More Jamaica

The resort had hammocks overlooking the ocean everywhere. They were very secluded and there was a beautiful view. This is where we like to get a drink and hang out after a day in the sun.

A very cool tree!

The resort also had a very different spa. All of the treatments are done in private cabanas on the cliffs. For our anniversary we did a couples massage in the cabana with a beautiful view. Very relaxing!

One day while we were there Jason decided that he wanted to go water skiing. Our trip couldn’t have ended without a ridiculous story. While Jason was water skiing, the speed boat ran out of gas. We were on the other side of the cove so the only option was for us to radio in to get some gas. Of course, no one would answer, so we had to putter to shore and then swim, which was fine, except for the fact that we had to swim up to the nude beach like a bunch of refugees. I didn’t particularly care to venture over to the nude beach, but we both got the opportunity to get quite a view as we paddled to shore. I don’t think we’ve every felt to awkward with clothes on! Everyone was staring at us like we were nuts!

 

Fortunately for us the nude beach closes down at 5:00 and opens up to everyone for sunset and cocktail hour.

 

 

Beach Party

Throughout the week stay, the resort holds really great events. The staff goes all out for the wonderful parties. They have a starlight gala, an authentic Jamaican beach party, and a manager cocktail hour. The beach party was a blast. Everyone had dinner on the beach, and there were lights on all of the palm trees and cabanas. We sat with 3 other couples that we met while we were there. The food was traditional Jamaican cuisine and it was AMAZING. They had carving stations, peanuts that they roasted with coals under the sand, jerk food, curry goat (everyone’s favorite in Jamaica, we tried it and it was quite good), and a flambé station. They also had a 15 person steel drum ensemble that was fantastic, and other entertainment. Much to my dismay, I attempted to buy a steel drum and take it on the plane. Jason was not too pleased. Come to find out they are quite expensive in Jamaica too, so I will have to search for my steel drum somewhere else.

 

 

 

  

The food at this resort was some of the best food I have ever eaten. It was absolutely fantastic. This was our favorite restaurant Casanova.

Before we left, I had to get Jason in a Yoga class. He agreed, but only because it was taught by a very fun Rasta man, and because another guy that sat at the beach party with us was going with his wife. He kept talking about being’s of light, and levitating.  He had to move the dreadlocks on his head and his beard out of the way in order to do his yoga poses. It was on the deck of the mineral pool by the ocean. Very fun class!

The yoga Rasta man!

Sunny Jamaica

The first few days we had some storms, so it was very cloudy. At first we were afraid that we were going to have rain every day we were there. The weather ended up clearing up after day 2 and it was beautiful. The first 2 days were cloudy but we still got some beach time. Finally I was able to get some nice sunny pictures. The property was so beautiful and it was covered in huge trees and plants. It looked like a jungle. There were small paths with little nooks with hammocks everywhere. The view from the many points on the cliffs was stunning. The pictures don’t do it justice. It was absolutely beautiful.

Main stairs to the cliffs

Main Beach

Face of the cliffs.

View from one of the cliffs.

 

The beach opposite of the main beach. This is the au naturel beach, but it closes down at 5:00 and opens to everyone for the sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

Gazebo overlooking the ocean.

View from the spring fed mineral pool

Jamaica Mon!

This past week Jason and I were very excited to take a vacation just the two of us. This was the first time we had gone anywhere, just us, without a wedding, or a big event since our honeymoon. We decided to go to a resort called Couples San Souci in Ochos Rios. It was fantastic! We had such an amazing time.

On Saturday we arrived in Montego Bay at the airport. They took our bags and took us to the Couples Resort Lounge for food and drinks while we waited for our shuttle to the resort.

When we got to the resort it was pouring down rain so we didn’t get to do much our first day there. The next morning we were up early, so we checked things out and got breakfast room service on our balcony. The resort was so beautiful. It sits on the cliffs of Ochos Rios and has 2 separate beaches and a private cove. The private cove beach was awesome because the beach was private and closed off. We didn’t have anyone trying to sell us conch shells on the beach.

Stairs to the cliffs and the view from one of the cliffs of the main cove.

 

View from the balcony…so excited to be in Jamaica!

 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast on the balcony on our first morning.

Beachin’ it!

Tornado Party

This year has been quite the crazy year for weather. We started the school year with an earthquake during teacher work week. The first day of school was cancelled because of the hurricaine and flooding. During the last week of school, we went out with a bang. We had a lockdown because of a domestic dispute in he building and then the following day we were stuck in the building with the kids until 5:00 because of a tornado. We had a tornado that was heading straight for our school building and changed course within about a mile of our school. We had a break in the weather, which was enough for us to get home from work and then 3 more large storms with tornados came through. Frederick didn't get hit too bad, so we had a little party and had some appetizers and drinks while we watched the news.
Watching the news and enjoying a drink. Hard to tell what is going on outside, but I do know that we took this picture at about 6:15pm and it doesn't usually get dark until about 8:45. This is a picture taken by a husband of one of the teachers about 7 miles from our school. We had 9 tornados touch down in Maryland. I am sure it is nothing compared to what Danny and Erin have seen in Mississippi, but I still thought it was pretty scary.