Tweet
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
-
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Hi Jaqui!
Great pix!
I'm assuming your camera is digital. I had the same problem with the delay in trying to catch action photos.
See if you have a setting for continuous shots... not sure what it's called, I'd have to dig out my manual.
Anyway, it's a setting where you press the shutter button and hold it and it will take continuous photos until you release the button. I think mine will take up to 9 or 10 in a row.
So I'd start shooting and manage to catch the shot I wanted somewhere in the series.
It's also really cool to shuffle thru them on the camera display, it looks like an animated little film clip. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
Good luck.
Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Very Nice!Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Q.K - Thank you! Yes, my camera is digital. It doesn't have the continous shots. (I think it is called "burst") I wish it did have it though, maybe I could have been able to capture the moment. lol I just got a new camera and it has all that cool stuff on it, so, watch out next year! I will be a picture shootin' fool! lol
goldilocks - Thanks, glad you like!Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Day 8 - Friday
I was awake this morning at 5:30. The rain from last night has moved away and I again get to experience the dawning of another glorious day. The silence this morning is only broken by the soft chirps of birds as they too begin to awaken to see what the day will bring.
I open up my journal and can’t help but read through all of my entries. This brings everything back to me as vivid as if I were experiencing it all over again. The memories that John and I have made together on this vacation will be treasured for eternity.
We will be leaving for the airport at 1:00 so I know there is still time for one last visit to town, one last swim in the sea and one last walk on the beach. I still have to pack, but that will only take a few minutes so that is the last thing on the agenda today.
John finally awakens and joins me on the balcony for a few minutes, then it is time to shower and head to breakfast. When we get to the dining room, it is only our nephew and his fiancee there. Shane tells us that Mark and Maureen had already eaten and were going up to pack. We hurry through breakfast and go out front to catch a cab into town.
We get out at the roundabout and head toward the river, then the craft market. John was taken back by the constant barrage of voices calling to us. I tried to tell him what worked for me, and he really did try, but he couldn’t stop feeling like he was being yelled at. He later told me that it wasn’t so much the vendors that got to him, it was the non-stop offers of drugs. He would only stop at the vendors who weren’t as vocal toward us and we had a nice time talking with a number of them. We wandered over to the fishing boats next and John, being the avid fisherman, got into a lively conversation with one of the guys who was unloading fish from his boat. John told the guy about their failed attempt at catching fish on the Charter Boat, and he told John to look him up on our next visit and he would guarantee to put him on some good fish. John is definitely going to take him up on that offer next year! Next we walked back out to the road and caught a cab down to Margaritaville. We hadn’t been on this end of the beach yet and wanted to check it out before we left. The prices at Margaritaville were really high so we walked down the beach and found drinks for a better price. We tried our first Patties when we saw a guy walking the beach selling them. They were soooo good!!!
We were starting to run out of time because I wanted one last dip in the sea, so we hailed a cab and headed back to the hotel. We get changed, still haven’t packed yet lol, and take our final stroll down to the beach. It is probably just me, but the water seemed even bluer and warmer than any other day. The sand seemed more bright and even the chairs seemed more comfortable. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] We took our rafts out one last time and floated side by side in silence as each of us was lost in our own thoughts. I was so relaxed that I nearly fell asleep! Lol After a bit John and I came in and walked to the Office to bid farewell to the wonderful people there. My buddy, the shell man wasn’t there. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] I was bummed because I really wanted to tell him good-bye. God, I pray that the Office is still there when we return next year...
When we got back to our chairs, Shane and Kathleen had already left so it was time for us to acknowledge that it was indeed time to get showered and packed. As we walked toward our room I was looking at everything trying to make sure there was not one detail I was missing. Looking at the gardens now it is hard to believe that just a few days ago they were weakly showing their beauty. Now the flowers were standing proudly for all to see and had more buds ready to burst forth with their vibrant colors.
I let the air out of the rafts and left them, along with some gifts and goodies, for our maid. Did a quick double-check that we had everything and took our last walk to the lobby. Everyone from our group was already there so we all sat down to wait for our transportation. I asked Maureen where she and Mark had been all day and she told me that they had been sitting right here. All day? I asked in disbelief. Maureen said, “ Yep, as soon as we got done with breakfast with got our bags and have been sitting here ever since.” That was 6 hours ago! Why the h#$@ did you do that?!!! She just rolled her eyes, pointed at Mark and said “HE is ready to go home”. I knew that was coming, why in the world did I ask a dumb question like that. Lol I came very close to giving Mark a piece of my mind, but I bit my tongue because I knew it wouldn’t make any difference anyway. I just can’t understand why he didn’t at least try to enjoy himself instead of ruining Maureen’s vacation as well. Mark will NEVER go on vacation with us again! Lol
It was about this time that I saw what is probably the best sight of our entire trip. Amy and Brandon came walking around the corner and she had a smile on her face!! She was still walking very gingerly but SHE HAD A SMILE ON HER FACE!! Maureen, Kathleen and I jumped up and ran over to them, all talking at once! Lol She told us that she remembered that we were leaving today and just had to try to see us before we left to say good-bye. She said the doctor had been to see her every day to check her back thoroughly. He still wants her to get x-rays when she gets home, they leave tomorrow, and he also gave her a copy of all his notes to take back to her regular doctor. She said she is still in a lot of pain but compared to that first night - she feels like she could run a marathon! Thank God she is going to be ok! The bus pulled up then so we quickly exchanged phone numbers and addresses and said good-bye to our new friends.
