LISTENING TO JAMAICA MISTAKA

Ocho Rios, Jamaica / NCL Getaway

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

80s F, sunny

The groundhog did not see his shadow in Punxsutawney. Pennsylvania! Early spring!!!

By now all our Princess friends are home, Colin and Gwenda in England; Lawrence and Donna in Wisconsin; and Brian K, Nancy K, Denise, Mike, Bobbi, and Rick all in California. I know that Nancy and Brian are happy to reunite with their dog Sugar. Donna and Lawrence really missed their Boston terriers. Bobbi and Rick have dogs too and I bet Bobbi will visit the rescue shelter she volunteers at first chance she gets! Every day I am grateful that Denise got my computer back into  shape!

Today’s port of call was Ocho Rios, Jamaica near an area I call Fake Jamaica but it has changed considerably. (I called it “fake” because it seemed the cruise lines built up and commercialed an area very near the port)There used to be high concrete fences around the area, but today we walked freely along the nearby streets. There were police at cross walks to make certain visitors crossed streets safely, but I did not see evidence of side arms or assault rifles.  Last year we did a tour of Jamaica in a 4x4 on windy, narrow roads with Brian and Nancy K and Donna and Lawrence.  In the past we have toured the island and one year in the early 90s we even climbed Dunn’s River Falls—an adventure on slippery, mossy rocks and intermittent rock pools as we climbed to the top of the falls. I don’t think we would do that today.

We walked about 10 minutes to a shopping area with familiar shops in all the ports and Jamaican boutiques.

We decided to have an appetizer for lunch at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville so TK could use the wifi. This one is much smaller than the one in Grand Turk, but there is some beach access.  I asked the DJ to play “Jamaica Mistaka,” a song that tells the story of how Jimmy Buffet was flying into Jamaica in a small plane and was shot down by authorities who thought he was a drug smuggler. The Jamaican government and people apologized vehemently. I do like that song.

Margaritaville in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Back on board the ship we went to the pool area. TK commented that the pool was filled with salt water. On the Regal, the pools had fresh water.  I am reading Patricia Cornwell’s Black Notice, just finished Jonathan Kellerman’s Private Eyes (about an agoraphobic woman).

Dinner at Tropicana was exquisite, crisp salad, chicken cordon bleu, and the best German potato salad I have ever had. I think this is the first meal in 2 ½ weeks that I liked everything. I even had Peach Melba (peaches, vanilla ice cream, and raspberry sauce) for dessert, one of my absolute favorites.

TK made reservations for us to see Burning the Floor, a great show in the Getaway Theater. The 12 dancers and the two vocalists were the most cohesive I think we have seen. Their numbers were so well executed with hot Latin music. Rated PG13, the show is very flirtatious. NCL literature describes the show as taking a trip through the melting pot of the streets of Havana to the Latin Quarter, feeling the percussive rhythm of the samba, the sizzling Cuban beats of the salsa an the pulse of the rumba.  Yesterday’s dances with today’s attitude. I liked it! The costumes were interesting and suggestive.  Greens, blues, reds, yellows, lights, smoky atmosphere (from the dry ice).  

TK’s Takes:  No wind today, and a tiny sprinkle for about two minutes. The Jamaicans were not pushy. In the past we dreaded passing by or entering shops.

Aside to Bobbi: There are six Wheel of Fortune machines in the casino!