Jamaica Adventures

On November 9th 2009 we got up at 1:30a.m., picked up Steven and Marianne at 3:30 a.m. and drove to the Salt Lake airport. Our flight took off for Jamaica at 6:05 a.m. making a brief stop in Dallas to change planes we arrived in Montego Bay at 5:00p.m.


From the airport we rode the Sandal's shuttle to the Resort. It took about an hour and they played a Bob Morley tape for the whole way. We were feeling the rhythm by arrival. The tape definitely added Jamaican flavor to the ride.

Joe and Gillian were already at the resort to greet us. They went down several days before us.
Something special happened here but you will have to ask them...no you'll find out if you keep reading.



Entrance to Dunn's River Sandal's Resort.


Our first night we had supper and went for a swim in the ocean. It was eighty seven degrees and the water was as warm as bathtub water. Delicious!

Our rooms were gorgeous, clean and comfortable.

This was the view out of our balcony door.

Mary, Todd, Sarah and Jeff will arrive sometime tomorrow afternoon.

November 10th

Early the next morning we went to Marco Polo Restaurant for breakfast.
This was our waitress at Marco Polo.
There were six very nice restaurants to choose from at the resort plus a buffet that was open all the time.

After breakfast we hurried to the beach. It was absolutely perfect. Water warm, sun shining and a breeze blowing to make it perfectly comfortable. I felt like I could stay there forever.

We rented a HOBIE catamaran and went sailing with Steve and Marianne. It was lots of fun and brought back many happy memories.

The kids arrived this afternoon and they all took turns on the Cats.

Lunch was available at many outdoor places as well as all of the restaurants. Good food all the way.


Some of us ate a lot ...but he is the only one I got a picture of. :) I'm sure the other plate was for me, right?


That night we had dinner all together at a Japanese restaurant called Kimono.

He's safe. He was our chef for the night. Food was good and he was definitely entertaining.
The chef decided to give Steven some more shrimp if he could catch it. Of course he could! :)


After dinner the kids started arm wrestling.

Steven's almost winning.I thought you would like to see the whole thing. I wish I had pictures of the girls.

Marianne wrote on her blog the following about our trip. "I think one of my favorite memories will be all the 'friendly' competitions that took place over the course of our stay. There were hand stands in the ocean, chess, arm wrestling, chicken fighting, kayak racing brotherly dunking of the sisters, tennis...am I forgetting any!? Anyway...what a crack up. I don't think I've had quite so much fun for a long time."

Nov. 11th 2009
Marv, Mary, Todd and Steven went golfing this morning. No picture because I lost Marv's memory card with half of our pictures. :(

Marianne and I had breakfast together and then went to the Spa for an Orange Scrub and a massage. No picture here either but for a different reason. :)

Golfers got back about 1:00p.m. about the same time as the Spa ladies got through. They were exhausted and we were deliciously rested.

Joe and Gillian took a tour this morning to see Bob Morley's house, and to do some shopping -a lot of shopping :).


The rest of the day we played on the beach, went sailing, hot tubing, suntanning, kayaking and napping. It was a rough day.


That night we all went to dinner at the El Capitano an Italian restaurant. They didn't want to give us a table that would seat all ten of us but Gillian and Joe twisted some arms and they seated us together.




I can't tell you how good the food was. It was consistently delicious in all of the restaurants and presented beautifully.

The kids decided that it was my birthday and presented me with a beautiful ring that has the birth stone of each of my children and a special book that Sarah and the kids put together. I will enjoy their letters and pictures many times. Thank you. Thank you. It means a great deal to me.

Joe indicated that he had one more gift for me. He said he wanted to give me a new daughter-in- law. Gillian has accepted his proposal.


We were all thrilled.

We love Gillian and feel she fits in our family beautifully.

After dinner we went to see a program done by a really good group playing on steel drums. They also had a group of dancers performing while they played.

A very special day for me.

Nov. 12th 2009
This morning all of the kids went Scuba Diving

Notice Gillian's ring!
and Marv and I had breakfast and then went down to the beach to read and sleep.


Then at one oclock we went snorkeling. The water was very calm and clear so we saw a lot of new sea creatures. We had a really good guide that pointed out many I would have missed. Unfortunately I don't know what they were all called, but it was very interesting.

Afterwards we visited with the kids who had a really good time scuba diving. Gillian and Mary completed their certification, Marianne conquered major fear and had a wonderful time.




Tonight dinner was served on the patio. It was delicious. Our table was next to the pool and the water fall.

We took a famly picture,

played some cards and watched the program from the balcony of our room. Had a good visit with the kids as we sat on and around the bed in our room. Joe and Gillian were packing because they fly out tomorrow morning. We won't mention how much stuff they had .


Nov. 13th 2009
After breakfast Steven, Marianne, Sarah and Jeff played tennis;


Marv went to the beach and I took a Nature Walk to find out about all the plants around the resort. The gardener did it and he was delightful. Unfortunately I've lost the paper on which I wrote the names of all the plants so the pictures will have to do on most of them.

Sea Grapes
Banyan Tree
Bread Fruit
Flower named after Bob Morley. I'm sure you can see why.



At 1:00 we went with Sarah and Jeff to Mystic Mountain for the experience of my life.

It began with a ride up the mountain on a sky tram. Beautiful.

Jamaica is still very big on bob sledding and they have constructed a bob sled run down the mountain. It cuts through the forest with lickety split curves and circles.



You're the driver, well at least you can control the speed. Second time I tried to be as fast as Sarah.


Lots of fun. Especially when we found out we weren't going to leave the track, even if we went as fast as Sarah.
Now it was time to get suited up for a series of five zip lines. Belts, helmuts, work gloves etc. etc.


This was one of the platforms that you take off of. Yes it goes right through the forest.


I don't know of any time in my life when I have been more scared but having done all five and survived.....dang is it fun.


Nov. 14th 2009
This morning Steven and Marianne left to go to another resort for two days. Part of his work;)
Jeff and Sarah, Todd and Mary flew back this morning.

The Johns were surprised to find themselves in first class when they got on the plane.

Left alone Marv and I decided to take the Blue Mountain Bicycle tour. It was a full day tour. They bussed us up to the top of Blue Mountain; fed us a brunch and later dinner on the mountain. We rode bicycles up and down the mountain for most of the day. Beautiful scenery and several large waterfalls.
My Handsome Hunk

This was our guide. He gave us an interesting demo on how they harvest and prepare the coffee beans that are so every where here. All along the bicycle ride he would stop and point out an interesting plant or point of interest.Absolutely breath taking. So very beautiful. How many times have I used that word in this blog?

We saw many waterfalls.



At the end of the bike ride they took us to a natural pool for a swim. Look closely can you see the divers in this first picture?

There they are!
There one of them goes. There were actually quite a few of them and they did it over and over again.

We then got on the bus to go back to the resort arriving just in time for a delicious dinner.

Nov. 15th 2009

Lazy day on the beach, in the pool and soaking in the hot tub.
Had dinner with Tim and Trudy from England. They were on the bicycle tour with us yesterday. Two very interesting people. We learned a lot about the UK


Nov. 16th 2009
One last wonderful breakfast, packed our bags and headed out for the airport at 11:30a.m.