Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

[Vi]

Rarely do I experience drama while in Jamaica. However there is always drama at the airport either on my way there or leaving. I just don’t put them in the reports…too embarrassing. But this time thought I would share.

Arrived at the airport early…way early. Flight leaves at 7:20AM. It is 3:55. I haul my suit cases out of the car and drag them to the little glass shelter to wait for the shuttle. It is cold, dark, windy and of course raining.

4:10AM. As sprays of cold, light rain sprinkle my face, I’m still grateful to be here. Yesterday unfamiliar warming lights lit up across my car dashboard. One related to the breaks, one to the battery and the ugly check engineer square blazed a color of red that could not be ignored. Quick fix for all, buy a new battery. 80 beans for the battery, installed by my son and his friends who only charged me 3 Dominos pizzas, I knew my ride is as good as old new. The lights are still on. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img] I didn’t have a choice but to drive it “as is” and pray it gets me to the airport. So I’m here standing in the cold darkness with a smile on my face.

Why???? Because I’m going to Jamaica. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]

[Vi]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

I notice a small, white security truck cruising up and down the lanes. It turns down my row and slows when it reaches me. The man gets out, takes my large bag and puts it in the inside back seat. Yeah, I’m letting him, but I also memorize his airport ID number.

When he came for the smaller case, he told me to sit in the truck to get out of the rain. I did while repeating his ID number over and over. I wiped the cool wetness from my face and warmed my toes in the truck cab. He gets in and tells me he’s taking me to the terminal because the shuttles don’t start running until 5AM. He pulls the seat belt over his talk, thick, massive frame, shifts the truck in drive, smiles at me, then heads for the terminal. I’m not shivering any more.

[Vi]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

At the terminal, he takes my bags inside…all three in one hold…to the Spirit counter. There are only a handful of people ahead of me. I thank him and offer him a little sumtin for his troubles but he can’t accept tips. He takes out his card and says his tip would be if I call him when I get back. I take it and slip it in my passport holder. He’s tall, so he has to bend down to give me a quick hug. Hug??? Okay…trip is getting off to a drama free start right???? WRONG. The hag at the counter tells me my bags are too heavy so I have to shave off 12 pounds and chuck it. Then she tells me my carry-on is too big and has to be reduced enough to fit in the carry-on measure grate which is a joke. I humor her until she gives me the okay. The bag is about 1 pound lighter and still doesn’t fit. I go to my gate. Passing folks with guitars, strollers, computers and carseats much bigger than my carry-on. Cha! I guess I was her “one” of many for the day. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img]

[Vi]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

The flight to Ft. Lauderdale was on time. However, the flight from there to Montego Bay is delayed 30 minutes. Nowhere to sit at my gate, I go to the next, find a seat and snuggle in for the wait. I’m fighting sleep since I’ve been up for almost 48 hours. I make the mistake of wrapping myself in my oversized hoodie and getting so cozy I drift off to sleep.

Oh I wake up in time…in time to see my plane slowly taxi down the runway and take off. Dammit. This is the first time I ever missed a connecting flight so I didn’t know what to expect. After chastising me, the airport rep tells me I have to go back out to the Spirit counter and rebook. Rebook???? My eyes immediately fill with tears. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]

[Bandana]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shocked.gif[/img]

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img]





[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bannana_purple.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/popcorn.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bannana_purple.gif[/img]

[Vi]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wavey.gif[/img] Bandanna [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/icon_hug.gif[/img]

[Vi]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

Turns out, the next flight leaves in 2 hours and there was no additional charge. GOOD. However during all the shifting of my stuff earlier, I put my cell phones in my checked luggage which is on its way to Jamaica. I can’t call anyone to let them know about my serious delay. NOT GOOD.

I’m one of the first ones on the next plane out. Only a handful of folks on this flight. Each person could have their own entire row. This man decides he wants to sit closer to the front so of course he sits in my row with the one seat in between us. I look around and see much empty seats everywhere on the plane so WHY does he sit next to me???? The plane takes off, the fasten seatbelt light goes out and he starts to talk and talk and talk and talk. I then realized that this was my punishment for my carelessness and missing my connecting flight.

Even when I didn’t answer he continued gabbing as if I did. Just as I was about to tell him to shut the ( [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img] ) up, the stewardess tells us to prepare for landing.

[Kojak and Lucky]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

OK [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/popcorn.gif[/img]

[Vi]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img] Kojak and Lucky

[Vi]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!







I’m finally in Montego Bay. Now find my bags. Not only were they safe and not damaged, they were already on a rolling cart which I happily wheeled through immigration and customs with no snags.

I search for my phone, connect with my driver who had been there, but had to leave after waiting for 3 hours. I felt horrible. Told him not to come for me, I’ll take JUTA. There was a couple on the van…honeymoon. First time to Jamaica so excitement was draining out of their pores. Me, I just wanted to sit in silence and smile. Me bak a yaad. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[Ochigal]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bannana_purple.gif[/img] ahhh life is good....I got a Vi report to read....YES, life is good [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bannana_purple.gif[/img]

[Vi]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img] MrsOchigal

[Ochigal]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

enuf a de hugs....Get to typing please!!!!!! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]

[Kojak and Lucky]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrsOchigal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">enuf a de hugs....Get to typing please!!!!!! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img] </div></div>

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

[Vi]

Re: Champagne Toasts in Sweet Negril!

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70373-kiss.gif[/img]