The Last Tour Bus Ride I hope to take

Most of you may be aware that I have a fear of many forms of transportation. Airplanes, Trains, other peoples driving automobiles and yes, Tour Buses. After the great Tour Bus debacle in Tuscany a few years back, I had hoped not to take another bus. ...but how could I refuse. I am here in Montego Bay and I have the opportunity to take a tour bus ride of the west part of the island with Milo, his conference buddies and their wives..(all of which are now my new friends). As I saw it, I could take a xanax and be fuzzy around the edges, skip out on the tour, or WOMAN UP- and conquer my fear. I chose to conquer my fear. The bus was lovely and blissfully airconditioned (until it became Ice Station Zebra), but I had a sweater. Our first stop was to be breakfast. I guess I expected eggs to be served, so I was not prepared when we pulled into what I guess is the Jamaican equivalant of Mickey D's where the primary breakfast food is beef and cheese in a dough pocket. I don't eat red meat and when I heard it was spicey, well I chose a veggie pocket called a Callaloo. It is thick bread with "amaranth" leaves, similar to a tasteless spinach. yum. Back on the bus where we drove for 3 hours on winding roads through excessive poverty and rain forest. I must take a moment to say that though the poor people of Jamaica are really really poor, they are happy and smiling. I spent a great deal of that 3 hours reflecting on how we should appreciate what we have, large or small and just love life...back on said bus, still bumping along, many of us green in the gills. By the time we arrived at Appleton Rum Factory several of us wondered how we would ever get back on that bus. Not being a rum drinker, I didn't think that drinking into oblivion would be helpful and perhaps even harmful. However, our delightful excellent guide gave those of us with the "queasies" a shot of Appleton Berry Hill rum. It had allspice in it and it really settled the stoach, with no adverse effects. After the really pleasant tour, we realized we would not have time to see anything else that day considering it was a 3 hour ride back to the resort and we insisted on a few stops this time. We drove back and stopped twice. Once for lunch at a unique seaside restaurant where I ordered the fish. So help me, I didn't think his face would be intact. Yet, there he was, staring at me. I tried covering his head to avoid eye contact, but lets just say that the rice and beans was delicious. One more stop on the way home to stretch our legs by a beach, then back to the hotel for a late fun-filled dinner. Many friendships were made on that bus even though language was a barrier for most of us. I guess a common queasy stomach breaks down many barriers.

British Pub Night

A Few Photos from Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

The World Forum of Catastrophe Programmes Dr. Simon Young, CEO Caribbean Rish Managers Ltd - Ms. Desiree Cherebin, Caribbean Catatsrophe Risk Fund, Board member - Mr. Devon Rowe, Director General, Ministry of Finance, Jamaica - Dr. Warren Smith, President, Caribbean Development Bank - Mr. Milo Pearson, Chairman, Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Fund - Host

Thunder and Lightning and Friends

It's Monday morning in Paradise and the skies are blue and the sun is shining. Each evening has been filled with thunder and lightning. Tremendous "booms" that shake the building with light shows to rival Disney. They are fabulous. Most of the time there is very little rain as the storms circle the island. Last night I sat on the veranda and watched the show for hours. We met Simon and his wife Margaret and their daughters Zoe and Mia for dinner last night. Fun fun evening. I may join them on the swimming beach today. The beach in front of our place is not a swimming beach, but you can wade out for quite awhile. Just lots of rock and seaweed. Most of the folks for Milos Forum are arriving today so I will probably run in to some old friends and make some new one. I am looking forward to it.

You can dress 'em up.......

Last evening we went to dinner at a very nice Italian restaurant here at the resort. As we were leaving this amazing outdoor area scattered with twinkle lights and people dressed in their fancy eatin' clothes....my skirt began to fall off. Really.It was too big to begin with, with an elastic waist, but my wardrobe is not condusive to a new dress for dinner every evening. (One does NOT wear shorts or capris to dinner in the Caribbean). But, I digress, as I was trying to hike my skirt up nonchalantly while still holding on to my doggy bag, I turned my ankle. It was quite the spectacle. Today my ankle has a bump on it the size of an egg, and I have a very pronounced limp. I can hardly wait for dinner tonight to see what will happen next. Good grief.

Montego Bay Jamaica October 2011

This is our second full day at Half Moon Resort and other than a few posts on Facebook, I have been too busy to post...and by too busy, I mean laying on the beach or by the pool. Our flights out were uneventful which is a very good thing. We spent our first night in Dallas and had a really nice upgraded room. The exterior wall was floor to ceiling windows, with a lovely night view of the parking garage. Ah haha. It was actually a very nice room.
Two flights later we arrived in Jamaica at Montego Bay airport. Milo tells me this is far preferable than going to Kingston. After a long but efficient line at customs, we zipped through immigration and our baggage was waiting for us. The baggage area is surrounded by little waiting rooms labeled with each of the resort names. I felt ours was the nicest, but I could be partial. We signed in and were made comfortable in overstuffed chairs and sofa. And, by golly, I looked up and there was Elmo. Yes THE ELMO. Evidently he moonlights for one of the other resorts who specialize in family entertainment. Who would have though we would run into Elmo in Jamaica?
The Half Moon Resort had a van pick us up. It was just us and another couple with 3 small children. They were delightful children and it turns out they are staying just a few doors down from us so we see them often. They fill us in on their adventures so that we know what to do next. So cute.
Once we were checked in, in the oppulent open air lobby with an amazing view of the ocean, we were taken by golf cart to our "room". I should mention that the entire resort is very British Colonial and huge. (400 acres)We have a private enclosed entrance with a spiral staircase. When the door to the room was opened, Milo and I were in shock. The girls who made our reservations had us upgraded and wanted it to be a surprise. It was one heck of a surprise. It is truly an apartment, except for the kitchen which is just a galley type kitchen. The bedroom and bathroom are larger than ours at home and are elevated from the living room. We need stairs to climb into the BED! The entire front room is made up of window paned doors that open to the veranda. The veranda is just above the most amazing view of the Caribbean Sea we have ever seen. UNBELIEVABLE. We are still pinching ourselves. Just outside the back door is the swimming pool (one of 52 on the property). It is small and available to only 5 or 6 of the villas so we are basically alone. Same with the beach. It is not a swimming beach, that is just down the road a piece, but it is fairly private. Today I was the only one there all day.