More on Jamaica

I wish I would've posted about Jamaica while I was in Jamaica. Since I didn't, I'll relive it the best I can and you can visit vicariously through me.

Random Interesting Things about Jamaica:
The airport is right on the water. As your plane descends for landing it seems as if you're going to land in the ocean.

Most of the hotels in Montego Bay are like compounds, surrounded by high walls, and a guard lets you in or out of the property. When you leave your hotel, you step into poverty.

Want to buy something, you barter for it. This isn't something Jason or I enjoyed. How do you barter for something when you know the seller needs all the money they can make just to survive?

Jamaica was an English colony, so though they export lots of coffee, they drink tea.

On the section of Montego Bay where we stayed, there was only a man made beach and a small paved walkway. NO walking on the beach. This is what made me the most sad, aside from the poverty. I love to walk on the beach or sit at the edge of the water and feel the sand and the waves. There were no shells either, just rocks. The water, though, is gorgeous, exactly what you imagine when you think of the Caribbean. The ocean is a perfect mix of blues and greens.

The Ritz-Carlton Montego Bay is an amazing place to stay. The grounds are beautiful. The view of the ocean is beautiful. You're treated like royalty and the food is delicious. I gained two pounds thanks to the delicious food, but I'm ok with that.

Rafting down the Martha Brae is incredibly relaxing, aside from the couple of vendors on the banks trying to sell you stuff. You sit on a bamboo raft with a bench for two while your guide poles you down the river. Our guide wasn't too talkative, but our friend's guide never stopped talking or singing. One of the guides actually tried to witness to one of the girls in the group.

The shopping tour is not relaxing. Because the vendors need customers to make any type of living to just survive, they can be a little pushy and invade what we Americans think of as our personal space. The best place for souvenirs is a shop in the airport called Things Jamaicans.

Touring the Great House at night is a little spooky. Legend has it that Annie, the owner of the house killed three of her husbands and her slave lover. The house itself is beautiful, as is the amazing White Witch Golf Course, also on the grounds. Jason is sick that he didn't take his clubs and play, especially since the bank would've paid for it. On Friday night we had dinner at the club house. The view was amazing. The club house sits atop a hill and you look down to the ocean. It was breathtaking as we watched the sun set and ate Mahi Mahi.

Being in Jamaica was a good time to try seafood. I tried lobster, crab legs, and oyster for the first time.

I'll wrap up my reminiscing for now. Hope I haven't bored you.