Lady in Jamaica
Blog: A Lady in London - 7 November 2009
Two weeks ago my boyfriend and I got an email from a friend of ours inviting us to go to Jamaica the following week. Not able to take a whole week off work but still wanting to see our friend, we decided to make a long weekend of it.
Last Friday evening we flew to New York City. After a night out, we met friends for brunch the next morning at Penelope, an adorable restaurant that a friend from college used to take me to when I would visit her in New York. All pastels and Nutella french toast, Penelope was the perfect place to catch up with our friends before our flight to Montego Bay.
When we arrived in said bay, our friend's driver picked us up and drove us to Ocho Rios. While he drove, my boyfriend and I enjoyed a bottle of Red Stripe. I couldn't help but feel a bit strange with an open container in the van, but I went with it. When in Jamaica...
We arrived at our friend's place in the late afternoon and were shown to our cottage, which was next to the main house and right on a small private beach. We quickly put our bags down and walked outside to the water. After a bit of exploring the half-moon of sand, we put some beach chairs to good use and sipped lemonade until the sun went down.
Our friend arrived just after dark, as did three more of our party. We had dinner outside on the deck, then got a quick tour of the house, which was a former sugar fort. After dinner we had cocktails on the deck while soaking in the warm Jamaica evening.
The next morning we got up and joined our friends in the hot tub. We munched on some sugar cane and coconut for awhile, then headed to the main house for breakfast. After eating, we walked to the beach and spent the day swimming, snorkeling, reading, lounging, and playing volleyball.
Last Friday evening we flew to New York City. After a night out, we met friends for brunch the next morning at Penelope, an adorable restaurant that a friend from college used to take me to when I would visit her in New York. All pastels and Nutella french toast, Penelope was the perfect place to catch up with our friends before our flight to Montego Bay.
When we arrived in said bay, our friend's driver picked us up and drove us to Ocho Rios. While he drove, my boyfriend and I enjoyed a bottle of Red Stripe. I couldn't help but feel a bit strange with an open container in the van, but I went with it. When in Jamaica...
We arrived at our friend's place in the late afternoon and were shown to our cottage, which was next to the main house and right on a small private beach. We quickly put our bags down and walked outside to the water. After a bit of exploring the half-moon of sand, we put some beach chairs to good use and sipped lemonade until the sun went down.
Our friend arrived just after dark, as did three more of our party. We had dinner outside on the deck, then got a quick tour of the house, which was a former sugar fort. After dinner we had cocktails on the deck while soaking in the warm Jamaica evening.
The next morning we got up and joined our friends in the hot tub. We munched on some sugar cane and coconut for awhile, then headed to the main house for breakfast. After eating, we walked to the beach and spent the day swimming, snorkeling, reading, lounging, and playing volleyball.
In the evening we went to dinner at the great house, which was part of our friend's property, but located high up on a hill. The gardens had beautiful views of the island, and as we sipped gin and tonics, our friend took us on a tour of the grounds and the home.
Dinner was on the veranda, and we got to try local specialties and enjoy good cocktails and wine. After we finished, we returned to the beach, where we played a few games of giant Jenga. It's pretty much what it sounds like: Jenga with giant blocks of wood instead of finger-sized sticks.
The next morning my boyfriend and I woke up early and took two kayaks out for a paddle. We saw some coastline along the north part of the island, then turned back and explored the peninsula around our little cove.
After breakfast, the eight of our group decided to play some beach volleyball. One of us being a professional beach volleyball player (I'll give you a hint, it wasn't me), the rest of us took turns showing off our varying degrees of skill (I'll give you another hint, my degree of skill wasn't high).
Dinner was on the veranda, and we got to try local specialties and enjoy good cocktails and wine. After we finished, we returned to the beach, where we played a few games of giant Jenga. It's pretty much what it sounds like: Jenga with giant blocks of wood instead of finger-sized sticks.
The next morning my boyfriend and I woke up early and took two kayaks out for a paddle. We saw some coastline along the north part of the island, then turned back and explored the peninsula around our little cove.
After breakfast, the eight of our group decided to play some beach volleyball. One of us being a professional beach volleyball player (I'll give you a hint, it wasn't me), the rest of us took turns showing off our varying degrees of skill (I'll give you another hint, my degree of skill wasn't high).
My boyfriend and I had to leave around noon to catch our flight home. We were sad to pack our bags and leave our friends after such a short time, but happy to have had even a weekend to hang out with them and see a beautiful part of Jamaica. So happy, in fact, that we booked a weekend trip to Bermuda, where they'll all be in a month's time, so that we can see them again and for another great island mini-break.
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