
Entrance to our building
View from the Riviera bar deck...ocean for miles
A most amazing sunset...
Again, more of our activities, or lack there of :)
Soaking up the rays. We did a good job of that. I have an excellent sunburn to prove it
Our last full day there, we did a jungle canopy zip line tour. It was crazy!! First, they drove us up a mountain to about 1500 ft above sea level. We then took a series of zip lines down the mountains. They ranged from 100ft to over 660 ft! There was even one that dropped you straight down. I was such a scaredy cat. Check out the sexy helmets!
It was tricky to get photos of people as they were swinging through the vines like Tarzan
Chad of the Jungle
Watch out for that tree!!
It was raining while we were doing this. They say that makes you go faster. Great, just what I was hoping for as I go soaring across some raging river in the Jamaican jungle!
The day before we left, I flip on the tv in the morning while getting ready for the pool and this is the headline on the Today Show...
AIRPLANE HIJACKED AT MONTEGO BAY INT'L AIRPORT
MATT LAUER SAY WHAT???? This was our airport!!! GOOD LORD!! Some crazy 20 year old kid took a gun and made it into the airport, onto a plane and took 186 people hostage before the military and police came and ended it. That was just super. Glad to hear that. I was already a spaz about flying but not of ALL the places they could hijack a plane, they choose this one. Lovely. So that helped me down some more Purple Rain LOL.
We ate at Arizona's our last night and enjoyed the resort. Our bus was leaving the next morning at 9am for the airport.
I swear I am just sleepy and not drunk in this picture :)
On our way out to the highway, I found this hilarious. Do you need your lawn edged? In Jamaica they don't use weedeaters, why no! Just whip out your machete??!?! Seriously, this dude was edging with a machete.
Just some various photos from the bus ride to the airport. The poverty of this country was astounding. It was rather sad, but you saw the roads just lined with places like these, oh and free roaming goats...
This was actually a "car wash"
And on the final note, while we were waiting for our plane in Miami. My husband says to me, "Hey is that that woman?" Huh? Woman? What? Holy crap, it's Charro! Yes, it's THAT woman! Coochie coochie!! There she was, hanging out in Miami airport with us. Hi Charro!! Too bad Chad was mister speedy-pants and wouldn't let me stop to harrass her!!!
Well we got home about midnight and it was a super trip. We were so excited to see Aidan the next morning!!!
Since it's been nice outside, his love of mowing has gone through the roof. He asks almost every day after work if he can mow.
We had cake that Aidan picked out for the occasion. One was a little cupcake-cake that looked like a little dog, complete with food bowl and fire hydrant. I tried getting a pic to show it but it just wasn't working. The other one he picked was a little cake with butterflies and flowers on it.
Last night Aidan got to go to his friend Garrett's birthday party. He was very much in the birthday mode as he had been practicing his "Happy Birthday" now for 2 days straight. They got to play at Burger King and then eventually ate some crazy red cupcakes (Thanks, Stephanie).
Garrett was mad about something at first and didn't want his picture taken ;)
Aidan in the tube "train"
Garrett and Aidan enjoying their ring pops
Wyatt trying to decide which cupcake he REALLY wanted...
Naida and Justin
Aidan showing me his icing face
I about peed my pants laughing so hard at Garrett and his icing. He looked like a little warrior Indian...
Aidan and Garrett trying to find Wyatt and Justin
It was the best time. We were there for over two hours. It was so funny. Aidan kept calling Garrett, Carrot for the longest time. He figured it out finally though ;) The boys really get along well. They are all just about the exact same age, within a couple of months so looks like Justin's big day is up next!
*Miracle defined as the seeds (or I should say SEED) that Aidan and I planted in our flower pots out front, have actual begun to produce said flowers!? It should also be noted that I have never been able to grow anything in the plant world. The lovely flowers I had out there last year bloomed ones and then turned green and eventually died. So THIS is QUITE THE MIRACLE
