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.