We were on the road for about five minutes when the heavens opened up with a drenching downpour and it continued like this all the way back to Montego Bay. Once at the airport we were told that our departure time hadn’t been listed yet and to keep an eye on the monitors for it. We find a monitor and flight 041 was still listed with no departure time. After wandering around the shops for awhile, we check again and still nothing. By now our scheduled departure of 5:00 pm had come and gone. By 7:00pm, boredom has set in. We check out the stores - again, just trying to keep ourselves occupied.. At 8:00pm a female voice crackles over the PA saying final call for flight 041! Umm, where was the first call?! Lol Suddenly the empty corridor is alive with people scampering for the gate. The PA crackles to life again with a firm male voice this time, saying this is the final boarding call. Maureen and Kathleen are downstairs in one of the stores so Shane dashes off to find them. The three of them get back quickly and we board the plane as they are preparing to shut the door. Phew, we just made it! Lol
After all the rushing, I thought the plane would be taxiing out momentarily - I was wrong. After sitting there for a half an hour, the captain comes on to tell us that we are waiting for passengers from a Kingston flight to get here. What!? Everyone was rushed around in a panic and now we are delayed again?! I try to make the best of it and pull out a book. Almost immediately, the book was put away because John is not very patient at times and his grumbling will not allow me to concentrate. At 9:00 the other passengers board and we immediately taxi out and are on our way home. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
The stewardesses on this flight are really miserable. This is a stark contrast to our flight down. The stewardesses on that flight were very nice and upbeat. They were constantly joking with everyone and dancing as they were bringing drinks around. The ladies on our current flight acted like they didn’t want to be bothered with anything. Dinners were practically thrown at you and you didn’t get any choices - you got whatever they grabbed. The differences were so profound that it was hard to believe that this was the same airline. Finally land in Baltimore at just about midnight. After gathering up our luggage we slowly walked out of the airport.
Jamaica has touched me to my very soul and has helped me to find a sense of peacefulness that has eluded me for many years. Try as I might, I cannot explain in mere words what this trip has meant to me. To put it simply - I found myself again. Knowing that John and I are returning in March 06' will keep me grounded until I return to “My Paradise”.
Side note: Talked to Amy yesterday! Her visit to her regular doctor went very well! X-rays show that there is no damage to her spine! YEA! She does have a torn ligament and deep tissue bruising, but this will all heal and she will be 100% in no time! I can’t tell you how extremely happy I was to hear that news!Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Oh my gosh! I just realized that I forgot to acknowledge a few postings....
Rain-Michael, SistaCry, Shaylover, Tonya2 and Tammy. I am sorry I didn't catch this before now, as your thoughts are very important to me. Thanks for your support!
Tammy - Yep, busted!!! lol I knew you would find me! lol j/k
Oh, gotta tell ya', as you suggested, I got one of the anklets and have been proudly wearing it since! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Keep in touch!Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
really awesome report, I have been reading it, just waiting until the end to say- GREAT JOB.- although your last day has left me a little teary eyed this morning.Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Absolutely wonderful trip report Jacqui. Now that calls for an encore. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
Thank you for keeping us up to date on Amy. I was eally worried about her, so it's good news that she will be healing fast.Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
LOL, JUTA has literally had to come on to the beach and call me out of the water on past trips. I can't stand having to leave! Nice report.....Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Thank you for the very nice trip report!
I bet Mark and Maureen's version of the trip is
quite different. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] I'm glad you got out and about and had a chance to talk with people.
Next trip will be even better when you break away from the AI and really get to eat around plus you will save some $$$
GREAT JOB!Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
I come out of lurking every now and then to say thanks. Your thoughts were my thoughts on my first trip too and like you, I can't imagine anyone NOT having fun and liking Jamaica. And like you, I saw someone get hurt terribly at Ricks too.
I can't wait to read the next trip report!Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Jamaica has touched me to my very soul and has helped me to find a sense of peacefulness that has eluded me for many years. Try as I might, I cannot explain in mere words what this trip has meant to me. To put it simply - I found myself again. Knowing that John and I are returning in March 06' will keep me grounded until I return to “My Paradise”.
Well sweetie
Mi a tell you. You did one great job on this trip report. I feel ya. If you "get it" life as you know it will never be the same again.
Lord help you .
What time of year was it that you went again?? March in Jamaica is WONDERFUL you just wait.
Glad to hear the the young lady will be ok. NO MORE CLIFF jumping.Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Nice report [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Mark is definitely a "pill" but I've had to deal with the other end of the spectrum...someone so completely obnoxious & rude to everyone & everything [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] Still peeves me to think about it. I'll take a Mark anyday, at least you can walk away!!Comment
-
Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica
Wow, I can't beleive your report is finally over - I've enjoyed it very much! And the pix were great!
Like you we did an AI our first trip to Negril (Riu Negril), but our last trip we booked ourselves and went so much cheaper. Know how it feels to travel with a Mark type, too! Boy, they miss soooo much, but...
Comment
Comment